Paintaing oil coolers?

[Paranoid Dave]

Is it easy?
Is it advisable?

Have metal paint, willing to have a go :D

[Pedro]

Dave

I used very light coats of Smoothrite after carefully cleaning the grot off. finish was pretty good.

Ped

[Paranoid Dave]

is smoothrite a special high temp stuff, i've seen hammerite smooth, same stuff?????

[stef]

that's what i used.
etch primer and hammerite smooth.

[Paranoid Dave]

it says it don't need priming, just a good clean. I have several new bits of bike to paint so lets get cracking :D

[Yorkie]

PD,

What colour are you painting it? Im thinking of doing the case black and leaving the veins silver!

Tell us what it turns out like!

Yorkie.

[Pugi]

Those of you who have painted the cooler - have you noticed any change in cooling ability?

[pooh]

Guys
wrapping the oil cooler in a nice woolly jumper will have the same effect as a coat of paint, dont do it.

Ian

[Sparky]

wrapping the oil cooler in a nice woolly jumper will have the same effect as a coat of paint, dont do it.

I would be quite happy painting mine with a few thin layers of paint after all it is already painted and Ducati paint the whole engine including the cooling fins. On my M1000 completely covering the oil cooler only raises the oil temp by around 10C and these bikes are designed to stay cool in hotter climates than ours so I would be suprised if you'll even notice the difference.

Chris

[gary tompkins]

Is it easy?
Is it advisable?

Have metal paint, willing to have a go :D

I had a go with water colours once but wasn't happy with the overall effect. Think I rushed it a bit and it all went a bit Monet - so had a second go with oils on canvas using a pallet knife for that nice chunky texture. Much better and I think I caught the late evening sunset glinting off the fins to great effect, however there was still something missing so I added a bowl of fruit and a small dog. I'm quite pleased with my handiwork - and may now move on to nudes ;)

[Paranoid Dave]

so in other words, not sure and don't know.

[gary tompkins]

Sorry PD - tried to come up with a more sensible answer and couldn't be arsed. Can you tell it's been one of 'those' days at work?

Just realised I've hijacked a thread in my own section & may have to moderate myself :on: Ah well if your going to hijack at least do it in style?

.... meanwhile back to oil cooler painting (by numbers)

[Paranoid Dave]

The over heating a cooler is an interesting point. They are designed as a certain size for a specific reason (or found in the ducati parts bin and used as it saves making a new one) and some people put protective guards on the front of them, surely the more solid and safe guards are allowing less air flow? Then again its not just air flow over them as limited air flow on a cool day is like no cover on a warmer day?
Anyway, one thin layer of paint, on the sides at least, surely would not be a problem as its the fins that do the cooling mainly so maybe yorkie's plan is the best. Damn, i hate to copy.

So i'll paint the sides, in a monet style pehaps :D

[Yorkie]

PD,

I dont want to compete with your fantastic ideas or real monsterism!!

Yorkie.

[Paranoid Dave]

been in the garage tonight, stripped bits off kylie....

air scoops
huggers front and rear
sprocket cover
belly pan
mirror
tank bra
wheel
swingarm
heel guard
suspension hoop
and a few other bits.

she's looking a bit naked.

[claicerrig]

The oil cooler on my S4 was painted black and that was a DP part added by GSE when Challange racing