I'd like to spray my intercooler black to match the front end better. Am I inhibiting the cooling process by doing this or is it so minut that it won't make a difference? If spraying it is ok, what type of paint should I use?
Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

I've seen people do it, I don't think it can hurt it TOO bad. Scientifically speaking, the extra coating of paint would affect the thermal conductivity, although it's probably just a small amount. Don't take my word for it, wait for someone who knows more on the subject to reply

 

umm wtf? dont do that... go get it anodized...

 

What intercooler do you have? I painted my stock intercooler black and I definately noticed a difference in power. I wouldn't do it if I were you. Hell I'll sell you my painted intercooler if you want. Asking $50 for it. Personally I wouldn't do it. It does look better at first but eventually rocks will chip away at the paint and it'll start looking like crap about a month after you've painted it.

 

Yes, painting (or anodizing or powdercoating, ...) will reduce the efficiency of the intercooler.

Hard to say. I know Perrin sells black (anodized or powdercoated) intercoolers and if I remember right they said it's fine for applications running <400hp.

It's Fashion vs. Function. It's whatever you prefer.

 

To the OP I would like to suggest an experiment that will help you and the rest of our members on this issue; the rub is it will cost you some $$. Here are the thoughts: First, the OEM FMIC heat soaks quickly so it should be replaced with an aftermarket unit (search "best intercooler" for examples). Now before you order yours, consider this- dyno your car now with OEM non painted FMIC; then paint it and redyno to see if any differences in HP lost as a result of painting. If no losses, then order your aftermarket black FMIC from Perrin for anodizing will have even less of an effect on heat transfer than paint. Recommendation: find a "friend" that has a dyno for your use ... LOL.

Later, Ken

 

Anodize it, don't paint it.

 

I painted my evo VIII intercooler with regular flat black spray paint can. I could not tell any power difference. I had road dyno measuring device and I did before and after runs and got no data whatsoever to indicate any power changes. Same was true when I measured the intercooler sprayer on a 100 degree day - no measurable changes in power. I guess that is why they got rid of it in the IX and the X. Interestingly, switching from the stock paper filter to a K&N drop in netted 2hp so I know the tools I had were indeed working.

What I personally do on all my EVO's is apply screen door mesh behind the stock grille openings. This darkens the opening enough that you can's see the IC from anything but head on. It also is keeping my IC fins in perfect shape - I don't have any bent, or bug filled fins but do have rock chips on the bumper and hood. There are those that will tell you that this restricts air flow, blah, blah blah... but again, I measured before and after, kept a log of engine temps and the screen has no measurable effect on engine performance (at least using the equipment available to me).

If you search for my threads back in '03 days, you can see the majority of people trying to decapitate me for stealthing up my evo citing I'm a EVO butcher and all the theoretical power losses I added to my car, but I did them anyway and have not regretted it since and repeated them when I got my IX, and will do them on the X when I get one.

And just a little more for people to think about...when you paint an IC with spray paint, think of what are you are actually painting for a second. You get to paint maybe the first row of fins and that is about it. That is about 2-3 mm of a core that is over an inch thick. It is not like you are dipping the whole thing in a bucket of paint. The majority of the IC core still remains unpainted. Do you really think this will make any diff in power? I think not and that is exactly the conclusion that my personal testing supported.

Good Luck.

 

Yeah, I think "extinct" idea is a good one, "... apply screen door mesh behind the stock grille openings ...". You avoid the issue of potentially reducing the heat transfer capability and protect the FMIC at the same time. I love two-fers.

Later, Ken

 

I painted the FMIC I installed on a WRX black using high-temp barbecue paint you find at Home Depot. It looked great. People thought it was a Perrin unit. There was no noticeable drop in HP or torque. Lots of WRX owners can attest to that fact. Unless you have a screen it will chip or get specks from road debris. I just touched it up periodically.

 

I want to try "heat dissapating coating"-Swain and others offer ! They "say" a measureable drop in temp after coating. My intake mani. is already coated.. so why not try the intercooler as well...if anyone has already tried this and may have some data??/opinions lets hear them! Pete

 

I was going to paint my intercooler black until I started thinking about all the rock chips and salt around my area. It would drive me crazy to see paint chips on the FMIC. I did a lot of research and came to the conclusion that the Eastwood Radiator paint would be the best paint to use. I actually bought two cans, but will only paint the air conditioning line that sticks out like a sore thumb on the front of the car. Here’s a link to the product I’m talking about:

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...emType=PRODUCT

 

They do make paint/coatings to dissipate heat. The 87 Buick GNX had ceramic coated piping to aid in keep the air temps down.

I agree it will chip and start to look like crap. What about the sun/sunlight baking the thing?

 

though about doing this to mine also..i think arhibabies or whatever his name is i liked how he darkened his..(or was that his red X) and all you could see was the AMS in red..that looked really good

 

you should be fine.i did it one mine and never had a problem