Ceramic coating of parts.....

[Zircon]

I purchased a rare and well respected 5" core intercooler for my MR2 made by Phoenix's Power in Japan from ebay the other day.

It is missing one of the pipes that I will need to get fabricated. The other pipes that came with the 'cooler are ceramic coated.

Other than Zircotec who seem to charge an absolute fortune for ceramic coating, does anyone know of a company that could provide this service?

[Major Fallout]

Not off the top of my head sorry.

But with a user name like yours, you would have been the first person I would ask.

[Benni]

Try exhaust-coating.de and click on the US flag near ceracote for english info.
The company is near Hamburg and will ship,
it is run by Marco Maurischat who is into Drag Racing and has lots of satisfied customers.

[Pigeon]

Why would you want to ceramic-coat intercooler pipework? I'd leave it bare and lose that little bit extra heat. Every Tesco advertising executive run over helps.

[parapaul]

Pigeon said:

Why would you want to ceramic-coat intercooler pipework? I'd leave it bare and lose that little bit extra heat. Every Tesco advertising executive run over helps.

This. I've always understood that metal pipework is preferable to rubber for ICs as it helps the cooling...

[Zircon]

Ceramic coating on metalwork helps prevent heat transfer by up to 30% from what I have read. The less engine heat getting to the air in the pipes the less work the intercooler has to do and the lower the intake temperature.

Thanks for the ideas chaps.

[grahamr88]

A company called Poeton might be able to help you out, I'm not sure what coatings they offer but they're probably worth a try.

[redvictor]

Zircon said:

Other than Zircotec who seem to charge an absolute fortune for ceramic coating, does anyone know of a company that could provide this service?

They charge the money for the job. The coating never comes off and does exactly what it says on the tin.
a cheap ceramic coating will come off very quickly.

[Judd97]

These guys have done pistons and fuel parts (for heat resistance) for me. Are reasonably priced and quick: http://www.camcoat.u-net.com/

Oliver

[Zircon]

Thanks once again - few more people for me to try!

I have no doubt that Zircotec produce the goods, but I feel that they are (perhaps justifiably) charging a lot due to their F1 association and successful marketing, compared to a traditional small coating company.

I have 1 pipe to coat and got quoted nearly £100 from Zircotec

[Matt_N]

Is it for the hot or cold side of the intercooler?

Hotside I wouldn't bother, as the air is going to be pretty warm anyway.

You could always wrap it with a glass fibre manifold wrap? A lot cheaper than ceramic coating.

[Zircon]

Matt_N said:

Is it for the hot or cold side of the intercooler?

Hotside I wouldn't bother, as the air is going to be pretty warm anyway.

You could always wrap it with a glass fibre manifold wrap? A lot cheaper than ceramic coating.

It is hot side - less critical than cold side I know, but if it is still cooler then the intercooler has to do less work.

I may just paint it or chrome it to reflect the heat, it is a bit of a show engine so I wouldn't go down the wrapped route as the pipe is right on top.

[RicksAlfas]

Woof.

http://www.woof-tmt.com/

[TheEnd]

I would have thought the temps inside the 'cooler would be higher than the ambient surrounding air or each side anyway.

[Zircon]

TheEnd said:

I would have thought the temps inside the 'cooler would be higher than the ambient surrounding air or each side anyway.

Wit continual exposure to air flow? Wouldn't be much point in an intercooler in that case surely?

Woof = Great - will give them a call......

[GTIR]

My mate can do it.

He said he does it with cylinders bores on Vespa engines he rebuilds for "racing". He coats them using a brush with ceramic paint/paste - or something - then sticks it in his standard house oven. Perfect.
It "Stops the con rod smashing through the cylinder" apparently.



(I didn't bother arguing with him as he's well known for his stories.
Not withstanding engine temps are far higher than any household oven could get to. The stupidity of the man is astonishing, and he's a 40yo business owner not a kid.)

Sorry I can't help op. Good luck anyways.

[Herman Toothrot]

Zircon said:

Wit continual exposure to air flow? Wouldn't be much point in an intercooler in that case surely?

Woof = Great - will give them a call......

Hi Rob,

The air in the intercooler will be hotter than ambient temps. The intercooler is a heatsink / radiator designed to loose it's heat into it's surroundings if it's surrounding were hotter than the air inside it would have the opposite to desired function and heat the air charge.

I forget how the pipes run on the intercooler in question but only if they pass very close to a big heat source like the exhaust manifold are they worth insulating, else all you are doing is preventing heat escaping from them - which is the opposite of what you want.

Steve

[Zircon]

Herman Toothrot said:

Hi Rob,

The air in the intercooler will be hotter than ambient temps. The intercooler is a heatsink / radiator designed to loose it's heat into it's surroundings if it's surrounding were hotter than the air inside it would have the opposite to desired function and heat the air charge.

I forget how the pipes run on the intercooler in question but only if they pass very close to a big heat source like the exhaust manifold are they worth insulating, else all you are doing is preventing heat escaping from them - which is the opposite of what you want.

Steve

Hi Steve, how are you doing?

I see what you are saying about the intercooler heat-sink theory.

Wonder why Phoenix's Power ceramic coated the pipe that I am missing though? Actually, I guess it is because the sort of highly modded SW20 that it was likely to be installed on would have had exposed performance manifolds right next to the hot-pipe without the stock heat sheild.