Painting A FMIC Flat Black intercooler paint ic [Merged 12-6]

[mike9146]

I will installing my Spearco 2-120 IC soon, and want to make it look as inconspicuous as possible, so I want to give a light "dusting" of flat black. I'd like to know what Ill effects this will have on the IC's cooling capacity. I would assume that it would insulate the core, reducing it's capacity to radiate, but to what extent, I don't know. Does anyone have any idea how detrimental this will be to cooling performance?

Mike C.

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

Call www.indyracecores.com and find out what they do to get there FMIC's black

Later,

 

[DMS-WhiteGSX]

I was down @ Extreme Motorsports last summer and there were a couple people who had thiers painted black. I dont think its too bad for it, but I've heard that the air wont be as cool due to it not being able to get the heat out fast enough or something like that. I was considering doing it to mine though.

 

[larryd]

yeah ive thought of doing it to mine as well.. only bad thing is when things hit it it will chip off the black paint

 

[2-0turbo]

Tom Stangl mentions the use of a thin-coat of BBQ paint on his VFAQ site. The link to the specific page is here. He doesn't have any data, but I wouldn't think it would effect things too much. I am thinking about doing it when I get my FMIC.

 

[BoostinAWD]

NEVER paint your intercooler!!!
Thats like mounting a board in front of it. Won't work.
If you want black get it anodized or something like that.

 

[Turbo Guru]

Originally posted by BoostinAWD
NEVER paint your intercooler!!!
Thats like mounting a board in front of it. Won't work.
If you want black get it anodized or something like that.

I concur with this. If you paint it you will reduce the ability to transfer heat. You would be basically putting a thermally non-conductive layer over the intercooler. Anodizing would be the only option I would consider. In short DON'T paint it, have it anodized if you must have it in black. I like the idea of doing this for sleeper effect, but I would shy away from it personally because black (and darker colors in general) absorb heat faster.

Joe

 

[DSM_Drew]

If you're going to paint it at all I'd use radiator paint, like the stuff Eastwood sells (www.eastwoodco.com). Regular spray paint would be way too thick and drastically reduce efficiency.

 

[tjh-dsm]

Or get it powdercoated, should cost between $30 and $75 (yes, it does vary greatly)

 

[MightyDSM]

Just get a supra fmic, it is black.

 

[Turbo Guru]

Originally posted by tjh-dsm
Or get it powdercoated, should cost between $30 and $75 (yes, it does vary greatly)

Powdercoating would drastically reduce the efficiency of the intercooler by insulating the heat INSIDE the intercooler with a thick layer of paint which is not thermally conductive. This would be counter-productive to putting a FMIC on the car. If anything anodize it. Anodizing is a chemical/ electrical process to basically "stain" the aluminum the color you want it.

 

[JET]

Originally posted by Turbo Guru


I like the idea of doing this for sleeper effect, but I would shy away from it personally because black (and darker colors in general) absorb heat faster.

Joe

You need to think about that a little more Joe! Isn't the point of the intercooler to give off heat? The black coating is actually supposed to absorb the heat from the intercooler, but I know it isn't just plain paint either. I am not sure I agree with it, but I can see the logic behind it.

 

[Enraged78]

I also agree that anodizing it would be the best idea. In terms of thermal transfer, a black anodized heatsink will radiate more heat than a 'clean' aluminum heatsink. Therefore, anodizing will actually make your intercooler more efficient. This is why you see so many black 'high end' CPU coolers made by Alpha. Black anodizing radiates heat faster. I don't know where you would go for this, but it would give you a little edge, and look really cool. Whatever you do, DO NOT paint the intercooler. You would in essence be adding a layer of insulation to the IC.

Later,
Matt.

 

[Turbo Guru]

I mean ABSORB (take in) heat from higher ground (example: track surface) temps into the air you are trying to cool. Otherwise you are right, but the inside would have to be black also to absorb heat better from the inside and radiate it to the atmosphere. I could be wrong, but the theory is correct. I am open to correction, I am not always right. ...

Joe

 

[InferiorWang]

why not put a screen in front of it and paint that black?

 

[mike9146]

why not put a screen in front of it and paint that black?

Because the whole point of making it black is to make it look stock and low-key. The last thing I want is the "Ricer Honduh" look.

Mike C.

 

[eclpsed]

I've seen black SMIC all over, but I've never seen a FMIC in black, or any other color. Does anyone make them? does the color messed up cooling at all? I just got a GSX and I wanted to get a nice FMIC but I dont want a big silver "bling" on my nice gunmetal gray car.... let me know.. thanks!

 

[98eclipseRS]

you can get your fmic powder coated any color you want. My friend just got the front mount on his 240sx powder coated black, stealth mode. I say leave it silverlets people know that you are a ballar.

 

[eclpsed]

yea but i dont like peeps know`n what I have.. and i like dark cars..

anyone know if powered coating messes up the cooling?

 

[GVTalon]

I think IRC offers a black anodized option. Painting or Powder coating builds up a coating that would reduce the efficiency of the intercooler. Anodizing is an electrical process that uses a combination chemical and electrical process that bonds an ultra thin layer of pigment to the metal and really doesn't harm cooling.

 

[joegengsta]

yes, the intercooler, if black, will heat soak a lot more cause black absorbs more heat. the reason its shiny polished from the store is cause this surface reflects heat. now you are soaking it up.. not good!

 

[Tallen]

Originally posted by GVTalon
I think IRC offers a black anodized option. Painting or Powder coating builds up a coating that would reduce the efficiency of the intercooler. Anodizing is an electrical process that uses a combination chemical and electrical process that bonds an ultra thin layer of pigment to the metal and really doesn't harm cooling.

very correct. a microscopically thin hard layer of aluminim oxide and the dye it has absorbed. one helluva tough coating...like on a paintball gun.

anodizing DIY is really not that complecated, but it can be dangerous. RIT dye works, but i prefer the dark, rich colors of special anodizing dyes.

 

[Tallen]

Originally posted by joegengsta
yes, the intercooler, if black, will heat soak a lot more cause black absorbs more heat. the reason its shiny polished from the store is cause this surface reflects heat. now you are soaking it up.. not good!

umm...thats only works for things in the sun...

 

[GVTalon]

Originally posted by GVTalon
I think IRC offers a black anodized option. Painting or Powder coating builds up a coating that would reduce the efficiency of the intercooler. Anodizing is an electrical process that uses a combination chemical and electrical process that bonds an ultra thin layer of pigment to the metal and really doesn't harm cooling.

Wow it was late when I wrote this....I should reread what I write

What it should say--> Anodizing is a combination chemical and electrical process that bonds an ultra thin layer of pigment to the metal and really doesn't harm cooling.

 

[TurBoGs-T]

Originally posted by Tallen


umm...thats only works for things in the sun...

Well isn't a intercooler most effective on a SunnyDay??????