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

[jumpfroggy]

A good test would be measuring the air intake temps before and after painting with black. This would be horrible innacurate in a scientific way (ie. comparing plain metal, spray paint, and anodizing), but it'd be very practical from a "does it matter" sense. If painting does not change the air intake temps, then it would seem like the theory wouldn't matter in that situation.

I'd love to know the answer to this question, as theft is a huge problem where I live. I'd rather sacrifice a bit of efficiency and be stealthy, rather than discover my car is gone last thanksgiving morning from my own driveway right when I had to leave for a turkey dinner... damn theives!

Has anyone done this? Anyone want to volunteer for the sake of the curious?

 

[GVR4592]

A good test would be measuring the air intake temps before and after painting with black. This would be horrible innacurate in a scientific way (ie. comparing plain metal, spray paint, and anodizing), but it'd be very practical from a "does it matter" sense. If painting does not change the air intake temps, then it would seem like the theory wouldn't matter in that situation.

I'd love to know the answer to this question, as theft is a huge problem where I live. I'd rather sacrifice a bit of efficiency and be stealthy, rather than discover my car is gone last thanksgiving morning from my own driveway right when I had to leave for a turkey dinner... damn theives!

Has anyone done this? Anyone want to volunteer for the sake of the curious?

It would be practically impossible to do that. I can do back to back runs, or do a run and let the car cool back down, then do another one, or however you want. The intake temps will never be the same between the runs. I always closely monitor intake temps when I datalog and that is one thing that is rarely consistent. It will be within 5-7 degrees on every run, but you wouldn't be able to tell if it was from the intercooler paint, or a little bit of heatsoak.

I like the general idea though, if there was a more accurate way to test it I would do it in a heartbeat.

 

[Mitsubishified]

Hey man if you are going to spray paint your fmic for the sleeper look go for it, if you are like me and like the look of the intercooler looking sexy on the front of your lady then keep it polished. It's your choice and its always easy to remove paint if you don't like it.

 

[jumpfroggy]

So absolute temps are not consistent, but would temp drops be better? One temp sensor just before the intercooler, one just after, and just keep track of the difference between the two. That would rule out ambient and other factors, but would still be susceptible to heat soak. Seems like it'd be more consistent too, since you're not measuring a whole system of variables, just one part of it.

But the original tenet is same; if you can't measure the difference at the intake, does it really make a measurable difference? (By definition, it would seem not). BTW, interesting to hear about the variation... I haven't datalogged, so it's interesting to hear from someone who has.

BTW, anyone know of a small temp sensor that would accomplish this? Just something that measure's temps and spits out a signal/serial data/etc.

 

[Splitpi]

Anadozing is the best way to do it. Some have had good luck with a LIGHT spray of spray paint, but it WILL build up. If I were to do it to my car I owuld have it anodized, but I have to admit I like the look of a shiny front mount.

You can only anodize aluminium. The process will "eat" or damage steel or stainless steel. Most endtanks are steel or some sort of steel material.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

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

It looks to me like the 'light coat' theory is accurate. I'll definitely strip it down.

 

[underradar92]

These guys have a coating which I believe is black or dark grey that actually INCREASES heat transfer by 10-15% http://www.swaintech.com/ Sure its spendy, but they say it works well, and BTW, be very careful with who you have do your anodizing, it's possible to etch the little fins into nothing.

 

[Splitpi]

These guys have a coating which I believe is black or dark grey that actually INCREASES heat transfer by 10-15% http://www.swaintech.com/ Sure its spendy, but they say it works well, and BTW, be very careful with who you have do your anodizing, it's possible to etch the little fins into nothing.

Thats because anodizing does not treat steel at all well.

 

[GVR4592]

So absolute temps are not consistent, but would temp drops be better? One temp sensor just before the intercooler, one just after, and just keep track of the difference between the two. That would rule out ambient and other factors, but would still be susceptible to heat soak. Seems like it'd be more consistent too, since you're not measuring a whole system of variables, just one part of it.

But the original tenet is same; if you can't measure the difference at the intake, does it really make a measurable difference? (By definition, it would seem not). BTW, interesting to hear about the variation... I haven't datalogged, so it's interesting to hear from someone who has.

