I would like to paint my stock intercooler black. Will it hurt the performance of the ic and what kind of paint should I use? Also, has anybody done this before? I did do a search and the last thread on the topic is 3 years old so I thought I would start a new one for the X.


Thanks

 

Like this.

 

you cant just paint it with regular paint it hurts performace call ets and ask them how they paint theres

 

Do not paint the ic with regular spray paint....I did on my VIII, it chips so easy. After a couple months, it looks horrible.

 

Either anodize or get a thermal coating (like Swain BBE) so the efficiency of the IC is either not negatively effected (or helped with the BBE).

 

Hmmm.....http://www.amazon.com/HIGH-HEAT-BLAC.../dp/B000B6DG6S

You are viewing Dupli-Color High Heat Engine Paint - BLACK . Duplicolor High Heat Paint with Ceramic is formulated for high temperature paint applications. Exclusive durable Ceramic formula increases heat dispersion to maintain & protect paint's original finish. Developed and tested in the lab, this high-heat paint will perform up to the most rigorous standards of racing and street rod enthusiasts. Ceramic resins provide protection from exposure to excessive heat and automotive fluids. Resists oil, gas, grease, rust, salt, humidity, and solvents  and temperatures up to 1200°F, intermittently. With EZ Touch nozzle. Price shown is for one 12 oz. can.

 

ETS anodizes theirs!

 

You guys have to realize, that while those would be ideal ways to change the color of an IC, I live in the middle of no where. There just aren't places near by that do things like that. I would probably have to travel over 130 miles for any kind of service like this. All this in account makes painting all the better.

 

First, you search poorly. This has been covered before:

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...heir-fmic.html

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...tercooler.html

Second, this is a terrible idea.

Third, your example pic of the Perrin IC is not painted, they anodize theirs...

 

There is alot of debate regarding this topic.
Will painting it make you lose 100hp? No.
I honestly don't think it will have much effect performance wise, and if it does it will be so small that it really won't matter.

You have to keep in mind that you would just be painting the "face" of the intercooler.
There are fins that run horizontal all across your intercooler core.

http://himni-racing.com/images/inter...20core%202.jpg

Other options would be anodizing, which "stains" the metal to change the color.
Also, there is a heat dissipation coating which will actually increase the efficiency of your intercooler.

 

Evidence for terrible idea?

 

...is contained in a heat transfer analysis.

 

From an Automotive Engineering site.

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.c...=98349&page=10

 

^ not an "automotive engineering site" (its actually just an engineering forum), but it gets the point across.

Sidenote: I'm a structures/thermal engineer.

 

I painted mine flat black, no clear. You will notice no performance degradation based of a couple thousandths of a mil on a DD, on a track car your going to reach heat soak faster because you've added a small thermal blanket from the paint which in turn you'll lose some HP. Your also only painting the exterior so the fins the air passes through are still bare. You can always use a wire brush with a drill to take it off and make it look brand new if you want to go back.