Valve Cover Baffle Screws

[eaeaerick]

Anyone know where I can buy these tiny screws? Decided to paint my valve cover, so I bought a second had one and would like to prep it before the install. Thanks!!

[psulja]

Have you tried your local dealer?

[Agent☣Orange]

Probably have better luck at Ace Hardware.

[eaeaerick]

Yeah, thought about a hardware store. Anyone know the thread size>?

[Agent☣Orange]

It's probably an M4 x 5mm but I'm goung off a hazy memory of a couple years ago. Just take one screw to Ace. They have that long, yellow bolt-size checker hanging in the nuts and bolts section that will tell you for sure. I've done it hundreds of times at Ace looking for Miata parts that I finally just bought one of their bolt-size checkers and mounted it in my garage.

[WASABI]

I've done it hundreds of times at Ace looking for Miata parts that I finally just bought one of their bolt-size checkers and mounted it in my garage.

You da man!!!!

I do have one question (for OP).....Did the new valve cover not come with screws?

and one question for anyone.....Does anyone pack the baffles with stainless steel wool to help catch the vapors? Anyone hear about this?

-Jim

[eaeaerick]

The cover did....... among cleaning my car and the garage in the same weekend, the screws that were wrapped in a paper towel, went with the trash =/

[eaeaerick]

I've been reading various threads on that Jim, everyone says they'll try it and post the results. So far, I have yet to see any results.

[eaeaerick]

I bought some M4x6mm screws, they seem to work perfectly. They are from Home Depot, think I'll have any problem with them long term?

[WASABI]

If stainless, than no.

[Agent☣Orange]

and one question for anyone.....Does anyone pack the baffles with stainless steel wool to help catch the vapors? Anyone hear about this?

-Jim

That's really a good question for an oil catch-can thread but the quick answer is you should never pack steel wool inside the baffles. Not only does it impede what little airflow there is (too little IMO) but there's moisture in that system that turns the steel wool into rust which then travels back through the intake tube on one side and through the PCV valve and intake manifold on the other side. The remaining material just becomes an oily blob that impedes crankcase ventilation. In short, it's a bad idea.

[Hyper]

go to the junkyard, buy any valve cover ($5) from any Miata, Mercury Capri, Mercury Capri Turbo, Mazda protege, Kia Sephia, and Ford Escort with the BP Motor. All the bolts are the same, they all fit!!!!!

[Hyper]

NEVER NEVER put shit inside the baffles.

[eaeaerick]

That's really a good question for an oil catch-can thread but the quick answer is you should never pack steel wool inside the baffles. Not only does it impede what little airflow there is (too little IMO) but there's moisture in that system that turns the steel wool into rust which then travels back through the intake tube on one side and through the PCV valve and intake manifold on the other side. The remaining material just becomes an oily blob that impedes crankcase ventilation. In short, it's a bad idea.

Probably why we no one has reported back to us on it after they tried it =P

[eaeaerick]

Just realized the screws I bought are zinc plated, Should I be fine of just go get some actual SS ones? Not many junk yards in my area, and they all look online for pricing.....

I'm neurotic so I just got SS screws from Fastenal.....

[WASABI]

That's really a good question for an oil catch-can thread but the quick answer is you should never pack steel wool inside the baffles. Not only does it impede what little airflow there is (too little IMO) but there's moisture in that system that turns the steel wool into rust which then travels back through the intake tube on one side and through the PCV valve and intake manifold on the other side. The remaining material just becomes an oily blob that impedes crankcase ventilation. In short, it's a bad idea.

I mentioned "stainless steel" wool. I assumed regular stuff would rust. My thought is, that the really course stuff (for scrubbing pans) would be there to condense the oil vapor, so it's less likely to get sucked back into the air intake.

-Jim

[Agent☣Orange]

Yeah you did. I just saw the steel wool part and went from there. Either way, I wouldn't stick anything in the baffles. If anything, I'd look for ways to vent the valve cover more efficiently.

I would like to add that we're deviating from the OP's original question which has been answered now. Ventilation and oil catching are excellent topics to bring up in a new thread. Just don't want a thread about screw size turn into 10 pages of something else.

[eaeaerick]

I would like to add that we're deviating from the OP's original question which has been answered now. Ventilation and oil catching are excellent topics to bring up in a new thread. Just don't want a thread about screw size turn into 10 pages of something else.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for all the input!! :-)