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Message started by rfbznb on 01/31/13 at 14:14:35

Title: the best engine paint?
Post by rfbznb on 01/31/13 at 14:14:35

im allmost done with the bike but im stuck on what paint to use on the engine.
has anyone used any engine paint that does not fade or peel?

Title: Re: the best engine paint?
Post by Serowbot on 01/31/13 at 16:41:38

Paint is all about prep... getting the surface clean...
Use a heat paint,.. I used a rattle can from an auto parts shop "Dull Black engine paint"...
It's been on there for 6 years...
...a few chips,.. because I'm lazy, and didn't clean so great.. ;D...

PS.. if you go too glossy on the paint, it will be hard to locate oil leaks... too dull and it gets dirty really easy...
I like a dull or satin...

Title: Re: the best engine paint?
Post by WD on 01/31/13 at 18:48:45

Go to ANY bike shop and ask for PJ1. It was the gold standard for several decades. Not 100% sure it is still made, haven't needed any in about 18 years (that's how good it is).

My Savage has been sporting Duplicolor Chevy red-orange over bare aluminum since 2000 or so. Getting ready to repaint the engine, hate GM and no longer want the color junking up my bike. I'd rate the paint job as 85-90% still fine, and my bike leaks oil like a colander leaks water...

Title: Re: the best engine paint?
Post by thumperclone on 01/31/13 at 23:34:39

my 06 seems to have a black "rubberized" coating on the cyl.

Title: Re: the best engine paint?
Post by ToesNose on 02/01/13 at 03:37:36

Does anyone know off hand the average operating temp of our case? Engine paints come in different temperature ratings also, make sure you buy one that is well above the average running temp. ;)

Title: Re: the best engine paint?
Post by spacepirates on 02/01/13 at 06:17:33

615A50467B5A4650350 wrote:

Does anyone know off hand the average operating temp of our case? Engine paints come in different temperature ratings also, make sure you buy one that is well above the average running temp. ;)

There was a post on here a long time ago that measured case temps with different oils in them. I'm far too lazy to search for it myself, but if you were so inclined you could. I think it measured crankcase temp, cylinder temp, ambient temp, along with what oil was used.

Most heat paints I see are 600 degrees or 1000 degrees (header and BBQ paint) which the crank/cylinder will never see. I'd *guess* (emphasis here that i am guessing) the crank never gets above 250 (overestimating) and the cylinder never gets above 300. Again, those are *guesses* of me just thinking aloud, my point being, that in my own opinion, most header or BBQ paint is going to be overqualified from a heat perspective for the engine.

However, like others have mentioned, the preparation behind the paint job is going to be a big (the biggest?) factor in how your paint keeps up over the years. Enamel (or something that hardens the paint) might help it keep up better to rocks and stuff, but nothing will help the paint stick to oil and dirt left on the engine.

Title: Re: the best engine paint?
Post by spacepirates on 02/01/13 at 06:36:39

Turns out I'm not as lazy as I thought:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1283117891/0

Quick temp summary:
crank (measured at filter cover): avg. around 180
head: avg. around 230

maxes were 198/250 in 105 degree ambient heat.

Title: Re: the best engine paint?
Post by Gyrobob on 02/01/13 at 07:46:54

My preference is to completely strip the cases of all paint,.. maybe even grit-blast it to make sure the surface is completely free of anything but the metal, and to make the surface uniform.

Then give it a couple of coats of clear gloss engine paint. I like that look of really clean (but not chrome) metal. The gloss paint is easy to clean, and touch-up for nicks/dings is easy.

Cheap, too.

I first saw this technique used on a T-bucket where the builder claimed he had only $5000 in the whole car. One of the ways he saved money was that every metal part on the car was grit-blasted to a matte finish and then painted with a few coats of clear gloss engine paint. It looked very intriguing with all the slightly different "colors" of the various metals on brackets, mounts, frame bits, suspenion, etc.

Title: Re: the best engine paint?
Post by Super Thumper on 03/04/16 at 17:35:02

The silver paint Suzuki paints the engine cases, cylinder jugs and heads with doesn't like to be painted over even with meticulous prep...ditto with the clear coated engine covers....we glass bead blast them and then paint with 500 degree VHT engine enamel....more color choices and also satin and gloss options than with header paint.