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

[XTurboSpYderX]

way to be an asshole. Thanks to those who answered my question helpfully.

Or you could laugh like I did... you already have the information you need... if you like I could point you to a bank... you could take out a loan and buy yourself a sense of humor...

 

[XTurboSpYderX]

What is the deal with reputation?

I know I haven't been on the site in awhile, but I just got a message from this thread about my reputation, and I am not exactaly sure what I am suposed to do... it 35 points good, or bad?

There isn't even any information about who MADE the post... can someone help me out here?

 

[fallenauthority]

What is the deal with reputation?

I know I haven't been on the site in awhile, but I just got a message from this thread about my reputation, and I am not exactaly sure what I am suposed to do... it 35 points good, or bad?

There isn't even any information about who MADE the post... can someone help me out here?

They never tell you who made it about you just whether it was good rep or bad rep. Probably was bad rep for you making a retarded ass post. I have a sense of humor but your post was not of a helpful nature at all. Now if it answered the question then had a little humor at the end there would be no problem. Maybe you need to get a loan and buy some common sense for when to use "humor". And i dont even see that as humor, seeings as it wasnt funny at all.

 

[XTurboSpYderX]

They never tell you who made it about you just whether it was good rep or bad rep. Probably was bad rep for you making a retarded ass post. I have a sense of humor but your post was not of a helpful nature at all. Now if it answered the question then had a little humor at the end there would be no problem. Maybe you need to get a loan and buy some common sense for when to use "humor". And i dont even see that as humor, seeings as it wasnt funny at all.

You are cool

 

[SpoolinTalon2]

With what type of paint do you guys reccomend when painting your SMIC or FMIC? I have a supra SMIC and want to paint it black. Thanks.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

I'd recomend against it, but if you must I would recomend a very thin coat of high temp ceramic paint.

Or even better, have it anodised.

 

[AVC-R]

I wouldn't paint it if i was you cause when you paint it, you are taking away the thermal conductivity (The ability for the intercooler to get rid of heat). So if you paint it then it wouldn't be as efficent. Also it would have the ability to heatsoak faster.

 

[Turbocharged]

Anodizing would be the prefered method because it won't affect the heat transfer properties of the intercooler too much.

Coating you intercooler with ANYTHING will reduce its efficiency to some degree, FYI.

That intercooler should already be anodized black if I remember correctly.

 

[Splitpi]

I agree with everyone's post, painting it will severly hamper its thermal conduction as paint does not conduct heat nearly as well metal. I would get it anadized. Or if your feeling experimental, do it yourself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anodising
http://astro.neutral.org/anodise.shtml

Course though for cost and labor it probably cheaper in the long run to just have someone do it for you

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Edit: One last thing, you cannot anodize steel or Stainless Steel. The anodizing process eats steel, I believe most end tanks on IC's are steel. One option is a sharpie marker, it will lower its thermal conductivity, but it will be better than painting it. Another option is to put a that dark bug screen mesh infront of it. It will change the air flow, but should allow alot of air through still.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

I would advise against painting it. Even though there are paints that can HELP it efficency of the IC.

 

[Turbocharged]

Anodizing is simple and any electo-plating shop will do it for you. I worked in an electro-plating facility for a couple years. We used ~ 14 oz/gal phosphoric acid solution and a small rectifier.

 

[SpoolinTalon2]

A friend of mine heard that if you do paint it, to use radiator paint. I personally haven't heard of it, have you guys?

 

[15psi88]

I'd do it.

heres why:
http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227244&highlight=painting+fmic

Heres where:
http://eastwood.resultspage.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=10340z

 

[SpoolinTalon2]

Hmmmm... Now I'm a little more confused. The responses people began giving in this thread I started were leaning by far to not painting the IC. But that last link shows people stating and showing pics of their FMIC being painted and saying that they worked fine. So would you guys recommend painting the supra smic with radiator paint? Also, where would I get this because I have never seen it anywhere (other than that website, somewhere i can pick it up)? Thanks.

 

[GVR4592]

It won't affect cooling, just use some radiator paint and it will be fine.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

It won't affect cooling, just use some radiator paint and it will be fine.

Thank you! Glad someone has it!
Anodizing it would be best as far as finish and longevity are concerned, but the cost of merely painting with a black spray can with only a negligable drop in finsih quality is quite appealing.

