# Painting an IC **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [March 2, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291 "2008-03-02T15:47:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AndyB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@AndyB](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AndyB)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/1 "2008-03-02T15:47:13Z")
So I am going to paint my intercooler to make the car stock from the front. What are the pros and cons? Will the paint covering the metal have much effect on the cooling of the air that travels threw the IC? THanks for any info ---
**Author:** ![nitroinsane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@nitroinsane](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nitroinsane)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/2 "2008-03-02T15:52:25Z")
do it in thin coats to not cause build ups. i imagine you are going black? ---
**Author:** ![ecoshardcore](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ecoshardcore/32/7591_2.png) [@ecoshardcore](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ecoshardcore)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/3 "2008-03-02T16:08:42Z")
> [@AndyB"](#): > > So I am going to paint my intercooler to make the car stock from the front. What are the pros and cons? Will the paint covering the metal have much effect on the cooling of the air that travels threw the IC? THanks for any info Garrett has done testing showing that In small amounts it does not hurt intercooler efficiency. Dont go overboard bro. ---
**Author:** ![articzap](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/articzap/32/7361_2.png) [@articzap](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/articzap)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/4 "2008-03-02T16:14:01Z")
Use radiator paint. Light coats. Don’t go for full coverage, just enough to change the color. I’m going to be doing the same. ---
**Author:** ![BREETIME](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/breetime/32/5214_2.png) [@BREETIME](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BREETIME)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/5 "2008-03-02T16:15:01Z")
i painted mine andy.it looks hot as hell but will still stay cool.i didnt mean for that to sound so good.use radiator paint ---
**Author:** ![snowracer101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@snowracer101](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/snowracer101)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/6 "2008-03-02T16:16:33Z")
> [@BREETIME](#): > > i painted mine andy.it looks hot as hell but will still stay cool.i didnt mean for that to sound so good.use radiator paint 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![articzap](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/articzap/32/7361_2.png) [@articzap](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/articzap)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/7 "2008-03-02T16:17:51Z")
> [@BREETIME](#): > > i painted mine andy.it looks hot as hell but will still stay cool.i didnt mean for that to sound so good.use radiator paint wtf. :lol: ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/8 "2008-03-02T16:33:33Z")
> [@BREETIME](#): > > i painted mine andy.it looks hot as hell but will still stay cool.i didnt mean for that to sound so good.use radiator paint Wah wah. 👏 :lolham: ---
**Author:** ![articzap](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/articzap/32/7361_2.png) [@articzap](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/articzap)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/9 "2008-03-02T16:44:48Z")
> [@Fry](#): > > Wah wah. 👏 :lolham: Drugs are bad? ---
**Author:** ![Zer0DazE](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zer0daze/32/7624_2.png) [@Zer0DazE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Zer0DazE)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 11:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/10 "2008-03-03T11:25:15Z")
if its all aluminum i say anodize (sp) it ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 11:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/11 "2008-03-03T11:29:25Z")
wouldn’t anodizing it be the worst possible option due to thickness added? ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 11:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/12 "2008-03-03T11:37:40Z")
> [@theblue](#): > > wouldn’t anodizing it be the worst possible option due to thickness added? OMG WTF? Nothing is added with anodize, it is a surface treatment not a “coating”! The reason anodizing would not be great is because it will fade(assuming you use dye.) ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 11:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/13 "2008-03-03T11:41:21Z")
I always pictured anodizing as a powder coating baked onto the metal with a high durability, am I wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Zer0DazE](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zer0daze/32/7624_2.png) [@Zer0DazE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Zer0DazE)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 11:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/14 "2008-03-03T11:41:24Z")
yes you are wrong. you actually corrode the surface. i am sure mike can go in to great detail > [@AWDrifter](#): > > OMG WTF? > Nothing is added with anodize, it is a surface treatment not a “coating”! > The reason anodizing would not be great is because it will fade(assuming you use dye.) i didn’t realize that it would fade. is it the sun, or the other elements what cause it? ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/15 "2008-03-03T11:44:56Z")
> [@theblue](#): > > I always pictured anodizing as a powder coating baked onto the metal with a high durability, am I wrong? yes. what you’re talking about would be powder coating. :fyi: ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 11:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/16 "2008-03-03T11:50:22Z")
> [@Zer0DazE](#): > > yes you are wrong. you actually corrode the surface. i am sure mike can go in to great detail > > i didn’t realize that it would fade. is it the sun, or the other elements what cause it? It can burn with high heat or fade from sunlight because it is organic. Clear anodize would help with corrosion but I am not sure if it may have adverse affects on the intercooler. Side note: I would never paint an intercooler because it goes against the whole concept/purpose of an intercooler by insulating it. ---
**Author:** ![eviltsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c0e974/32.png) [@eviltsi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/eviltsi)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/17 "2008-03-03T16:46:08Z")
Here ya go, the route I plan on taking: [http://www.swaintech.com/store.asp?pid=10968](http://www.swaintech.com/store.asp?pid=10968) I’d trust swain with anything, they know their shit and have been around for years. And what do you know, it’s even black. ---
**Author:** ![Violator](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/violator/32/7278_2.png) [@Violator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Violator)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/18 "2008-03-03T16:48:23Z")
Black paint is the best way to go. It wont hurt efficiency Welds do not anodize well…there will probably be a significant color difference ---
**Author:** ![LXIFLYBY](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lxiflyby/32/7399_2.png) [@LXIFLYBY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LXIFLYBY)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/19 "2008-03-03T16:54:38Z")
anodizing\>paint x10000 ---
**Author:** ![Studderin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/studderin/32/7197_2.png) [@Studderin](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Studderin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291/20 "2008-03-03T18:24:17Z")
> [@AWDrifter](#): > > OMG WTF? > Nothing is added with anodize, it is a surface treatment not a “coating”! Not true, it dose add material. And it is measurable. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/painting-an-ic/44291.md?page=2)