The car employs a radiator to cool down the engine by eliminating surplus heat. Painting a radiator may seem like an easy method to brighten up an old automobile, but there are some pros and some problems
What are the benefits of painting a radiator?
These are common questions that emerge when one is considering painting their vehicle’s radiator. The short answer is yes, there will be some benefits to painting the car’s radiator. There are a lot of reasons why it may make sense for you to paint your vehicle’s radiator, ranging from cost savings to enhanced efficiency and performance.
This blog post will analyze these reasons more completely and detail how you may take advantage of them as well. The next three sections will explain the material needed before starting with painting a car’s radiator, the particular actions needed during the process, and finally what happens after it has been completed.
Is it safe to paint the car radiator?
Paint is very prone to deterioration and can peel off. This can pose an issue if it happens near the radiator’s thermostat, as that can influence its performance, and cause it to malfunction. You should also make sure that the paint doesn’t go over any rough edges or corners.
Painted radiators are also not suited for antique cars, as they could corrode after a set length of time and cause the paint to peel off. If you still want to paint your radiator, make sure you buy high quality paint that has been developed expressly for use on radiators.
What should you do if you want to paint your radiator?
First off, make sure it’s not too hot yet and put a hose over the area where you plan on painting it so that the paint can dry before being applied.
The paint should also not be sprayed near the radiator’s thermostat, as it may cause the thermostat to stick to the wall of the radiator and interfere with its performance. When painting a radiator, make sure that you use high quality paint and that you apply it using a soft dry cloth.
Paint shouldn’t be put over any rough edges of the radiators (where it can chip off) as this too might cause damage to its operation. Using stripes is another method to liven up an outdated car.
Material needed to paint the radiator
First and foremost, what supplies are you going to need?
- RTV Silicone – $16.99
- PSI Paint Scraper – $9.95
- PSI Paint Brush – $11.99
- Medium Blending Brush – $12.95
- Plasti-Paste – $5.99
Well, the following are the precise materials that I utilized during this process:
As you can see, the overall cost for this entire project comes to $65. 97 (including the Plasti Paste) although this can vary based on the materials you like. Other than the paint/primer/paintbrush and silicone, these were the only supplies I needed. That is not to suggest it couldn’t be done with a lower cost equivalent for everything.
For instance, if you merely wanted to paint your car’s radiator with Plasti Dip, I would recommend doing so because they are lot less than silicone (around $12 cheaper). If you were to paint your radiator with Plasti Dip, you would need only a gallon of the product for what I needed two cans of.
Paint process
The following is a basic explanation of the process required to paint a car’s radiator:
- Clean radiator thoroughly (water and soap)
- Shake the can well; apply Plasti-Paste to small areas at a time; wait 10 minutes for it to cure before moving on to the next area. Tip: Apply slowly because it’s easy to overdo it in one area and have too much there.
- When finished, allow Plasti-Paste to cure for 30 minutes (or the time specified on the can) before touching it.
- Sand down Plasti-Paste with sandpaper (400 or finer), using a sanding block.
- Repeat until the gloss of the radiator is gone and the finish is matte and rough.
- Allow curing for 24 hours before applying a second coat of Plasti-Paste (follow steps 1 through 5).
- Allow Plasti-Paste to cure for 48 hours before painting the final color.
- Apply paint of choice and finish as desired.
- Clean thoroughly with water and soap, then dry. Keep the car radiator clean when not in use, which will help it to last much longer.
What are the disadvantages of painting the car radiator?
Plasti Paste dries to a clear, hard plastic covering (like plastic wrap) (like plastic wrap). It does not collect water when the car is driven, and it doesn’t soften in hot weather. This can be a disadvantage if there are substantial levels of rust on the radiator or an area where it’s feasible for the Plasti Paste to break and flake away.
Some users have encountered slight peelings from the bottom of the radiator when they drove over an object or did something that caused them to lose contact with the Plasti Paste. Other than that, it has been stated that no other serious concerns have been faced by individuals who painted their radiators.
It’s likely that one could acquire a vinyl (plastic) scent if the radiator is not sealed all around.
Like paint, this substance doesn’t come with a warranty. If it didn’t work as planned, you’d have to take it up with whoever you got it from. I would suggest trying to find one of the firms that guarantee their items or shopping through a trustworthy retailer that ensures its products.
