Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

Has anybody painted plenum tubing?

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Old Mar 16, 2008 | 09:50 PM
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Default Has anybody painted plenum tubing?

I was thinking about shooting my boost tubing after the intercooler the same color as the car? Wasn't sure about the heat though if it would peal? Any idea on the temperature range it is?
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Old Mar 16, 2008 | 10:02 PM
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I doubt the charge piping will get super hot. I mean it will get warm but not like and exhuast. If your worried about it get high temp paint from summit. The autozone stuff kinda sucks. All my pipeing is ceramic/power/ or high temped flat black exhuast charge.

http://www.sidewayz.net/turbota

check link above for pics.

Chris

Last edited by Sideways240sx; Mar 16, 2008 at 10:18 PM.
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Old Mar 16, 2008 | 10:13 PM
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Link doesn't work.

I thought about ceramic but kinda wanted a nice pearl paint.
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Old Mar 16, 2008 | 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Banshee Ben
Link doesn't work.

I thought about ceramic but kinda wanted a nice pearl paint.
Sorry man, typo on my part. It should work now.

You could do ceramic but it will either be a polsished look, or black pretty much. Great thing about ceramic is it keeps temps down, cools down quicker, and wont scratch or anything.

You could maybe power coat them, Not sure if you will be able to match the color exactly, but should be close.

Or a spray can. I dont see the chrage side of your piping getting all that hot, but i could be wrong.

Chris
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 10:28 AM
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I painted my piping black when I did my FMIC. No problems so far.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:07 PM
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I had mine ceramic coated dark grey. It's very tough, especially after a few underhood heat cycles to cure it:



For 3 pieces of 3" tubing, total length maybe 40", it was a 100 bucks locally. They had matte black and the standard silver header coat too, but the grey and black are rated to 1800F but the silver only to 1500.

Jim
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 01:13 PM
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i have used chrome, paint, and header coating
the chrome i wont use again, as the copper coating on the inside would peel off, guess where it goes
i used the same color as my car on one setup, worked ok, use hardner in the paint-remember, output air can reach 330 degs (i ck'ed the temp @ 18 lbs once)
i prefer the silver header coating, but thats my choice-hope this helps
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 04:58 PM
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use regular paint, if you have some leftover from your car or whatever it will hold up just fine. Remember a black car in direct sunlight will reach close to 180* surface temp in some areas. I paint all my engines with automotive paint, and if the prep is good it sticks great. Never even had any problems around exhaust ports and stuff. Turbo outlet temps will max around 250*, no big deal.
\Gary
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Old Mar 18, 2008 | 06:54 AM
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Has anyone painted their intercooler?
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Old Mar 18, 2008 | 07:08 AM
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I have seen some people paint their intercoolers flat black for that "stealth look."
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Old Mar 18, 2008 | 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Urban Legend
I have seen some people paint their intercoolers flat black for that "stealth look."
Wouldn't painting the intercooler kill the efficiency of it. The specific heat of the paint would have to suck azz compared to aluminum. I guess the intercooler would be a big heatsink.

Keith
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Old Mar 18, 2008 | 11:27 PM
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No clue about the lose of cooling efficiency. Some people have done it. I haven't and won't do it either. Mine is nice and chrome.
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Old Mar 18, 2008 | 11:31 PM
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You shouldn't paint, or powder coat an intercooler or radiator. The paint actually clogs the fins up and the air cannot get through. What you can do is anodize the intercooler what ever color you like, also can be done on radiators. Anodizing is the only way to do it right.

Chris
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 12:44 AM
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I did some super-light coats of Eastwood Radiator Black on the front face of my FMIC for stealth, and painted the end tanks with Eastwood Chassis Black. My IAT's didn't change at all after the paint, since it only went into the fins maybe 1/8" (out of a 4.5" thick core), but it sure got harder to see... The fins aren't at all clogged with paint either.

Jim
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 03:38 AM
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I was thinking about dipping my intercooler in gold for that bling effect.

J/K
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 06:49 AM
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hahahahaha that funny
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by DeltaT
I did some super-light coats of Eastwood Radiator Black on the front face of my FMIC for stealth, and painted the end tanks with Eastwood Chassis Black. My IAT's didn't change at all after the paint, since it only went into the fins maybe 1/8" (out of a 4.5" thick core), but it sure got harder to see... The fins aren't at all clogged with paint either.

Jim
Yeah, they do have radiator specific paint out there. Still the best way to do it is to anodize it, but obviously that isnt the ONLY way to do it. Black intercoolers are where its at.

Sean
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 04:39 PM
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plug up the fins??? thats a retarded statement, maybe you should take a painting class. If done properly it will have zero negative effect, and actually will slightly improve heat dispersion, as black has natural properties of dissipating heat. Just dont go ape-**** on the paint, so you dont plug up the fins like a noob with a spraycan, and youll be fine.
Gary
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 06:54 AM
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were can i get my pipes ceramic coated and how much does that cost?
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 06:56 AM
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check out the sponsor list on the right, Whistler dose that stuff FX CCs
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