Black Fmic Kit - Anodizing Vs Powder Coating Vs Painting

[QRI05E]

The following diagram represents my understanding of the cooling process of an interccoler.

meaning that as air passes through the fins, the "thickness" of the FMIC core is where the cooling process happens. Its the same as when GTR's upgrade their FMIC to thicker cores with same frontal dimentions (ie. 600 x 300) that allows them to run higher boost and power levels. Again the same principal with the R33 Vs R34 SMIC...

So can a light coat of paint decrease the cooling capability of an FMIC? i honestly dont think so.. But for an extra $50 might as well get it anodised...

Regards,

Sarkis

[wsln33]

The following diagram represents my understanding of the cooling process of an interccoler.

meaning that as air passes through the fins, the "thickness" of the FMIC core is where the cooling process happens. Its the same as when GTR's upgrade their FMIC to thicker cores with same frontal dimentions (ie. 600 x 300) that allows them to run higher boost and power levels. Again the same principal with the R33 Vs R34 SMIC...

So can a light coat of paint decrease the cooling capability of an FMIC? i honestly dont think so.. But for an extra $50 might as well get it anodised...

Regards,

Sarkis

Hey mate, i just got a price to anodise my cooler and i got quoted 300-400! Think ill be giving it a light coat of matt black primer!

[Smooth32]

personally i like the silver FMIC thats why I bought it and in the two years of driving coppers have only mentioned it once and i told them all turboed 32's come standard with a FMIC and they listened. (i didnt mention how big the standard is lol) but i do know you can buy black FMIC i cant think of the manufactrer but i will get back to you

[GTRgeoff]

Perfectly legitimate reasoning. It is just a replacement part and has no adverse effect on the induction system.

[QRI05E]

I just dropped my FMIC kit to the Anodizers... $130 to anodise the whole kit in matt black... will post up the pics once i get it back later this week.

Cheers

[Ronin 09]

had the new cooler and alu radiator sprayed matte black.

should be fine - std GTR cooler is painted black, as is the radiator and AC condensor.

[QRI05E]

Every FMIC expert i spoke to (PLAZMAMAN) said that paint will affect the cooling properties and will insulate the heat in an intercooler. Radiators are made from copper that’s why they need paint to prevent corrosion. All aluminium radiators are raw and not painted...

Anodising is the only method known to not effect cooling properties... for $130 its worth it IMO.

Results & Pics Soon...

Cheers

Edited February 5, 2007 by QRI05E

[QRI05E]

Hey fellas, just a quick update...

Today I spoke to the anodizer and he told me something quite interesting...

When anodizing a FMIC, the internal part of the core and end tanks are anodized too meaning this will aid in cooling... Black is known to radiate as well as absorb heat therefore when you have an internal temperature greater then the ambient temperature, heat transfer will be outwards.

Micks Motorsport gets all the FMIC's for their big HP cars anodised for that reason.

Pics Coming soon...

Cheers

[nuffsaid]

Where in Sydney is the anodizing being done? And is it still @ $130?

[QRI05E]

I got my FMIC kit anodized at http://www.anodizers.com

There the only place in NSW who anodize car parts...

Cost me $135 + GST = $148.50 Still a good price in my opinion...

Im picking up the FMIC kit tomorrow... will post some pics

Cheers

[AndrewD]

Hey fellas, just a quick update...

Today I spoke to the anodizer and he told me something quite interesting...

When anodizing a FMIC, the internal part of the core and end tanks are anodized too meaning this will aid in cooling... Black is known to radiate as well as absorb heat therefore when you have an internal temperature greater then the ambient temperature, heat transfer will be outwards.

Micks Motorsport gets all the FMIC's for their big HP cars anodised for that reason.

Pics Coming soon...

Cheers

Hey QRI05E,

This is just to help you out,

There are two main heat transfer mechanisms that remove the heat in intercoolers from the charge air. They are conduction and convection. Now the conduction which happens between either a solid material (i.e. core) or stationary fluid acts primarily as a function of TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE and material. Also convection which is the transfer of heat between a moving fluid and surface (ie. core to outside air or inside air to core) and it is primarily a function of the mass flowrate.

Now thats a simplified explanation. Heres how it t's into intercooler design and sizing.

For a given heat to be dissipated (i.e. temperature drop of charge air across intercooler) and for a certain intercooler core arrangement and fin type there exists a minimum SURFACE AREA required for this heat to be dissipated. This then equates to the physical volume of the core which you see as frontal area and thickness. Typically thickness is increased as it is easier or the only available option behind the front fender.

I could go into more detain if you would like, however it gets technical (my graduate studies were on the design and optimisation of a heat exchanger core for a radiator)

Plazmaman is correct in saying that powercoating and even painting to a lesser extend is an insulator. Because these have typically orders of magnitude less conductivity than aluminium and the extended conduction distance between the base surface of the fin and ambient air you get less fin efficiency.

Hope this helps everyone.

[mattymagoo22]

HI guys interesting thread.

The paint that radiator places use is a matt black. The reason they use the matt paint is because your intercooler, radiator condensor etc etc are all cooled by the air that flows through them, matt finish has (when viewed closely) a rippled/bumpy (can't think of better words) finish which in turn creates more surface area (when compared to gloss) which in turn futher aids cooling of the given substance.

Black, however, attracts the heat where as White deflects it.

If you are going to have a front mount you want want the majority of the heat exchanger seeing as much cool air as it can, its no use having a front mount thats obscured by bumper, number plate etc etc so if you're a cop and see a gaping hole in the front of the car and you know what you're talking about its going to be obvious that its there, but I will agree that a black one is harder to see.

I installed my front mount with a fly screen covering it to prevent bugs and road matter from clogging the fins. Its very visable, I'd like stealth but can't be assed doing all that work. For show or For go i guess.

I guess the only way to find out which is best is to do some testing and I bet many people (myself included) actually measure the before and after effect there new cooler has on intake charge temp! So really

to find out exactly whats best we all know what needs to be done, but i'm lazy so I'll let someone else do it cheers people

In the words of Forrest Gump... "thats all I have to say about that".

[QRI05E]

Hey guys, I finally got a chance to pick up my FMIC kit from the anodizers. And here is the result:

Note: The white-ish stuff on the core is only residue and will come of with light brushing or when driving.

Im really pleased with the result and cant wait to get it fitted next saturday...

Cheers

[dontfeelcold]

honestly officer its stock

[dontfeelcold]

I wonder if black anodizing is also good for cylinder heads and pistons?

[QRI05E]

honestly officer its stock

Hahaha damn right! even all the piping will look stock under the bonnet

[QRI05E]

I wonder if black anodizing is also good for cylinder heads and pistons?

Anodizing will only work for (raw or polished) aluminium part.

[GTshortie]

-3 Cans of Flat Black Spray paint for core + piping

-I've also got a mesh which is sprayed black in front of it

-Black Silicon reducers from Justjap

-Masked up the fins of the core, concentrated on the endtanks and tube between the fins, took off the masking tape and did 1 light layer over the fins afterwards.

[made_guy]

Hey guys, I finally got a chance to pick up my FMIC kit from the anodizers. And here is the result:

Note: The white-ish stuff on the core is only residue and will come of with light brushing or when driving.

Im really pleased with the result and cant wait to get it fitted next saturday...

Cheers

hey man - you got pics of it installed??

[tridentt150v]

Why not anodise it, then paint it [with the proper paint]? That way if you get a stone chip, it still won't show!!!