Radiator paint

[MadScientist]

Hi,

Has anyone used the radiator paint from Eastwood?  Says it has minimal build etc.  I was wondering also about the prep.  I have a relatively new core (2 yrs)  and it has a little scale on the the fins. What can I use to clean it without messing it up?

MS

[resq302]

I have used it.  Have to make sure that the rad is clean of any grease or other contaminants though, other wise it will not dry or adhere properly.

[MadScientist]

How difficult is it to remove the scale?  Im afraid to take a brush to it.

MS

[resq302]

I never really had scaling on the outside of my rad.  Basically I just took some aircraft stripper and was able to get the old paint off with a brass brush with the stripper not going near the areas on the core.

[MadScientist]

cool thanks.  the scale isnt from any leakage, but from some spills I had early on that I didnt clean up.  Ill make sure to use a brass brush although I think even a small toothbrush may work.  BTW, whats in aircraft stripper?

MS

[resq302]

Aircraft stripper is basically a really good paint stripper that bubbles up the paint and does a great job getting paint to come off.  If I remember correctly, Pep Boys now sells a low odor version.  Once you do get the air craft stripper off, make sure you wash down the part with soap and water to get all the residue off, otherwise the paint will take forever to dry in the areas that you missed.  Works great thought.

[bill440rt]

I'm not sure if I'd use aircraft stripper (or any other paint stripper) on a radiator. Getting blobs of gooey paint in your rad fins will not be fun, or easy, to remove.
And, make sure you plug any open areas tightly, you don't want any traces inside the radiator.
If the paint is thin, I'd try a little thinner with a wire brush on the tank areas, & use a heavy duty cleaner/degreaser on the fins with water.

[MadScientist]

good point.  Im not really worried about removing all of the paint, as long as I get a good scuff then a light coat or 2 will do the trick.

MS

[Mike DC]

   
Just a general comment here:

The whole point of a special "radiator paint" is the heat-trasnferrence issue.  Paint (or clear coats, or anything else sprayed on for that matter) insulates the radiator fins from conducting heat & cold.  Bad for effectiveness.  So the idea is to get just enough paint covering the fins to visually blacken them & protect from oxidation, and nothing more than that.

 

[MadScientist]

Exactly what I had in mind.

MS