push rod tube, to paint or not Options

[jacksun]

Hi,

got my first push rod tube cleaned up and would like to paint it with

hi-temp paint? any problems doing so?

tks

randal

[Keyser Sose]

All the oil that goes to the rocker assemblies, which is a lot, drains back through the push rod tubes. They're out in the cooling airstream, so they cool quite a lot, like eight tiny oil coolers. It's true that radiators are painted, but that's a special heat conducting paint that lets the metal conduct (and shed) even more heat than bare metal. That high-tech engine paint does the opposite, retaining heat. Bottom line there was a good reason VW zinc plated those.

Looks pretty good painted so try it, what the heck. Who knows, you might get away with it, especially if you never thrash the engine so shedding heat doesn't ever become critical. I wouldn't myself, but I'd be curious to hear how it turns out for you.