COMET CENTRAL

One of my friends linked me this video, and it is about intercoolers.. But there is no reason it should not apply to a radiator..

If this is true, and I have to admit my mind is kinda blown just seeing this, I can't believe anyone would sell an aluminum radiator or intercooler that is not painted..

http://youtu.be/f1QL9veQaNg

I'm not buying this at all, look at it this way when ALL the auto manufactures used copper brass radiators they were all painted black once they switched to aluminum radiators NO ONE paints them black. if it helped keep things cooler then they would be painted. the only reason they painted the copper brass was to stop corrosion which aluminum does not have as big a problem with.

MY 2 Cents
Ant

I'm with ant on this one. Just from rules of light absorption, a non painted aluminum radiator should be cooler than a black one. I know they don't see a ton of light but that partly my thinking on it.

Interesting theory,who wants to donate their expensive aluminum radiator for a test? ROY.

The intercooler on the SC tBirds comes black from the factory,,,,,,

I have not watched the vid. But back in the old days a flat black painted brass radiator top cooled better than a polished brass top. My mind wants to think paint would slow down heat transfer. But as always technology is always changing and challenging old theories. I'm not painting my aluminum rad as it cools great just the way it is.
Roger

Roger;I'm with you on painting my Aluminum Radiator.The factory radiator in my 02 F350 is natural colored as in the turbo intercooler,AC Condensor and trans cooler!! ROY.

My old Subaru WRX intercooler was natural aluminum. But that don't say much because we know manufacturers will skip a few non-crucial steps to save some cash.
Besides in the vid they admit that it was only cooler when no ram air cooling effect was present. When there was ram air they both cooled the same. Don't think cars are made to stand still.
The painted radiators and intercoolers would be helpful on stationery industrial equipment I'd think.

Joe

Hot,Strong & Black! Or is that the way I like my coffee? I never saw a copper rad get rebuilt or repaired by an old pro that didn't get painted flat black. Aluminum for some reason, is different.

I think I have a clue. Alum radiators don't get painted because due to dissimilar metal corrosion the paint would fall off in no time and look like tree bark. Aluminum and steel don't really get along when they get bolted together. Electrolysis and such.

I'd like to see this theory tested out on an actual pair of radiators.

I wonder if there would be a benefit for those of us who do a lot of parades where heating becomes an issue