Engine color opinions

[Paranoid]

In my book there's only one color for a Chevy engine.:gap

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Re: I don't understand...

I don't understand how engine color can make a difference in what temp an engine runs at.

It doesn't, Heidi for the reasons you have stated. Theoretically an unpainted engine should run the coolest of all, not having any paint to interfere with radiating the heat away. In practice it makes no difference.

Let's just say that some people also believe that flying saucers are the cause of global warming.

 

[GATOR454]

Heidi, I found this article while hunting for heat shielding for the part of the wiring harness that goes to the starter (my OEM shielding is ragged and several of the wires are cooked). It deals with airplane engines but it was pretty interesting none the less.
http://www.sacskyranch.com/paint.htm

If you don't want to read it here is what I got from it.
Painting an engine increases radiant cooling but the color of the paint doesn't matter.
Paint the engine compartment black to absorb radiant heat.
Components that you want to reflect engine heat and that radiate their own heat should be painted white.
Components that you want to keep cool but don't radiate their own heat should be reflective metal pigmented paint or CHROME

Vettehead Mikey an organic pigmented paint has better surface emissivity than bare metal, and flying saucers ARE causing global warming.

David

 

[78 L82 4spd]

Hey, Everyone.

Just wanted to give you all an update.

The engine builder strongly wanted to paint it red. Since the engine is not stock (and he has not steered me wrong yet), I decided to let him paint it red. Doesn't look too bad.....

I'll post another picture when it is in the car.

Thanks again for all of your inputs!

Stephen

 

[Twin_Turbo]

A black motor runs much cooler than a colored motor.
Somewhere around 20% cooler.
I painted my motor, including oil pan, flat black.
I am going to sand blast my chrome valve covers and do them also.
Then I am thinking of painting my aluminum heads the same.
Or having them Black Anodized.
It's always a good idea to keep the heat out of a motor.
May not be the prettiest color around, but it WORKS.
:cool

This is BS.

There is no difference, apart from paint thickness and insulation properties of the paint itself.

It is true that black absorbs all frequencies in the spectrum (ideally) and also a "black body" makes for the best energy emitter since it emits all ferquencies. BUT, this is all very theoretical and I can not see how it would make any difference on an engine, the added insulation from the paint alone would probably be more than the gain you'd get from a black engine.

 

[Full_Blown]

The engine builder strongly wanted to paint it red. Since the engine is not stock (and he has not steered me wrong yet), I decided to let him paint it red. Doesn't look too bad.....

Hi Stephen,
The engine looks great! I think I'll go the same route with mine. By the way, what did you do to get your valve covers to come up so bright and shiney? I'm assumeing they're the original Aluminium finned covers?

Steve

 

[78 L82 4spd]

Steve -

To my knowledge, they were the correct, L-82, black, aluminum, finned valve covers. When he e-mailed me the pix, I was caught off gaurd that he painted the whole cover black!

Hopefully, I can use a remover to expose the edge of the fin which should be natural or aluminum. I am not sure what he painted it with or how he cleaned it. I assume it is high-temp shiny black engine paint.

Stephen

 

[JohnZ]

A black motor runs much cooler than a colored motor.
Somewhere around 20% cooler.
I painted my motor, including oil pan, flat black.
I am going to sand blast my chrome valve covers and do them also.
Then I am thinking of painting my aluminum heads the same.
Or having them Black Anodized.
It's always a good idea to keep the heat out of a motor.
May not be the prettiest color around, but it WORKS.
:cool

NOT true - that's an "urban legend"; color makes ZERO difference. Car engines are cooled by circulating coolant, not by radiation or convection.
:eyerole