painting the motor?

[cnlawboy]

I've seen some people painted their motors and others have only painted parts of their motors. I was wondering what everyones thought was on whether it is ok to do so. I'm referring not to peoples personal preference on how it looks but more so on whether it is bad for the engine heating up too much? I'm wondering about three engine parts in particular, and NOT the crank case at all. The 3 parts i was curious about are the CYLINDER HEAD COVER, the CYLINDER HEAD, and also the CYLINDER BLOCK. I wanted to paint the cylinder head cover with a wrinkle black, and then the cylinder head and cylinder block with a light coat of black engine paint and then sand/polish it off the ends of the fins.

thanks,
chopper charlie

[royalchuter]

Any paint is going to act like an insulator, the question is how much is too much. How hot or cool does it run now? Where do you live, and where are you likely to travel?
I've heard of people having problems from simply polishing fins (removing the roughness removes surface area, so reduces the heat transfer). Others have had no adverse effects.

What are you willing/able to do if it does run too hot? Strip the paint back off? Install an oil cooler?

Not much help, am I?

[drooling-bloodhound]

Black engines actually run cooler.

[igya]

I agree. The black "skin" actually draws heat from the interior and allows the wind to carry it away. Ever wonder why radiators are always black?

[jayzonk]

That's true, but it has to be flat black engine paint. Gloss black retains the heat. Different paint chemicals have different properties.

[boots]

hmmm... this does have a practical and aesthetic properties. me? i'd paint it so there'd be less time polishing and more time riding