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Thread: Radiator / Intercooler Paint?

  1. #1
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    Radiator / Intercooler Paint?

    The paint on my black TRM intercooler is starting to flake off . What brands have you guys used that have worked well? Any recommendations?

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    It's really not the brand of paint but how you prep the surface.

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    You should look into getting it anodized, call local shops its not expensive.

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    Quote Originally Posted by E36 HateR View Post
    You should look into getting it anodized, call local shops its not expensive.
    Yep. Best for heat management too. I had a powder coated IC once. Def increased the soak. Anodization shouldnt affect the heat transfer like that.
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    Grill paint, or it will be costly.
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    I would think if you just sprayed the paint on an angle to not get it in between the fins it shouldn't effect it much? no?
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    Barbecue paint only on the front. The paint won't get very far down the fins.

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    Quote Originally Posted by chikinhed View Post
    Barbecue paint only on the front. The paint won't get very far down the fins.
    I think that's prob a pretty good solution as long as you do it super light so it doesn't layer up and potentially trap heat. And being just BBQ paint you can touch it up quick & easy when needed.

    In the end I sanded the powder off of the face of my IC, left it on the tanks. There are some special "heat transfer" coatings that supposedly actually improve transfer but A. not sure I believe it, and B. cost/benefit was not attractive...
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    The surface area of the visible front area is very small compared to the rest of the heat transferring tubes and fins of the intercooler. Anodizing black would be great but it has a tendency of fading to purple after a while and I would prefer to have it bare aluminum on the back side to help reflect the heat from the radiator or AC condenser.

    Sent from my GTX3582R
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    Quote Originally Posted by geargrinder View Post
    I think that's prob a pretty good solution as long as you do it super light so it doesn't layer up and potentially trap heat. And being just BBQ paint you can touch it up quick & easy when needed.

    In the end I sanded the powder off of the face of my IC, left it on the tanks. There are some special "heat transfer" coatings that supposedly actually improve transfer but A. not sure I believe it, and B. cost/benefit was not attractive...
    This is my plan, just looking for a recommendation of brand to use.

    Quote Originally Posted by chikinhed View Post
    The surface area of the visible front area is very small compared to the rest of the heat transferring tubes and fins of the intercooler. Anodizing black would be great but it has a tendency of fading to purple after a while and I would prefer to have it bare aluminum on the back side to help reflect the heat from the radiator or AC condenser.

    Sent from my GTX3582R
    Right, which is why I don't want to anodize, besides the cost. Also, it's not a beauty contest, I just want my intercooler basically hidden. Its very, very difficult to tell my car is turbo, and I like it that way.

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    Ideally, you would coat it with a metallic-ceramic engineered to disperse more heat to the atmosphere. I plan to do some experimentation on aluminum radiators and ICs with Techline's TLTD thermal disperspersant coating (requires an oven cure__do not try this at home... ).

    I already use that coating on lots of other stuff, and it remains black-black, regardless of time or exposure.

    This is TLTD on a trick little Eurosport piece...


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    Quote Originally Posted by Haifisch M3 View Post
    painting the IC black... not a good idea YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_mmmXTbLP0
    I watched the video. His argument was implying that people paint the whole Intercooler, including in between the fins and on the back side. He was also suggesting that a lot of heat gets taken away from the front face of the intercooler. I would tend to think that the area between the fins is where most of the heat is expelled. I get that paint can be an insulating layer but if I have put a light coat of spray can barbecue flat black on the front surface only and the intercooler lives in the shade behind the bumper cover and stock mesh piece, I really don't think I am jeopardizing much of the thermal efficiency of my 23x18x4" intercooler core. I think a much much larger loss of efficiency is from not ducting the intercooler properly. The paint would be nothing compared to that.

    Sent from my GTX3582R
    Last edited by chikinhed; 12-20-2015 at 09:06 PM.
    '97 M3, Estoril blue, 2 dr, euro 6-spd, EFR 9180 divided T4 .92 IWG, RK tuning, CP 8.5:1 pistons, Eagle rods, Schrick cams, L19 11 mm ARP studs, O-ringed block, Supertech stainless/inconel valves, Supertech springs & Ti retainers, ported head, S54 oil pump/pan, 80 lb. injectors, OBD1 intake manifold, Steedspeed twin scroll T4, 3.5" SS exhaust, eBoost2 EBC, HFS-4 W/M injection, AEM Failsafe, Zeitronix data logger, Racelogic TC, OpenOBC w. ethanol %, Ireland Eng. engine mounts, UUC black tranny mounts w. enforcers, UUC twin disc feramic, ARC-8's, MCS 2-ways, Z3 rack, Rallyroad strut bar, X brace, Eibach sway bars, Ground Control LCAB bushings, Bimmerworld RTAB's, Powerflex subframe bushings, 210 4-clutch LSD, Stoptech BBK, titainium shims, steel braided lines, brake cooling ducts.

  14. #14
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    That kid proved nothing that the original video didn't already state. 3% would mean a 3 degree difference if it drops the temp 100 degrees. How much power is gained or lost due to 3 degrees of intake air temp? I'm tempted the to the difference would be negligible. I would rather have a stealth looking intercooler and sacrifice the couple hp we would be talking about. As stated above I think far more could be gained from proper ducting that most people overlook.

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    If anyone thinks spray paint is going to effect how fast your car is you have some issues.

    "Believe nothing you hear, half of what you read"


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    I've used Eastwood Radiator paint where I went a bit heavier on end-tanks and fairly light dusting across surface/fins but enough to ensure coverage.
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  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by 95RogueM3 View Post
    I've used Eastwood Radiator paint where I went a bit heavier on end-tanks and fairly light dusting across surface/fins but enough to ensure coverage.
    Your intake temps must be 200°+. ; )
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fender13Bender View Post
    If anyone thinks spray paint is going to effect how fast your car is you have some issues.
    You do know red cars are faster right

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    3% in stationary test, with a low output fan, can translate into a lot more at speed (at the track)

    The only scenario in which the black IC shows any benefits is while idling at a red light...if the clutch fan isn't working

    While moving... it hurts performance... when you need it.
    The fins in the IC are really close together and even a thin coating of spray-paint will close the already narrow air passages even more.

    Not only does the paint act as a layer on insulation but it also reduces thru-flow ...both reducing efficiency of the IC

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by chikinhed View Post
    The surface area of the visible front area is very small compared to the rest of the heat transferring tubes and fins of the intercooler. Anodizing black would be great but it has a tendency of fading to purple after a while and I would prefer to have it bare aluminum on the back side to help reflect the heat from the radiator or AC condenser.

    Sent from my GTX3582R
    Agreed..I would use a black paint of some sort..something that is UV stable.
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    Hi there, I'm currently considering painting my radiator, and during my online research, I came across a paint that appears to be promising. Nevertheless, as I lack experience with such products, I would greatly appreciate your opinion to ensure I don't make any errors. Thank you for your assistance.

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