Intercooler black paint experiment

[Halon]

Cliff notes added to first post for ya Andrew.

[Speedfreak]

Mo, why not anodize it? Seems to me like that would be better than paint. Cost is a bit higher though.

Until this thread, doing anything to the intercooler didn't even cross my mind. If I go down the black path, I will def consider anodizing.


Can't watch the video here at work, can anyone give cliff notes? Based on comments it seems like the black performed better with little airflow, but about the same with a fan across it?

That pretty much sums it up.

[Kracka]

The thing I didn't like about the anodized intercoolers I've seen is they all seem to fade with age, especially the fins. Maybe they were just poor jobs (ETS, wouldn't surprise me) that didn't get good penetration, but that's just what I've observed.

[asshanson]

Grimmspeed says they use Tech Line thermal dispersant coating, which sounds a lot like the nanostructure ceramic coatings. I may decide to take my intercooler up with me this week and have them do it. They said somewhere around $150, depending on core size. If I do get it done, I'll post up results after.

[Kracka]

They use the same coating that I had on my intake manifold. I'll be very curious to hear your results as I think it will be noticeable at lower speeds around town.

[2slow4now]

Doesn't seem like it would work that way like in the video but if you talk with old school v8 guys if they were concerned about engine heat they would avoid using chrome and shiny stuff in the engine compartment. Why? To not reflect the heat back at the engine.
Also usually when a heat shield is made ever notice they are usually shiny to reflect the heat away from the item they are protecting.

A black IC could have disadvantages. Possibly on a hot day and the pavement is radiating 115+ temps the black would absorb the heat while the shiny IC would reflect it away. Both getting 100 degree air temp flowing across them which would cool better? The shiny one reflecting the high pavement temps away or the black one absorbing the higher temps?
Then what about the heat off the radiator since it's so close to the IC?

A real life road/track experiment would be great to see the results.

[dsmreck]

^ very valid points made there. Maybe painting the radiator would be the answer to one of them.