Painting radiators

[Rebel64]

Has anyone ever painted the sides of their radiator prior to mounting it up on a relocated bracket?
I just want to eliminate the aluminum color around the perimeter of the rad, and bought some high-temp black spray paint for this.
And also, what type of cleaning solution should I use to properly get all residue off of the sides and top of the rad?

[Riblet]

Good question. I am gonna need to do the same thing. I need to clean that filthy fan as well since it will be exposed now.

[OnlyPolaris]

i have seen a few people do it. so it is possible. it looks really good to.

[Rebel64]

I was thinking about mixing up some baking soda with hot water and using a stiff brush to get the perimeter cleaned up.
I just gave the bracket another coat of flat black, so I'm kinda back and forth here today.

[Rebel64]

Found out that liquid TSP diluted down to about 50% with hot water works quite well to clean up the rad with a scotch brite pad.
Just wear rubber gloves because that stuff will screw up and irritate skin.
(no I didn't find that out the hard way)

[mudsportsman05]

^^lol its good you didnt find out the hard way lol.

The only problem I see with painting the sides is keeping the heat from being able to disperse. But I dunno I havent heard of anyone doing it.

[Rebel64]

I only painted up the top and side strips, so hopefully I'll be ok.
There's always a first, right? ;)

[mrwilliamsrzr]

Paint It Pink

[OnlyPolaris]

ya it will match your sexuality.

["Bankrupt"]

Works just fine!!!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/ereagan2180/P1020051.jpg

[OnlyPolaris]

i know 08duramax i think his name is has his painted over on hl. so you should be fine.

[mudsportsman05]

My buddy actually just painted his entire radiator. Including the fins. So I guess its not big deal.

[Rebel64]

Fins too? I thought that might decrease the performance of the radiator, so I taped the vanes off.

[mudsportsman05]

Thats what he did. He said there are a lot of people with hondas who have pained the fins as well with no problems.

[Rebel64]

Hmmm...it sure would look a lot nicer having them sprayed.

[mudsportsman05]

Yea, His turned out real nice. I still havent painted my radiator bracket yet but I plan to within the next few weeks and I need to decide if I am going to paint the fins or not hmm...

[Rebel64]

I need to pull the fan back off and hit it with a couple of coats, so I just might go for the vanes too unless I hear something negative about it.
All I've done so far is like how Eric has his painted.

[mudsportsman05]

Mark, this should get rid of any concern you might have as it just did for me. lol My buddy told me he read this somewhere so I went and dug it up in an old post. A lot of people in the post said they painted theres with no problem.

"If you were well versed in thermodynamics you would surely know that it will alter the heat dissapation by coating the radiator with paint, slightly. Although it will be at such a small degree that you would be hard pressed to be able to measure that small amount without breaking out the flux capacitor.


Seriously, you will not be able to tell adifference, even with a guage, in what little difference spray paint will make on its cooling ability. I have one that is painted and you cant tell the difference."

Someone also pointed out in the thread that Old truck radiators used to be painted , so I think it will be fine.

[Rebel64]

Alrighty then, I'll go for it.
And after all, it'll be cooling better since it's out in the open now anyway.
Thanks Mike.

[mudsportsman05]

Wait a second... Lol
I just found another post that says the twin cylinders run much hotter and that they wouldnt recommend painting the fins only the sides.
But I dunno, that quote I posted early seemed like the guy knew what he was talking about.What does TIm think? After all hes pretty dang smart. lol
I will pm you the posts that I found and maybe you can make a better judgement.
My buddies bike is only a single cylinder so maybe he will be alright.

[Rebel64]

Oh geez, thanks for that curve ball!
Tim did say something the other day about watching how much I put on, but I forget if he meant on the sides or on the vanes.

[mudsportsman05]

yea, my buddy just sprayed the front side with a light coat, and most of the people in the posts said that would be fine as long as you dont spray the back as well.
But I dunno, I think I will defin. paint the fins on mine when I do it.

[Rebel64]

I really don't see how it would hurt to put a coat just on the front side like you said.
I suppose if it acted up and runs hot I could just yank it off and take some muratic acid to it to remove the paint from the vanes.

[cd]

there are many factory radiators and engines painted, we have argued this back and forth for a few years now and I've done some studying on it and never can get a straight answer, so my conclusion is if you want to paint it then paint it, just don't go crazy and coat it with bedliner. If your ever looking for a good paint for this kind of thing PJ1 makes some stuff called Fast Black, good for 500 deg I believe, I use it on all kinds of stuff, very good paint for spray bomb and looks good.

[Rebel64]

Thanks cd. I did hit the vanes with a few coats of some high-temp spray and didn't overdo it. I'm sure over time it will wear off from being washed/sprayed though.

[SouthFLRancher420]

I painted mine and the bike runs no different than before...had the bike running for about 6-7 hours and didnt have any overhaeting problems, in fact i think the fan only kicked on once or twice all day for like 2 minutes each time.