What's the best way to paint the intercooler black?
What paint to use, what are the proper steps to do it, etc?


Thanks!

 

i'm also gonna do this soon.. not too sure on what paint to use, but the trick is to make the coat as light as possible so you don't gunk up the fins. definitely not the high temp paint though.

 

bleh, light coat of flat black spray paint. Hide it behind some grill gaurd......total sleeper

check it out here...

[Modified by Speed PHreak, 5:52 PM 3/11/2002]


[Modified by Speed PHreak, 5:53 PM 3/11/2002]


[Modified by Speed PHreak, 5:54 PM 3/11/2002]


[Modified by Speed PHreak, 5:55 PM 3/11/2002]

 

 

I'd consult some intercooler manufacturers first.
They may have some useful information or recommendations.
Thsi may not be such a good idea on some intrercooler designs. . . .

 

sorry
www.geocities.com/speed_phreak_88hf/pics/

just have a peek in the root dir, it's "frontshot" labled ones.......damn geoshities

 

It's important that when you paint it you spray from an acute angle on the horizontal plane. This will stop paint coating the inner part of the IC fins where most of the heat transfer takes place.

I used matt black marine paint so it wouldnt flake when your basic engine cleaners get on it. Regular household paint might not hold up.

 

Actually, Swain Tech Coatings has a "heat-radiating" black coating that can actually inprove your IC's efficiency.

But if you're really cheap, a thin layer of black high temp paint would be the easiest route to hide the FMIC.

 

Painting the IC is never a good thing. Basically think of it as a radiator. When the fins are already thin as they are adding another half mm to each side of each fin will just take away that much more cooling power from the IC. I would say at the very most just paint the endtanks. It is really the endtanks that grab the most attention as the fins themselves are very thin and almost look like a radiator when the endtanks are painted a darker color. The dark grill guard idea is also another good idea for hiding it. Just don't hide that thing too much as you're going to defeat the purpose of having the thing out in the open.

 

why do that? just keep it the way it is...

 

I wanna do it for couple of reasons. First of all, for stealth reasons so that the IC wont give away that my car has a turbo, b/c IC is the only external way to figure out that a car is turbocharged, I would be able to race more cars, etc. Secondly, to reduce theft.

 

I painted my intercooler with black high heat paint and i lightly coated the whole thing...i had this done about 3 month ago and my car runs greatno difference in performance at all that i can notice....just lightly coat the thing....

 

I always thought of it the other way around. I let the intercooler show and put a little turbo badge on the back of my car just so I would have less people trying to race me. Why waste gas and risk getting a crazy ticket for some slappo in a stock car with a Monza tip that is yellow inside?

 

just paint the ****** w/ black spray paint. remember, your not taking heat out w/ the front of the IC, its the inside that does the work. Painting the front aint gunna make a **** of a difference of how it works.....unless you manage to gunk up the fins so bad that air can't get through

 

u guys ever think about anodizing the ic black????
looks cleeeeeean.

 

not worth it though....just get a $3 can of black spray paint.

 

i did an exhastive amount of research on this topic and posted it on the endyn bbs. i dont think i ever posted it here also, basically i discovered that it doesn't make a big difference if you paint it, and the color doesnt really matter either. if you disagree with me i am sorry i am not gonna explain it the answers are out there.

 

anodizing is the proper way to do it. Of course it costs more, but hey if you wanna go ghetto style...

 

To add to Falcon's post I looked the intercooler on my truck and its black, completly black. I doubt they would paint it black just to make ineffcient so it doesnt matter what color it it...

art

 

I have thought about this to. black should radiate heat better. Also, if you painted it with a bumpy black paint that would create tiny crevices and peaks which would also dissipate heat better. i dont know, I think it doesnt really make any SIGNIFICANT difference at all.

 

Just do this.. I don't have an I/C yet, though.. Here's what's gonna be hiding it..

If can still see it.. I'll just use a watercolor black the first time at the strip, just to see people's expressions. They have no idea what's coming!! (unless they read this board..damnit..)

 

...but, have you noticed what color most factory radiators are?

Black.

 

Good point.

art

 

Hey, to each his own..

 

Hit it right on the head, SWAIN. I checked out a nice turbo se-r yesterday, had everything coated via SWAIN. The intercooler does not like to be spraypainted with regular 'ol flat black paint.