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Hello, I used some degreaser on my valve cover, intake manifold, and the block to clean them. The degreaser ruined my aluminum valve cover and block so it turned some gray color and doesn't look good. The IM looks fine.

My question is> Can I return the valve cover and the block back to normal or if my only choice is paint them, then how do I do it. Do I have to take the valve cover off to paint it? Do I have to sand the valve cover and the block? What about the IM, do I have to take it off to paint it?

Any help is greatly appreciated
Thanks!

Paint them, you can leave everything were it is (cept the IM) and paint them. Just tape everything off and use a aluminum engine block spray paint (Plasti-kote works great). It is super easy to do.

not much you can do sand blasting works if you want the natural look.
the degreaser you are using must be diluted with water to stop it from etching any more of your parts. also do not! let the degreaser dry on the surface that will etch the aluminum no mater what you do.

all stock parts are coated but that wears off in like 30k miles.
if you do sand blast parts you must clear coat parts.
or pant them up.

I'd sand blast them and then clear coat them. Painting the motor while it is in the engine bay is asking for a ghetto look. Why would someone even suggest that... You will, no matter how hard you try, get overspray on something and it will look like crap forever.
You can buy small sand blast cabinets at Harbour Freight for about 100 bucks plus sand.