Valve Covers: Dress Up Your Engine Compartment

Valve Covers do just as the name suggests – they cover the valve-train components of your Air Cooled VW engine, preventing dirt and debris from entering the system and preventing oil leaks. They are also an inexpensive and simple way to add a custom look to your engine compartment. Mid America Motorworks reviews the different Valve Covers available, along with hardware options, to make your engine compartment take center stage.

Pick a Valve Cover, Any Cover

Valve Covers range in design, from basic utilitarian styles that replace the OE Cover, to flashy colors and finishes that are sure to get noticed. Here are some of the most common styles available:

Original Style – Give your Air Cooled Volkswagen updated function with the OE looks of a stock style Valve Cover.
Stainless Steel – Stainless Steel Valve Covers are polished for great shine.
Finned Aluminum – Finned Aluminum Valve Covers add a tough look to your engine compartment. Fins are designed to allow extra cooling and are sometimes polished against a black background to grab some attention.
Billet Aluminum – Billet Aluminum Valve Covers are typically machined on a CNC lathe with a beautiful turned finish and come in several different colors.

Valve Cover Retainer Styles

Depending on engine size, personal preference and higher horsepower, your VW Valve Covers will have different Retainer styles.

Bails – Valve Cover Bails clip onto the Covers and automatically adjust tension as needed to prevent leaks.
Valve Cover Bolts – Valve Cover Bolt Retainers provide more even pressure on the gasket and can be tightened to help seal a leak.

Valve Cover Gaskets

Whether you strive to keep your VW in original condition or have performance in mind, different gaskets are available to suit your needs.

Cork Gaskets – Retain original looks and function for your Air Cooled Volkswagen.
Rubber Gaskets – Rubber or Neoprene Gaskets last longer than original Cork Gaskets and are more durable for higher horsepower and larger engine sizes.
Valve Cover Vents – Valve Cover Vents are essential in decreasing crankcase pressure, eliminating blow by and reducing oil loss in your Volkswagen.