Re: alfa-digest V7 #767 - Radiator Paint

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

	Radiators are painted black to increase the heat transfer.  White or 
light colored paint will reflect the heat back at the source.  Black or dark 
colors will absorb heat.  Flat black is better than shiny black.  Consider 
that the next time you repaint under your hood!
	Eastwood http://www.eastwoodco.com/index.html  sells all kinds of 
restoration paint, including radiator paint.  Tell the radiator man not to 
paint it and do it your self.  You could also polish out the brass upper tank 
at the same time.  
	The new radiators with plastic tanks are the  bain of radiator repair 
men.  You can sometimes get the tanks off and back on, but mostly the will 
leak and you have to buy a new one.  I think that is what the manufacturers 
had in mind.
Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City


In a message dated 5/30/99 10:41:39 AM Central Daylight Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:

<< 
 Date: Sun, 30 May 1999 08:01:05 -0700 (PDT)
 From: Jay Mackro <jmackro@domain.elided>
 Subject: re radiator cleaning/painting
 
 JMNegrin@domain.elided had written:
 
 >My recommendation is to pull the radiator, and bring it to the pros.  They 
 >will hot-tank it, which breaks up a lot of sediment and accumulated crud.  
 >They will also pressure back-flush, which removes yet more crud.  Before 
you 
 >get it back, they can/should check for overall condition of the radiator, 
 >pressure check for leaks, and maybe even spray a light coat of black paint 
on 
 >it to make it look good.  
 
 Yes, I agree 100%.  Having a radiator serviced has to be one of the
 few automotive bargains left.  And, one of the rare instances where
 the owners of imported cars don't pay a huge premium over the people 
 who are having their Fords/Chevies serviced.  If you suspect your
 radiator at all, or live in an area with hard water and suspect that
 the P.O. had been using tap water (of course, YOU wouldn't do 
 something that foolish), then have it serviced as JMNegrin@domain.elided
 advises.
 
 OK, so here's my question: Whenever you have this service done, the
 radiator shop always puts a coat of black spray paint on the radiator.
 Usually they do a lousey job (from a cosmetic viewpoint), the paint
 is still tacky when you pick it up, ...  But, what I REALLY wonder
 is how much cooling efficiency is lost due to putting a coat of
 paint - ie, an insulator - over the radiator.  It isn't as if a
 brass radiator is going to rust or anything.  Other than asthetics -
 which givent he quality of most of these paintjobs is questionable - 
 is there any benefit in painting a newly-cleaned radiator?
 
 Jay Mackro
  >>

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