Painting heat exchangers

[Pete_89T2]

Why not just give it a thorough cleaning and call it a day? A good degreaser/engine cleaner and a pressure washer will do wonders on an AL oil cooler.

You'll have to get it really clean anyway before you paint it if you want the paint to last.

[need RX7]

Originally Posted by Pete_89T2

Why not just give it a thorough cleaning and call it a day? A good degreaser/engine cleaner and a pressure washer will do wonders on an AL oil cooler.

You'll have to get it really clean anyway before you paint it if you want the paint to last.

I'm just concerned about it getting all dull again once exposed to the elements without any kind of coating. You are right though, I will have to clean it thoroughly to paint it, so I'll see what it looks like at that point and make a decision.

[RETed]

Almost any "paint" is going to introduce a layer of insulation.
This goes counter to what you want in an efficient heat exchanger.
The only exception is perhaps (aluminum) anodizing, which is basically a dye.

If you want maximum performance, don't paint it.
Bottom line.


-Ted

[C. Ludwig]

Originally Posted by RETed

Almost any "paint" is going to introduce a layer of insulation.
This goes counter to what you want in an efficient heat exchanger.
The only exception is perhaps (aluminum) anodizing, which is basically a dye.

If you want maximum performance, don't paint it.
Bottom line.


-Ted

Truth.