Painting Radiators...

Stumbled across this whilst browsing the interwebs...
http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-radiator-black-paint.html

The real question is, should I leave the radiator natural or follow Mick Jagger's suggestion.

 

I'd paint it black if it helps the shape of the grill stand out.

 

What about heat transfer?

 

http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/nbstechnologic/nbstechnologicpaperT254.pdf

says here that polished surfaces do not transfer heat as well as oxidized or painted surface. Seems that a flat painted surface will dissipate heat better than a gloss painted surface. I thought unpainted would be better, but even an oxidized surface would work better than a smooth one. Oxidation WOULD increase surface area..Aluminum automatically oxidizes ..

doubt you're going to go get some lamp black. I bet there are radiator paints that will help increase the heat dissipation coefficient.

 

I would paint it black... but just the front. Personally I have never liked the visible radiator look, but that's just me. I ran my 66 Impala SS with a raw aluminum radiator for several years, out of laziness more than anything else, and couldn't believe how much better the overall car looked after I finally took the time to paint it. On my Impala I just painted the front so it didn't detract from the rest of the car, under the hood it was still raw aluminum because I think that looks pretty sharp when you pop the hood... but again, that's just me

 

No colors any more I want them to turn black ...

Radiation from black is better, but conduction to the air is hindered by paint. I predict a toss-up in efficiency.

 

hopefully no rolling stones will damage your radiator.

The study I posted seems to refute the idea that paint is bad for head conduction. I didnt want to believe it, but there it is from the NIST archives.

 

Paint it.

 

Sarge, your sig says 2A grille, but it has nine slots... that's MB/GPW.

I kinda think that the radiator is so close to the bars, I'd want some extra protection. I'd fit a bug screen that covers it all. The were a popular accessory back in the day, likely still available. But it would hide that 9-slot grille

 

Some of those ladies have way too much paint!

 

Need to update the signature. The jeep HAD a 2A grill (as seen in the profile pic). The MB/GPW grill was acquired a few weeks ago and made its way in as a part of the engine swap. It's a work in progress

 

I love the 9 slot a lot.

 

Paint it black as it is not recessed as most are.

As for the efficiency of the heat transfer, I've know for decades that the flat black will transfer best. But... I've never seen any data. In other words, how much better? 2%?, 20%?. We often debate that this is better than that without any facts to back it up. Has anyone ever noticed an appreciable difference in before and after radiator paint?

 

I vote to drive it and find out. I find it hard to believe that painting a heat sink (basically what a radiator is) with anything short of some Nasa wonder paint can make it more efficient. Something to do with a guy named Fourier and a law. I do know that the 70 I just bought with the radiator tanks coated with bedliner are not going to cool as well as a clean bare metal unit.