Stealth Intercooler

[Abo Bob]

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/sh...ead.php?t=54462

In this thread that I started a while ago someone said they had theirs annodised to good effect.

[carl h]

a light coat of spray paint does wonders......

else get it coated, here we have swain coatings and that increaces thermal effecincy as well as blacks out the intercooler.

[GTRgeoff]

After extensive discussions on this topic with other engineers and fellows in the automotive field/SAE the result was that a layer of paint will essentially cancel any benefits. The core is a matt aluminium anyway so will be quite efficient. If the natural finish were a matt black it would be fine but the thermal barrier of the paint takes as well as gives. Nothing is free. Powdered gold is the finest radiating medium discovered, from memory, as it is pure matt black but a bit too exxy for me.

A story goes that a fine craftsman made a home radiator from brass and copper, all finely polished, but was freezing through winter, although the radiator would burn when touched. He sought advice and was told to sandblast the radiator. This he did with a tear in the eye after all the hard work, and the result was a great home heater.

My advice is to hide it behind meshlike Pred. has done.

[666DAN]

Also I was under the impression that it's only if the interior of the intercooler was black that any thermal benefit would be had...by having the black on the outside you're setting up a reverse bias for heat dissipation, so on a hot day the paint will make the transfer of heat from the air inside less efficient.

[Abo Bob]

Meh, I think we are talking about poofteenths here.

I mean there are plenty of other variables that are more important.

I painted mine black and I'm positive it works well. Others don't and theirs work well too.

[GTRgeoff]

Bob's right. I have a post intercooler temp sensor and the outlet is always within 1 degree of ambient when driving over 60 kmh. Under 60 and it can creep up several degrees if the road is hot.

I will caution though that I once unintentionally parked so the car (and intercooler) was facing the summer afternoon sun. Got in and drove off, no heroics, just a light accel pressure and the car instantly started detonating. This was after a short warmup idle and a drive through a carpark.

[Turbo Tits]

Turbo Tits.

Can't anodise an intercooler.

I spoke to my aluminum guys about it.

Too many fins and little nooks and crannys that the chemicals they use wouldn't be able to get in there properly.

I just got a pressure pack and sprayed mine and it looke great, works great.

Remember, on a road car an intercooler is just a heat sink anyway.

BASS OUT

all very good and well, but id speak to anodizing professionals who are actually in the business before you make a firm decision.

[Turbo Tits]

Turbo Tits.

Can't anodise an intercooler.

I spoke to my aluminum guys about it.

Too many fins and little nooks and crannys that the chemicals they use wouldn't be able to get in there properly.

I just got a pressure pack and sprayed mine and it looke great, works great.

Remember, on a road car an intercooler is just a heat sink anyway.

BASS OUT

i'd question that little explanation you were given if i were you. but here's not the time or place for a debate. as long as your happy with your result, thats all that matters.

[Grinch]

there is a produc called stealth coat from swain technoligy it's a powder coating that is made to increase the thermal effency, and disipate heat better, plus it's black hince the name. Hope this helps

[GTRgeoff]

Sounds interesting Grinch, but at the very least, talk to a radiator place and try to use their paint.

[williamsf1]

ask yourself this, why do race cars (where performance is the ONLY thing that matters) have raw alloy radiators and intercoolers? hmmm.... ala F1 in the 80's and INDY CART now.... or any V8 super-taxi with a PWR built radiator... (good bit of kit for the GTR too!)

my money will always on thermal efficency! not blending into car stylist looks etc..... game over