Black intercoolers mythbusted

[ANVIL]

has this been discussed here before? did some searching and didnt find anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1QL9veQaNg

basically they test intercooler temps of a chrome intercooler and then paint it black and test again. results show just from painting the intercooler black, it significantly lowered the air temps.

how many of you guys actually run black intercoolers? im now probably going to either paint or replace mine with a black one after seeing this. and it also got me thinking, why not paint a radiator black? wouldnt it be the same effect?

[ATLspeed]

There is no point, black intercoolers aren't better. Not sure if you are familiar with Engineering Explained but he pretty much burst the bubble.

http://youtu.be/z_mmmXTbLP0

[ANVIL]

There is no point, black intercoolers aren't better. Not sure if you are familiar with Engineering Explained but he pretty much burst the bubble.

http://youtu.be/z_mmmXTbLP0

damn i might as well delete my post then. lol. that was a good video to explain it all

[simmode1]

Only reason I'd paint an intercooler black is to keep the car a sleeper. Gotta paint the piping too then...

[Matej]

Only reason I'd paint an intercooler black is to keep the car a sleeper. Gotta paint the piping too then...
That is the only reason people run black intercoolers as far as I know. I never heard anyone claim they are more effective.

[street_sleeper]

Well think about this. What if you coat the pipes black but keep the intercooler non painted it the best combo. The pipes will radiate some of the heat created from the comprised air inside the pipes, then when it hits the IC, temps drop even more........plausible?


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[5280VertDET]

There is no point, black intercoolers aren't better. Not sure if you are familiar with Engineering Explained but he pretty much burst the bubble.

http://youtu.be/z_mmmXTbLP0

http://31.media.tumblr.com/1e106dd6dc05271bfe1003d2fd617dfd/tumblr_mu2u0zTC611s6w8gdo1_500.gif

[JBB]

My friend and I talked about this around this time last year actually and we came across a thread on the mightycarmods forum. Its pretty long, but interesting to read:

http://forums.mightycarmods.com/showthread.php?27456-Will-painting-my-intercooler-diminish-it-s-efficiency

[S14kouki805]

bumping an old thread here, my car has the intercooler painted black and I want to remove the paint. Any suggestions?

The paint is peeling and looks like shit.

[claaasssiiiccc21]

bumping an old thread here, my car has the intercooler painted black and I want to remove the paint. Any suggestions?

The paint is peeling and looks like shit.

Have it dipped. It will look like new. Just like dipping or hot tanking an engine block.

[S14kouki805]

Have it dipped. It will look like new. Just like dipping or hot tanking an engine block.

Dipping? I'm not following you, dipping in what? I want the aluminum look. I'm trying to remove the paint.

[feito]

Dipping it refers to dipping it in acid. Unless it is a different kind of chemical than the one used on heads and blocks i wouldnt have it dipped. Blocks and heads are made out of cast iron or aluminum and are very thick and solid, aluminum radiators or intercoolers or any kind of cooler with an aluminum core are not, and their header plates (where the lines meet the tanks) are their weakest spot and can be messed up pretty easy. U could end up with a bunch of high pressure leaks. Then again, if u have a high quality intercooler u may get lucky. Still i wouldnt risk it. Try spraying it with brake cleaner and letting it sit for some time, i doubt it's high quality paint anyway.

[joe3180]

or get aircraft paint remover. spray it on and let it set a few mins then hose it off. Its how I removed the paint from my valve cover.

[S14kouki805]

Thanks I will try the aircraft paint remover.