BTW, anyone know of a small temp sensor that would accomplish this? Just something that measure's temps and spits out a signal/serial data/etc.

I have sensors pre and post intercooler, and I datalog them with my AEM EMS. Autometer makes a gauge that can read two seperate sensors and display them independently by pushing a button on the gauge.

 

[underradar92]

Thats because anodizing does not treat steel at all well.

Also because the fins are foil-thin and anodizing involves caustic chemicals.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

Also because the fins are foil-thin and anodizing involves caustic chemicals.

The fins are aluminum...

 

[underradar92]

The fins are aluminum...

I know that. I've seen (aluminum) parts that were left in too long and eroded, due to operator error, that was my only point on that.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

Gotcha. Quoting the comment about steel threw me off.

You are indeed oxidising the aluminum so too long an exposure to the acid could oxidise more than is good for the fins.

 

[91-gsx]

I was wondering if I could paint my fmic black without any negative side effects? I only want to do this because of the cops that we have around here and california laws. I really do not want to be pulled over because of a fmic, when under the hood is a full t3 setup... definately does not look stock . Will painting it reduce its efficiency and cooling effect?
thanks for the help

 

[andymoraitis]

Anodizing would be the best bet since it penetrates the metal and doesn't create a change in thermal efficiency. Truth be told, you could get away with black paint suitable for a radiator and while it will attract more heat due to the color, any effect should be pretty minor. If you're feeling really ghetto, grab some permanent marker (lots of 'em) and go to town.

Have fun!

Andy

 

[GVR4592]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235380&highlight=radiator+paint

You can read through all of that if you want, or I can sum it up for you. The bottom line is paint doesn't have a noticeable effect on overall efficiency. Spearco and Garrett have done testing on it, and the effects are negligible. Spearco actually used to sell intercooler paint, which I'm sure was just repackaged radiator paint as Andy suggested.

 

[91-gsx]

I actually just read around and have a better idea. Instead of painting the whole thing black, I'm just going to paint the endtanks black and then cover up the fins in between the bars(since this is bar and plate) with tape. Then I am going to paint the bars black and not the fins so that the cooling of the fins is not affected. Although this much attention to detail might not be required, I'd rather do it right the first time.
Thanks for the help

 

[fulanititoo8198]

I actually just read around and have a better idea. Instead of painting the whole thing black, I'm just going to paint the endtanks black and then cover up the fins in between the bars(since this is bar and plate) with tape. Then I am going to paint the bars black and not the fins so that the cooling of the fins is not affected. Although this much attention to detail might not be required, I'd rather do it right the first time.
Thanks for the help

Can you imagine what it would look like? like a zebra or you sure you want to do that?

 

[mavisky]

Just put a few light coats of black on it and call it a day. My ghetto intercooler has actually been painted to give each individual core a consistent look.

 

[tkrPerformance]

I painted mine on my evo III

 

[selmerguy]

Use some of that thermal coating paint. It looks flat when you paint it.

 

[ihatemy420A]

I'll add to this, I painted mine with no negative side effects, it still cools just fine.

Go for it

 

[91-gsx]

Thanks for all the input and help guys. I will be painting it black, but I will make sure not to spray too much on the fins. ... Now the car will have a stock looking 3" exhaust, and an undetectable fmic. Too stock looking for my 400+whp goal .
later

 

[Module Unknown]

Paint away. I painted mine well over a year ago with no ill effects. The only problem with paint though is it will chip off... but it still doesn't look too bad as the majority of it will still remain black and keep the core from standing out; in my experience.

I used BBQ Grill paint on mine. I think I picked it up at Orchard off Cottle, but any hardware store should have the stuff.

Here's mine freshly painted. I should take a pic of what it looks like now, a year later and after taking all the abuse of loose gravel due to the construction on 101. The front of my car is torn up because of 101, but the FMIC survived.

edit: I think my pic was too large, so here's a link instead.

91-gsx, have I ever met you before? Perhaps over at Big Dogs a while back? I remember a couple of 1G guys made it out a couple of times.

 

[hereitcomes]

makes me want to paint/not want to paint mine.