Painting a radiator or an intercooler will not hamper, said object's, efficiency by any measureable amount.

 

[Quasimondo]

Where are you guys getting this idea that painting the intercooler will affect it's effiency? Unless the intercooler is exposed to direct sunlight for a very very very long time, painting it won't affect how it works, unless you do something foolish like put 10 coats on it and clog the fins.

Use radiator paint or flat black, no more than two passes, just enough to change the color of it and you'll be fine.

 

[Splitpi]

Where are you guys getting this idea that painting the intercooler will affect it's effiency? Unless the intercooler is exposed to direct sunlight for a very very very long time, painting it won't affect how it works, unless you do something foolish like put 10 coats on it and clog the fins.

Use radiator paint or flat black, no more than two passes, just enough to change the color of it and you'll be fine.

Has nothing to do with clogging the fins or the sun its about thermal conductivity. Paint is thermal insulator.

 

[cumpersgsx]

the affect wouldnt be major...if you want to do it then go right ahead...i like the look of mine being out for everyone to see for the most part. At least they know its not a beater

 

[Quasimondo]

Has nothing to do with clogging the fins or the sun its about thermal conductivity. Paint is thermal insulator.

The level of insulation that may be present in painting an intercooler is negligible. The amount of paint that's going to be applied is not enough to have any kind of insulating effect. You'd have to apply more than a few coats of paint, and you'd have to get both the front and back of the intercooler to get any kind of insulation, and even then I have my doubts about paint being an insulator, especially when it's a can of rustoleum.

 

[Turbocharged]

Most paints contain polymers, particularly latex and/or acrylic. These are thermal insulators.

 

[cumpersgsx]

unless he cakes that paint on there it wont make ANY difference

 

[GVR4592]

If you guys had any idea what a painted surface looks like through a microscope you'd be on our side of this conversation. With two coats, it's probably only covering 25% of the intercooler surface. The paint is NOT going through the core it is only covering the leading ede of the fins and that's it. Paint is an insulator and will negatively affect efficiency, but only by about 2-3% with a few coats, don't believe it? Call Spearco, Bell Intercoolers, or Garrett. They've all done testing on it.

At one time Spearco sold intercooler pain, they still might if you call them and ask. I can't seem to find it now but there was a report from Garrett where they painted intercooler cores different colors to see how much they were affected, it was less than 3% overall on every core.

I really don't see why this is even an issue, if some people would be more resourceful they could use the search and see that there was an almost identical thread to this only a few months ago, and a couple more a year or so before that. If you think it will affect efficiency then dont paint your intercooler.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

If you guys had any idea what a painted surface looks like through a microscope you'd be on our side of this conversation. With two coats, it's probably only covering 25% of the intercooler surface. The paint is NOT going through the core it is only covering the leading ede of the fins and that's it. Paint is an insulator and will negatively affect efficiency, but only by about 2-3% with a few coats, don't believe it? Call Spearco, Bell Intercoolers, or Garrett. They've all done testing on it.

At one time Spearco sold intercooler pain, they still might if you call them and ask. I can't seem to find it now but there was a report from Garrett where they painted intercooler cores different colors to see how much they were affected, it was less than 3% overall on every core.

I really don't see why this is even an issue, if some people would be more resourceful they could use the search and see that there was an almost identical thread to this only a few months ago, and a couple more a year or so before that. If you think it will affect efficiency then dont paint your intercooler.

Do you have any links to data on this? Generally I oppose doing anything that will effect performance if there is a better way (which is why I would never paint an intercooler). However, I just bought an intercooler from a friend that he painted pretty heavily with high temp black. (thick enough you can see runs on the end tank) I had every intention of stripping it and anodising it, but if I can save myself the trouble I may leave it. Unfortunately it's already a pretty small core...

 

[Quasimondo]

http://www.turbobygarrett.com/turbobygarrett/tech_center/faqs.html#in14

I want my car to remain a sleeper/stealth. Can I paint or anodize my intercooler so it is not easily visible?

Yes! It is not uncommon at all for an intercooler and endtanks to be anodized black to keep attention away from the car and help it maintain a sleeper appearance. A very light coat of paint on the core and endtanks is also another option, usually much cheaper and easier than anodizing, with a negligible performance loss.