Black absorbs heat, right?

[nidyanazo]

So it's a good idea (well, not cosmetically maybe) to paint the underside of the hood black, after removing the heat insulation. Ah, well that's what I did, and with only a 180* thermo and the rest of the cooling system being stock, my sunpro water temp gauge reads 182-184* at all times, stop and go traffic etc.... Not really sure why I'm starting this thread....Has anyone else painted the underside of the hood? What color? Cosmetic or what? The Black seems to help, now the hood actually gets warm.....hmmm....

 

[NUTCASE]

I dunno about the theory that you are trying to get to but I wouldn't do it becouse heating up the hood more will make the paint on top of it fade faster

 

[TheUser]

I think the idea is that black doesn't reflect light back, thus absorbing light, which brings heat with it. I don't think black paint would help absorb heat from your engine bay. Nice try though

 

[NUTCASE]

ok, gopt the gears turning, I retract my last statement.

colors obsorb and reflect heat via light. when you hood is closed there is no light on the underside, nod does your motor emit any light. even if it did emit light, your motor would produce way more light than your paint could ever obsorb.

in other words, the theory will not work. the only temp changes you experience will be related to the insulation effects of the paint itself and not the color

 

[88stangmangt]

I think the idea is that black doesn't reflect light back, thus absorbing light, which brings heat with it. I don't think black paint would help absorb heat from your engine bay. Nice try though

beat me to it.

 

[Daggar]

Here's an idea... paint the underside of the hood all the colors of the rainbow and let us know which band is the hottest.

 

[nidyanazo]

Oh, see I didn't know the light/heat relationship. Heat is cheating on light.

 

[Blk91stang]

thermal and infared heat are 2 totally different things

 

[Curse]

Here's an idea... paint the underside of the hood all the colors of the rainbow and let us know which band is the hottest.

 

[Mustang5L5]

My entire car is black. Let me tell you it gets hot in the sun

No paint fade though