69-chvl

iTrader: (11)

Saw some black ebay intercoolers. Naturally the 1st thing that comes to mind is that its efficiency may be compromised due to the paint/coating. But how much a negative impact can the coloring possibly have?

code4

iTrader: (30)

I lightly sprayed flat black on the intercooler on my turbo rat, IAT's didn't change.

eviltwin_1987

iTrader: (18)

I don't know if there is any proof for this but I have heard in the past that powder coating with a wrinkle finish added more surface area for heat to escape from making the intercooler more efficient.

needaz28

iTrader: (15)

I did this on my ta, on just one side.. took it for a ride in AZ 105 degree heat saw the same iat's..

slow67

iTrader: (2)

If black is so bad, why is every single copper core radiator I have ever seen/had rebuilt painted black?

69-chvl

iTrader: (11)

We'll, there you go

Hi Volume

iTrader: (3)

Only way a black intercooler will hinder you is if you have your car parked in direct sunlight and the sun heats it up considerably. Otherwise, it great having a stealth mode turbo car.

killernoodle

Given an intercooler's job is to dissipate heat into the surrounding air, it wouldn't take long to bring the temp back down to normal operating temperature. I'd say probably 10 seconds of driving.

If you've ever opened up an intercooler or ripped one apart, you'd be amazed at the surface area inside the thing. A coat of paint on the surface isn't going to affect performance in the least bit anyways. Paint conducts heat too and a thin layer isn't exactly a great insulator. Just don't cake paint inside the fins to the point that no air can pass through

Most people who go crazy when someone paints an intercooler have little to no knowledge of thermodynamics.

Unlikely, as the end tanks have very little surface area compared to the interior of the fins. Wrinkle finish wouldn't add much surface area and powder coat is a thick coating of insulating plastic compared to paint, which tends to be thinner.

This is why it doesn't matter that some radiators and intercoolers have plastic end tanks. The fins do the vast majority of thermal transfer. (probably more than 99%)

killernoodle

I'm probably going to black out my intercooler when I get my turbo on.

tta656

iTrader: (5)

cooling doesn't accure on the face of the intercooler,cooling happens as the air pass's thru the fins...Study many years ago with the GN's proved paint is not all bad.

69-chvl

iTrader: (11)

Thanks guys - looks like I'm going black

bmech211

You should inquire as to whether it's actual paint/powder coat or a thermal dispersant coating. If it is indeed paint or powder coat they may have compromised the heat exchanging capabilities of the intercooler.

Fb0dy0nly

iTrader: (10)

Did you read any of the other posts before writing yours???
What do you have to back statement up with? Any proof?
What percentage of loss are you suggesting as well?

Reason I ask is because no else seems to think its an issue and some have done testing themselves (if you read the others posts, you would have seen this).

bmech211

Simply put, by design an intercooler with good airflow through it has a contribution of radiant heat that's extremely small, compared to its conduction and convection properties. Add insulating black paint and you can effectively hamper the conduction of heat from intercooler to air in favor of increasing radiation (think of a radiator style house furnace).

The reason why most folks would see negligible change in their IAT's is because they're simply not cycling the intercooler with enough heat to actually see any drastic changes either way.

As far as a percentage loss, well, that'll be difficult to determine in such a broad spectrum, under variable conditions. However, the radiation constant of a black body is 5.67 and aluminum/copper around 0.28.

All in all, the idea is to transfer heat from your charge air via conduction into the intercooler and pass it on via convection from the airflow through it. Not to essentially turn the intercooler into one huge radiator, as in the example of the house furnace above.

You act as though I gave the OP bad advice. But hey, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, what can I say?

xFLG KING PIN

[Note]
-Leave intercooler UN-painted.


-Dictated, not read.

meine96ws6

iTrader: (4)

I feel as though the intercooler will do its job as long as the air can flow through its fins.

For example Subaru's have mounted their intercoolers square on top of their engine's...they work very well at doing their job.

Could more power be made by converting to a front mount? Probably...

I fell as though the intercooler will be doing most of its work while the car is in motion...so plenty of air will be flowing through it.

sbcgenII

iTrader: (1)

ramairetransam

iTrader: (18)

you saw that too . Im very tempted to paint both my procharger intercoolers

LILHEMI

once you do youll never go back :p

97WS6SCharged

iTrader: (1)

Because copper reacts with air to form a green patina. Ever noticed the green pennies in your pocket?