Removing paint from intercooler

[434nova]

Previous owner painted my eastern front mount intercooler black. What is the best chemical to use that can remove the paint and not hurt the intercooler? I prefer the aluminum look. Thanks

 

[kjizzle]

You could try aircraft remover. A media blaster may be your best bet, though.

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[guerrajaime845]

Cleaning my tranny Ive tried everything carb cleaners nothing.bought me easy bake oven cleaner cut through grease like butter u need good ventilation stuff strong but i never tried it intercooler before.

 

[~JM~]

Foaming oven cleaner if you can still find it.

 

[V6sleeper]

If your not going to polish the alum at the finish you can just re-paint it, they make a multitude of nice aluminum colors or just powder coat it.
Media blast is gonna hurt the fins.

 

[turbo89]

Previous owner painted my eastern front mount intercooler black. What is the best chemical to use that can remove the paint and not hurt the intercooler? I prefer the aluminum look. Thanks

Lacquer thinner .. just make sure you use it in a very well ventilated area .
it will take it off just may take some elbow grease depending on how thick the paint layer is

 

[kjizzle]

Be careful not to leave any of these on for too long.

A proper media blast with, say, plastic beads or baking soda shouldn't harm it at all, no more than aircraft remover would. Baking soda is so gentle that you can strip the finish off of a cheap soda can. It can take a bit of finesse to not bend the blades, but a competent professional could do it easily. Sand blasting or metal blasting would hurt it. That's just my opinion, I guess. Chemical stripping is probably his best option for DIY, though.

 

[Jerryl]

Not sure about media blasting and powder coating?

It can be media blasted if:
1-End tanks only are carefully done
2-Ensure NONEof the media makes it inside the cooler AND
3-The fins don't get blasted.

More layers of paint only mean less heat transfer.

 

[V6sleeper]

A proper media blast with, say, plastic beads or baking soda shouldn't harm it at all, no more than aircraft remover would. Baking soda is so gentle that you can strip the finish off of a cheap soda can. It can take a bit of finesse to not bend the blades, but a competent professional could do it easily. Sand blasting or metal blasting would hurt it. That's just my opinion, I guess. Chemical stripping is probably his best option for DIY, though.

Its possible I guess, I just know the fins are very delicate.

 

[kjizzle]

Its possible I guess, I just know the fins are very delicate.

I'll retract my comment. It's probably not something that a DIYer should be doing.

 

[V6sleeper]

I had two v2 front mounts re-powder coated black few years ago, no drop in performance but it sure was expensive.

 

[~JM~]

There is some question as to whether or not paint or a coating will affect heat transfer.

The black "paint" that is commonly used on radiators is not just standard black paint. It is a special paint that does not prevent heat transfer. I don't know what type of paint it is. Just know that my friend's father who owned a radiator shop told me that.