Bad idea to paint radiator?

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Well is it? I'll be using a silver 1200 degree heat resistant ceramic paint if that makes a difference. The only thing i can think might be a problem is if it somehow blocks air or something from cooling it, but i dont see how paint would cause that. If anything, the ceramic paint might keep the fluid inside cooler and shield it better from the engine heat. Any thoughts? Anyone ever done it?

 

[Gravel]

Yeah, if you are using heat resistant paint you will affect the heat transfer..

Paint the tanks but dont paint the core..

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

if i used plain old spray paint would it be ok?

 

[Gravel]

You want to use a radiator spacific paint. It is thinner and will not flake causing flow restriction..

 

[92BlackGT]

paint will act like a blanket on the radiator and not allow the heat a 'radiate' out as the air flows through. Paint will not sheild the coolent from getting hot....the water is already above 180* because it is in the block and flowing out to the radiator to cool off, if you paint on it, it will just hold the heat in. If you dont want it black, get an aluminum radiator.
Ceramic coated headers, hold the heat inside of the header pipe to keep under hood temperatures down.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Eh i guess i'll just say F it, i'll just wait till this one dies and buy a nice 3 core. I'm just pulling a bunch of crap off trying to clean things up and i've already got all the accessories and their brackets off, and i took off the radiator hold down brackets to paint them and thought it would be cool if i could paint the radiator too....oh well.