Mazda Valve Cover

What effect can a simple cover have over the performance of a vehicle? Probably little, especially if they would only cover the mechanical parts of the vehicle. For one, they are stationary components that have nothing to do with power production. The importance of these covers, however, would only be noticed once they get damaged. Oil leaks, for example, are often the result of a warped or corroded valve cover.

The valve cover is the long lid mounted over the top of the cylinder heads of a vehicle’s engine. This cover houses various valve train components, including the valves and the rocker arms, and may be removed if a valve train component needs some adjusting. Aside from this primary function, the valve cover is also responsible for holding lubricant oil as it drips back from the valve train to the cylinder heads and into the oil pan. The condition of the valve covers, therefore, must regularly be checked so that the leaking of lubricant oil would be avoided.

So, what can cause oil to leak through the valve cover? The common material used for the manufacture of valve covers is metal, which may be steel, aluminum or magnesium. These materials are normally prone to corrosion especially if not properly taken care of. Aside from corrosion, extreme heat in the engine area may also cause these metals to warp, creating a space between the cylinder heads and the valve cover that allows oil to seep through.

The valve cover that Mazda vehicles are equipped with is guaranteed to be tough and rigid. Mazda valve covers are also guaranteed to last for a long time. But since most of these valve covers are made of metal, they are also prone to warping and corrosion. So if a lot of holes and leaks have already developed in your Mazda valve cover, immediately replace it with a new one to avoid excessive oil leaks. For better performance, a valve cover made of thermosetting plastic is recommended for such valve covers are better suited for high temperature applications. Should you want to stick to metal, then choose those valve covers made from a type of metal similar to those used on your Mazda’s cylinder heads. This way, warping won’t have much effect on the area between the cylinder heads and the valve cover.