Lol, good call. Kinda like flat-black rotas or blades.

I actually looked for some info on anodization changing thermal properties, and it actually seems to help with it. Only by a couple percent, but that shows that adding crap to the outside actually helps (in this case, an oxidized crystaline structure and dye).

One problem with the argument about paint chipping off - you'll have a similar issue with corrosion anyways. I don't even drive mine in the harsh winters here, and it's already a dull, hazy silver. If you drive your car enough for it to chip off that terribly, it will end up getting hazy just as easily. AFAIK it's easier to strip & repaint than to polish all those tiny fins...

 

i think polished look's better . it makes the car look mean

 

IMO anodizing anything with welds, regardless of the series or filler used, looks like crap. I tried using Type 2 coatings on a Outlaw 10.5 car for the intercooler and plumbing. I made a bunch of samples and sent them out to 3 of my commerical vendors, looked like ****.

If you have a nice cleanly done car nothing wrong with raw aluminum, to clean it you can just use a fresh scotch brite pad.

 

log manifold, volvo T3 turbo, dsm 450 injectors, tuned on uberdata. It was pieced together. Wasn't looking for serious power. It was already a fun car, just wanted a little more "umph" on the street.

 

I think really to sum up the entire thread painting may get you a few % increase in performance but in the end it really matters more that you get a good tune and not the color of the intercooler. Pick whichever you personally like better. Someone on HT will always dislike what you do anyways.

 

the only reasons i can see for painting your IC is so others are less likely to guess that your car is turboed by just looking at it (for the "sleeper" look and/or for security reasons), and if you just happed like the way it looks.

personally, i plan to paint mine black so it wont stand out to a thief unless they know what to be looking for.

 

Polish look is way better.

 

neither is better it's just a matter of opinion and what your goals are.