Painting ETS TMIC

[DeeZ NuttZ]

Going to be painting the TMIC. What type of paint would you guys suggest? I'm thinking High Temp Krylon, stuff they use on engine blocks. (idhitit)

 

[Monstar]

I wouldn't suggest it...The thermo tape that's on the TMIC I sold you, is there for a reason.

 

[FORZDA 1]

Going to be painting the TMIC. What type of paint would you guys suggest? I'm thinking High Temp Krylon, stuff they use on engine blocks. (idhitit)

The paint acts as an insulator, so I wouldn't paint it. If you must have a different color, I recommend anodizing. Maybe even polish it.

 

[sharky]

Definitely don't paint the fins!!!! It will prevent heat transfer and make your IC mostly useless.

You could paint the outside part if you wanted. You would lose a bit of effectivness. It doesn't get that hot. You don't need header paint or anything super fancy. I'd try dupli-color engine enamel. It is tough and will hold up to the heat. The IC probably gets too hot for standard spray paint.

 

[Turninconcepts]

As others have said, don't paint it with standard paint. If you are going to do it either use radiator paint or have it coated in thermal dispersant.

Tony

 

[Nosaj]

I remember reading in Sportcompact a couple years ago that painting a IC is fine they used flat black intended for gas grills.

 

[Garry68]

http://www.nicindustries.com/heat_dissipation.php

 

[SamNavy]

Definitely don't paint the fins!!!! It will prevent heat transfer and make your IC mostly useless.

You've got no clue.

I've read dozens of writeups from guys using some fairly good before/after datalogging, not only to include pre/post intercooler IAT's, but also surface temps of IC's using laser thermometers... and the data is conclusive. Painting the endtanks has virtually zero impact on efficiency, and a light coating over the frontal area of the fins has a minuscule effect... if I remember correctly, it most guys were saying that even at slow speeds in boost, it was no more than a 5* delta in IAT, and as speed increased, the delta came down. Several very in-depth long-term testers essentially said it made no difference at all.

At least one of these was a Subie guy also using a TMIC.

Using a flat-black hi-temp enamel (Radiator Paint) on your FMIC is a great way to get a bit more stealth out of your setup. If it's done right, with good prepwork, clean environment, proper temperature, correct application, and sufficient dry-time between coats, it can look damned good, be long-lasting, and not impact your performance at all. The only guys I've seen with painted TMIC's were ricer's who prided themselves on extreme hard-parking.