I would think that the paint would lower the heat transfer from the aluminum to the air. Think about it like this, you are basically putting a blanket over the intercooler fins and then transfering the heat through that. Its been awhile since my Thermo class but i wouldn't use paint. As far as increasing the surface area with the paint, i don't think so. Any small amount of area will be negated by the paint itself.

 

just use radiator paint, i used this automotive flat black paint it works

 

Why hate on the meshing, is it ricey brotha? Blacking it out was my other option too. Ah maybe next time..

 

No unless you slather the IC with coats upon coats of paint.

 

so in cali do cops even know ur car ha a bigger fmic? how do they know thats not a stock one?

 

^ I think most of them dont, but some may question it, and say its probable cause for altered engine parts, n get me for loud exhaust or som shii. I think i saw a charger srt8 highway patrol car today, i was like wtf!.. Soon theyll be drivin evos and sti's lol

 

i guess you could say that...it's just ugly. paint that stuff black, and get some radiator paint for the IC, or get it anodized. if you use normal paint, it'll act as an insulator and it will lower the cooling efficiency of the IC. It probably won't be much, but why do it if there's an alternative that won't have any negative effects at all?

 

They don't know and I don't think they care, but like NsinEvo8 said it draws their attention;
"Hmm big shinny thing in the front... big shinny exhaust... tinted windows."
"One Adam 12! One adam 12! Requesting SWAT back up for a illegal street racer!"

 

^Lol fasho. Dam that reminds me, i need to remove front tints.

 

Just my two cents here, but I find some of the comments contradictory. I myself have painted my huge 4" thick IC utilizing the ceramic coating paint for exhausts. THis type of coating is specifically desinged to move heat, and keep it dissapating. Now granted, I taped all the fins off, and only painted the flat, solid, aluminum areas. It does take for ever to dry, and does take a few coats, but they are light coats at that. It does make the front of my car all blacked out except for the headlights. I did not notice any sort of a performance loss, as well as heat tempuratures after a few runs on the track, the thing still feels cool. good luck.

 

Amazing that did not do this simple cost effective modification from the factory!

 

I had my front end re painted black last year. I had specifically told the painter not to paint over the intercooler but I think all the fumes from painting gave him some brain damage. I went to pick up the car and to my surprise , the intercooler was black. I actually thought it looked pretty good and stealthy so I decided to let the painter slide. He actually gave me a discount for screwing up. A month later I had the intercooler replaced because of this exact issue. I kept thinking about the negative effects of having a layer of paint over the intercooler and possibly hurting the perfomance.