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]

Sorry, can't believe that, no way. Bare metal (aluminum anyway) convects heat best, and that's science. What manufacturer can you think of who paints their aluminum radiators or intercoolers? Radiator paint was used back when radiators were brass to reduce corrosion, which did reduce convection, but even unpainted brass transfers heat better than painted.

The only reason radiator paint came up in this discussion is that it's better than color paint, but for air cooled engine longevity the more heat transfer you can get the better, and that means bare metal. Zinc plated if needed to reduce corrosion, or if that's not viable then a conducting paint, usually a flat black. In last place for heat transfer would be color paint, but with that being said, damn that painted engine looks good!