Black intercoolers mythbusted - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

ANVIL · 10-04-2014, 01:30 PM

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 · 10-04-2014, 01:35 PM

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 · 10-04-2014, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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

simmode1 · 10-04-2014, 02:53 PM

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

Matej · 10-04-2014, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmode1

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 · 10-07-2014, 10:40 PM

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?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

5280VertDET · 10-08-2014, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

JBB · 10-08-2014, 08:58 AM

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/show...t-s-efficiency

S14kouki805 · 01-09-2015, 05:38 PM

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 · 01-09-2015, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

S14kouki805 · 01-10-2015, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claaasssiiiccc21

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 · 01-10-2015, 03:02 PM

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 · 01-10-2015, 11:09 PM

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 · 01-22-2015, 03:59 PM

Thanks I will try the aircraft paint remover.

10-04-2014, 01:30 PM	#1
ANVIL Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 1,174 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	Black intercoolers mythbusted 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?

10-04-2014, 01:35 PM	#2
ATLspeed Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Eden, MD, USA Age: 38 Posts: 921 Trader Rating: (14) Rides Gallery: ATLspeed Feedback Score: 14 reviews	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 __________________ 93 s13 Vert - 2jz/cd009 -- parted/sold 95 Supra Turbo

10-04-2014, 02:53 PM	#4
simmode1 Post Whore! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Addison, TX Posts: 5,526 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Only reason I'd paint an intercooler black is to keep the car a sleeper. Gotta paint the piping too then... __________________ "Simplicity is the key to brilliance." - Bruce Lee

10-07-2014, 10:40 PM	#6
street_sleeper Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Georgetown TX Age: 41 Posts: 346 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Black intercoolers mythbusted 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? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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10-08-2014, 08:58 AM	#8
JBB Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Irvine, CA Age: 37 Posts: 490 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	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/show...t-s-efficiency

01-09-2015, 05:38 PM	#9
S14kouki805 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: California Age: 43 Posts: 808 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	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.

01-10-2015, 03:02 PM	#12
feito Nissanaholic! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,999 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	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.

01-10-2015, 11:09 PM	#13
joe3180 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: 909 california Posts: 356 Trader Rating: (11) Feedback Score: 11 reviews	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.

01-22-2015, 03:59 PM	#14
S14kouki805 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: California Age: 43 Posts: 808 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Thanks I will try the aircraft paint remover.