Will painting an Alradco aluminum radiator decrease its efficiency?

[V6POWER]

Will painting the Alradco aluminum radiator with Krylon satin black paint decrease the radiator cooling efficiency?

 

[87chrisss]

Good question! I have always wondered about this. I have wanted to paint intercoolers before to hide them. But again the stocker came black from factory so do the PTE SLIC so not sure.. Great Question!


Sub'd

 

[Squid4life]

I ran the powder coated ALRADCO in one of my cars and tested the crap out of it: used it with a front mount IC, used both oil and trans coolers in the rad, and controlled the fans manually. I rarely used the fans it cooled so well.

Just don't put nine coats on it and you will be fine. Just haze the fin area too, try not to overly coat it.

 

[TT/Ameasap]

Black reduces temps vs raw aluminum. It has been tested many times.

 

[V6POWER]

Thanks for the feedback, Squid4life.

 

[V6POWER]

Black reduces temps vs raw aluminum. It has been tested many times.

Does that statement mean that painting will decrease efficiency?

 

[TT/Ameasap]

No. The black paint increases the aluminum exothermic properties resulting in an increased efficiency.
The air charge, as a result, is cooler.

 

[87chrisss]

No. The black paint increases the aluminum exothermic properties resulting in an increased efficiency.
The air charge, as a result, is cooler.

Good stuff

 

[87chrisss]

No. The black paint increases the aluminum exothermic properties resulting in an increased efficiency.
The air charge, as a result, is cooler.

The op is actually refering to a Radiator but same concept they both are Heat Exchangers

 

[turbo nasty]

Fwiw eastwood makes radiator black paint just for heat exchangers.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Why "Da Grump" painted the inner fenders on his race cars black...

 

[V6POWER]

Fwiw eastwood makes radiator black paint just for heat exchangers.

Thanks. I will go that route.

 

[mikes86ttop]

Doesn't Alradco offer a powder coated version?... Mike

 

[Squid4life]

Yep, that's what I ran. Worked perfect!

 

[V6POWER]

It is powder coated and $100 more.

 

[mikes86ttop]

So a couple light coats of spray paint should be fine...Mike

 

[V6POWER]

Another question......would the radiator paint from Eastwood provide more cooling efficiency than powder coating?

 

[Nick Micale]

Black reduces temps vs raw aluminum. It has been tested many times.

This is a true statement as black will radiate heat better, but the thicker powder coat treatment may hinder heat transfer somewhat, but it should not present a cooling issue in normal conditions.

The black paint used on radiators is a special type , but many of us use the normal spray can paint!

 

[dynoman]

This is from Swaintech race coatings
http://swaintech.com/race-coatings/race-coating-descriptions/bbe-heat-emitting-coating/

 

[V6POWER]

Thanks for the info, Nick and dynoman.