Can I paint my intercooler?

[mjstokes85]

Will be taking my bumper off soonish to replace the upper intercooler pipe with the forge hard pipe and thought about cleaning up (it's covered in oil) and spraying my intercooler silver (so it's a bit more visible through the grilles), not sure if I could do this with it still on the car. Anyone done this or got any tips? Failing that would it better to sand it and polish it up as opposed to painting it?

 

[Chino_UK]

If just clean, dry and maybe key it lightly. A few ppl have done them on Ibizas before and they look good once done

 

[JMWalton]

If you cover it in paint you will reduce the efficiency of it. Best to just clean it up

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[Crumpyz]

Yes you can paint it man! Looks so good as well. As seen the way I have painted it has not effected the efficiency of the intercooler in any way, some may debate about loosing some efficiency from the ends not being as cooled but tbh it won't make any difference.

I took mine off, as I wanted to clean the inside out, because it was covered in a film of oil, so painted it once it was out.

Dirty!!

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[JMWalton]

Yes you can paint it man! Looks so good as well. As seen the way I have painted it has not effected the efficiency of the intercooler in any way, some may debate about loosing some efficiency from the ends not being as cooled but tbh it won't make any difference.

I took mine off, as I wanted to clean the inside out, because it was covered in a film of oil, so painted it once it was out.


Dirty!!

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Yes but you haven't painted the core by the looks of that ?

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[Crumpyz]

Nope and I wouldn't either

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[Crumpyz]

You will reduce heat dissipation, if anything if you wanted the core done I would get it anodized, bit better than paint at heat dissipation

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[mjstokes85]

Thanks for the info, been reading up on other forums about this too and basically painting the core is a big no it seems. Might just give it a good clean, what's best for removing all the oiley residue on the front? The top pipe going in seems to have a very small oil leak hense me replacing the pipe with the forge one. I just want it to be a bit more visible through the grille.

 

[Crumpyz]

No probs Aye exactly it takes away some of the reason for having and intercooler in the first place. For removing that oily grime your best bet is acetone and a cloth, but if you can't get hold of that, then whitespirit or IPA will do the trick. Even WD40 would probably do an alright job. Just if you decided to use whitespirit or ipa inside to flush it out, leave it to evaporate for a long while. Otherwise when you start your car it'll rev its bollocks off and theres nothing you can do lol. One of my mates did it once, never ran so fast in my life. Acetone however evaporates very fast.

Bit concerned if your pipe has an oil leak, loosing a little bit of boost as you know but also means your whole system is probably got a nice lining of oil in it, if I was you I would give it all a good clean out then put a breather filter on, to stop your intake pulling oily thumes in.


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[Crumpyz]

The only bit of the intercooler you see really is at the bottom with the lower hose. You could scotchbrite the ends or polish them and it will clean up very nice. Also an important point is when cleaning the intercooler fins becareful not to bend them as they are very delicate. Do not try to bend them back to much either as you may break them off.

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[cupra.al]

i like what you have done crumpz not what i would have but looks well done do you have any pics with the bumper on.
this is what i did with the ic on my old cupra http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=234499

 

[Crumpyz]

Cheers mate, did take a while. I do but its not a very good one, was at night.

Woah yours looks sick polished mate, came up really nice actually and can really see if through the bumper. Nice


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[mjstokes85]

i like what you have done crumpz not what i would have but looks well done do you have any pics with the bumper on.
this is what i did with the ic on my old cupra http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=234499

That is NICE, that is how I want mine to look! You think megs metal polish and some wire wool would work or is it simply too rough that sanding is needed?

 

[Crumpyz]

If it was me I would do some light sanding like 1000 - 2000 then use a felt bob with cutting compound, will get it like a mirror

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[lee_fr200]

I just sprayed my old fmic black on my corsa zlet, my temps never changed tbh and I monitored mine carefully, I just used a black rattle can

 

[cupra.al]

That is NICE, that is how I want mine to look! You think megs metal polish and some wire wool would work or is it simply too rough that sanding is needed?

cheers as i say it was on my old cupra but wire wool and metal polish will make it shine maybe not so much but it will take the tarnished look out of it i did do it a second time as well and it gleamed even more.
being ally you can make it shine like a mirror and the second time i polished it it was pretty much like a mirror but it will only stay really shiney for about a year if that.

 

[mjstokes85]

cheers as i say it was on my old cupra but wire wool and metal polish will make it shine maybe not so much but it will take the tarnished look out of it i did do it a second time as well and it gleamed even more.
being ally you can make it shine like a mirror and the second time i polished it it was pretty much like a mirror but it will only stay really shiney for about a year if that.

You not tempted to do it to your current one too? I will defiantly have a go at this when I replace the top pipe

 

[cupra.al]

i am tempted but ive never really got round to it plus ive not got the time like i used to have.
post pictures up when you give it a go on yours.

 

[mjstokes85]

i am tempted but ive never really got round to it plus ive not got the time like i used to have.
post pictures up when you give it a go on yours.

Will do, need to work out how to take the bumper off first

 

[cupra.al]

its dead easy look at the front of the car you have a larger hole in the honeycomb there is a bolt through there and another on the other side of the bumper in the honeycomb. a few screws in the arches some under the bumper and a couple under the bonnet.