Gary Wells

Leave it or black out the intercooler?

jcollege

iTrader: (2)

Leave it!

GFallen

Leave it...looks good.

NIKDSC5

iTrader: (10)

I believe in blacking it out. Only problem is changing its thermal dispersing abilities. So basically the only proper way to do it I would think would be anodize it. Paint, or ceramic, or powder coating would all act like a blanket and the cooler would become less efficient.

I guess my answer would be no, unless anodizing.

http://www.qats.com/cms/2010/11/09/h...e-part-1-of-2/

isis

iTrader: (1)

Black out the end tanks and plates. Leave the fins alone.

NIKDSC5

iTrader: (10)

This.....is also a fantastic idea! FTW

Edit: And likely cheaper

vmapper

iTrader: (8)

Yep, Black anodized would be the proper way...
Or LED strip hidden and show off that intercooler like i did.

Gary Wells

OK, I'll bite.
Got any pics?

punishmentcycle

iTrader: (6)

Actually lightly painting an intercooler black makes it more efficient. Just dont gobb the paint on there.. Light coat or two

NIKDSC5

iTrader: (10)

Care to explain how?

Becker

iTrader: (4)

Any condensor with any buildup, dust, paint or whatever is less efficient. One more layer before heat extraction can begin.

punishmentcycle

iTrader: (6)

But i did it and painted mine satin black. Did some logging of iat before and after and my iats were 4* degrees cooler. No debate needed,it is true but my sole purpose was to hide it and i didnt go crazy... Light coats

rand49er

Did this back in '07. Trouble is you can't see it through the grill.

NIKDSC5

iTrader: (10)

Your IAT logging is nothing solid to go off, unless you had two coolers that you exchanged quickly and went back out to log the same day. Way too many variables to count that.

But after that video, the difference with airflow was negligible. And with out air flow that is a duh moment. It is widely known black surfaces will radiate heat better, so of course the test temps will be better.

So I don't know, maybe it would help some for a short time off the hit, but past that it made no difference.

I maintain that anodizing is the proper way to do this, but painting it (lightly*) will obviously not hurt it either.

At any rate the OP's question I feel has been answered

Gary Wells

I don't think that you can anodize that as a unit.
Are the joints welded or silver soldered?
As an assembly, it may not hold up to the hot
etch tank they drop them to clean them.
Ano would be the proper & professional way
to go though.

Many thanks fofr all of the suggestions & info.