Powdercoating An Intercooler?

[Patrolman]

Have bought an IC to mount in the front on my R33 GTS-T, came fully polished but want to powdercoat it black, just wondered if it cools the air less by doing that

[str00th]

I was thinking of doing the same thing.... im sick of the big shiny wanker effect hanging off the front. I got a hybrid model mounted properly and a stock GTR inter cooler sitting in the garage, its black i wanted to put it on coz it was black but wont fit so i was going to paint the current one black. Reduce efficiency? anyone know?

[TTOBES]

I have been told that chrome parts can hold in more heat.

Have been advised against using chrome sumps and trans pans for that reason.

I would assume that polished parts would do the same.

Most standard radiators are painted black...

Don't know about powder coating, as it is a relatively thick coating.

Perhaps a paint finish would be better...

[mad082]

yeah i would probably go for a quick paint with some matt or satin black. if you powder coat it you may end up with a thick layer through the fins restricting airflow not only through the cooler but to the radiator as well.

[mad082]

the very best way to do it would be to get it annodized black. that way airflow is not restricted at all as you are actually dying the alloy.

[cruzin33]

The best thing to do is to get it ceramic coated in black

[dori34]

just use black spray paint and spray a few light layers over it.

anything else might be too thick and reduce flow

[GTST98]

ive just used a few layers or spray can black paint to repaint my gtr one its seems fine cant pisck a difference cant say i put a temp prob in before or after though. power coat is pretty thick stuff , when thres a small gap say one or 2 mm on the ute trays i make sometimes if they put the power on thick enough it will bridge the gap? if that helps

[Patrolman]

the very best way to do it would be to get it annodized black. that way airflow is not restricted at all as you are actually dying the alloy.

Thanks for all answers,I will check if it is possible to get it annodized , or as some said just paint it black

[260tech]

Thanks for all answers,I will check if it is possible to get it annodized , or as some said just paint it black

For best thermal conductivity, heat transfer rate, dissipation, (imho) ;

1. Bare metal.

2. Anodised.

3. Etch primed or painted, single coat.

Dunno if one colour is more or less efficient than another in this case? Black absorber/white reflector?

After this I imagine you would be heading towards significant insulation qualitys, ie., powdercoating..........................my 2c.

Cheers GW

[SS8_Gohan]

if you find out anything, let us know, interested in the annodized option....

[str00th]

anodized sounds good, wonder what its worth?

[mad082]

a lot of places that do chrome plating do it. otherwise you can do it yourself but it can be messy, and dangerous. but it would conduct heat exactly the same as bare metal since you are actually just dying the metal. you aren't putting another layer over the top. you are changing the colour of the alloy.

[Craved]

The best thing to do is to get it ceramic coated in black

ceramic coatings are designed to keep heat IN, not what you want

[cruzin33]

Ceramic Coat Australia have been doing tank ends for a long time both in black and cermakome, Im pretty sure they use diffrent fillers in the process.

[mad082]

doing the end tank is different to doing the core though. the core is where most of the cooling oocurs.