hilbily Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Has anyone painted their radiator with any ill effects? I painted the plastic grates and want to black out the radiator so that they stand out more. Eastwood makes a special alum. radiator paint that is supposed to not inhibit the cooling abilities whatsoever. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Conedodger Posted January 29, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted January 29, 2015 I've lightly sprayed an automotive radiator with Krylon in the past. Was careful not to lay it on too thick. Did not affect the cooling. With our cooling systems on the VFR running close to the limit as is, I would not use Krylon, but the Eastwood stuff looks good. Again, I would do thin/light coats and just enough to cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suitcase Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I like my blondes, apples, vodka and aluminum "natural" ... The aluminum will still transfer engine coolant heat to air, just slightly less efficiently with a coating. ... Are you planning to remove the rads before painting and to give them a thorough cleaning so as to avoid trapping dust and bugs etc in the fresh paint coats.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilbily Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share Posted January 29, 2015 I like my blondes, apples, vodka and aluminum "natural" ... The aluminum will still transfer engine coolant heat to air, just slightly less efficiently with a coating. ... Are you planning to remove the rads before painting and to give them a thorough cleaning so as to avoid trapping dust and bugs etc in the fresh paint coats.? I had planned on blowing them out as best I can with compressed air (carefully and not at 100 psi) and then like Conedodger said doing 1 or 2 very light coats. Just enought to give better contrast with the plastic grates that I have painted yellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Cogswell Posted January 30, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted January 30, 2015 The 2007 RWB rads are black, so it would seem they must have some sort of coating on them. I recently removed my right side rad for another project (20,000 miles on it) and was amazed at how much crud, grit and general crap (leaves, a gum wrapper, bugs etc) had built up. I used tap water in a deep sink to rinse most of it out. There were also quite a few fins bent from bug and rock impacts. A toothpick or a fine dental pick is helpful in straightening them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer dutchinterceptor Posted January 30, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted January 30, 2015 A few coats of high heat radiator paint after going over them with some steel wool and choke cleaner worked great for me. It was several thousand miles and years before they started chipping in a couple spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilbily Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 That thing is a beaut Dutch. I ended up not messing with painting the radiators. Once I got the grates on and everything buttoned up it looks like the yellow will stand out just fine. This is in the basement under crappy lights but you get the idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suitcase Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Nice...eye candy...as are all the silver (and fastest) Viffrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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