Scott Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Now before you all jump on the "efficiency" bandwagon (a bandwagon that I was a proud part of ) have a little read and a think about my reasoning here. Will giving the end tanks, top and bottom plates a coat and a quick spray over the front of the intercooler make an impact on its cooling efficiency? I'm thinking that it won't make that much of a difference as the cooling as actually done in the centre of the intercooler rather than the front face. Spraying the intercooler (not going nuts of course) only the very tips of the fins will have any paint on them. The other 3.9" will be bare aluminium in order to provide that air to air cooling we all know and love. Also, looking at my intercooler it has a fair bit of oxidisation on it. Surely that would be far more of an insulator than me giving it a little rub and putting a few thou of paint on will? Looking for constructive input before I go for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedrosixfour Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Is there any other process other than painting available, not powdercoating but a kind of anodising perhaps? With an obvious tip of the cap to the cost of such a process of course. I doubt a coat of paint as per your description would make much difference to the efficiency of an intercooler but would you be considering a coat of lacquer on top of that as well to keep it neat for as long as possible especially if the colour being considered is black? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 Is there any other process other than painting available, not powdercoating but a kind of anodising perhaps? With an obvious tip of the cap to the cost of such a process of course. I doubt a coat of paint as per your description would make much difference to the efficiency of an intercooler but would you be considering a coat of lacquer on top of that as well to keep it neat for as long as possible especially if the colour being considered is black? To be honest I'm not really fussed about the neatness as it's going to be hidden anyway. I just don't like the tatty look of an intercooler 10 miles after buying it (bugs, dings, dents etc). I was just thinking that if I give it a quick coat of black any of those normal marks will remain hidden. The reason for painting the top/bottom plates etc was just for completeness lol. I wouldn't go with powdercoating as that is far too thick for what I am after. With regards to anodising I'm not sure how well that process would take to an X year old intercooler with a fair amount of oxidising. I'm having a really hard time as it is with the intercooler pipes at the moment Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 Well it's done now. I can't see there being any issues, I have only put a small coat over the front side of the actual fins so the rest os free and clear. If I notice any issues I'll post back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsween Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 There's always one lol. 2 mins..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsween Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 There's always one lol. 2 mins..... I did give you 22mins after that post. And now 4 after the last one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 http://tapatalk.com/mu/95fedb11-d6dd-91cf.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L18msy Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Painted a few now Scott with no issues to report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 Cheers Liam. I'm thinking of painting it red now lol. not really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 are you going all black with this car bud? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 are you going all black with this car bud? Apart from the hose couplers, battery and a few other bits and bobs... yeah Only difference with this will be that the ARC is gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iky Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 A bit late now but I know Frost sell paint specifically for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 A bit late now but I know Frost sell paint specifically for this. Never hurts, the more information on the subject the better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iky Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Never hurts, the more information on the subject the better It's actually for radiators but the description states it will not affect heat transfer or airflow so I assume it's ok for intercoolers. http://www.frost.co.uk/automotive-paint/eastwood-radiator-black-gloss-paint-aerosol.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty71 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 It's actually for radiators but the description states it will not affect heat transfer or airflow so I assume it's ok for intercoolers. http://www.frost.co.uk/automotive-paint/eastwood-radiator-black-gloss-paint-aerosol.html pity they dont do silver...... hmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 pity they dont do silver...... hmmmm Aren't intercoolers usually already silver? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iky Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Aren't intercoolers usually already silver? Haha, yes, but ive noticed the alloy goes dull after a while. I "attempted" to clean up a front mount on my 200sx and ended up messing the fins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackso11 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I wouldn't have thought paint would make a difference, that rad paint must just be high temp paint to avoid flaking. The new heater matrix I put in my supra was painted black, my rad in my civic is black, I am sure I have seen pictures of SMICs that are black on here and they are new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_Mitchell Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 That looks good scott. Black is the new bling maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty71 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Aren't intercoolers usually already silver? yes but mine needs a clean but a quick waft over in silver beats APC and an oral b toothbrush ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 I wouldn't have thought paint would make a difference, that rad paint must just be high temp paint to avoid flaking. The new heater matrix I put in my supra was painted black, my rad in my civic is black, I am sure I have seen pictures of SMICs that are black on here and they are new ones. It's not the colour that makes a difference though, in fact black is better for dispersing heat. Its the thickness of the coating acting as an insulator that would be an issue. An anodised rad will be fine, especially black. The matrix is designed to store heat afaik. With the intercooler it shouldn't be an issue because it's only the tips being coated. The frost stuff probably has a high metal content, it will certainly have very good conductive properties whatever it is That looks good scott. Black is the new bling maybe? Cheers mate. Been doing it for years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lude Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 bumping this as going to do mine on the weekend think, i want to go over mine in silver, to freshen it up, and then also want to put a GReddy logo on, scott, you said normal paint is what you used, so can anyone else confirm this? dont need heat resistant paint do you? (not sure how hot the IC gets?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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