Painting Engine Parts?

[murray]

G'day all, :wave:
This may sound like a stuipid question but when you paint engine parts, valve cover and the engine itself, do you need to use heat proof or hi-temp paint :???: Or can you just use normal acrylic laquer or enamel?
Thankyou in advance to all that reply. :x:
Murray
(Australia)

[mikep]

Anything will work. Generally the cheaper it is the worse gasoline will attack it and the worse it will look.
Heat is only a problem if it is exhaust heat. Ask a Pontiac 400 owner about the cylinder heads blistering.

[Anthony]

I would use the hi temp. I am going to do my exhaust manifold in white powdercoating but I was advised against it since it can not handle the temps of the direct engine parts. I am now looking at the white hi temp. What does everyone think?. The goal is to keep the heat down on return to the engine from the turbo. Old racing trick. We will see what happens and I will do another post in a week with results. Possibly will paint the gas tank too for the same reasons.

[mikep]

Nothing short of insulation will affect exhaust temps much. You need to compare with the huge amounts of energy given off as radiant heat.
And most enamels are fine with the temps of a block.

[Jono780]

What kind of stuff do you have to do to the parts before you start painting?

[mikep]

clean in solvent if oily/greasy.
remove corrosion if present.
Wash in hot soap and water or use brake cleaner if it's small and detailed.
Use acid etch primer if I want great adhesion and have alot of time. It's available in spray cans at NAPA, Martin Senour line, I use quarts.
Spray/brush/roll or whatever, Rustoleum is the good one for scabby stuff, High-heat for really hot stuff, Automotive paint for really shiny stuff.
Leave it alone until it is hard enough to install. Clearcoat I use is ready in 12 hours. Acrylic enamel and Rustoleum, 3 days to avoid scarring it.
Plan ahead.
Avoid lacquer. It dries fast but that is all I can say good about it.