Is it true that painting a big block engine black instead of orange will allow it to dissipate heat better and therefore run cooler?

Steve

Have never heard this before. Dark colors usually absorb heat rather than disapate it.

Mark

Not a chance. That's like asking if painting your finger orange will help protect it from being burned by an open flame.

Radiator and airflow efficiency is the key to running cooler with a C3.

In theory, yes. Black is a better radiator (and absorber) of heat than a lighter colour. It's well known that light colour cars are cooler in summer than darker coloured cars because they absorb less heat. In practice, I'm not sure how large the temperature difference will be.

I agree, a black motor will radiate more heat than a lighter color. I don't know how much difference it would make. Orange definitely looks better, though. Joe

More important than the color is the thickness of the paint. You want paint to look good and protect the metal, but too thick of a coat will insulate the engine like a blanket, and retain heat. Granted this takes a lot of paint!

Ken Styer

I'm not a terribly experienced mechanic, but I do know something about physics, so this is my rare opportunity to contribute. Heat and light are two different forms of energy. The color of paint will make no difference on engine heat. The reason a light colored car is cooler in the sun is that the color reflects the LIGHT. It is not reflecting heat. With a darker car, the sun's light rays are absorbed, which turns it into heat energy. Since your engine is producing heat energy rather than light energy, the paint color doesn't matter. The only factor is how well the paint conducts heat, which isn't really a factor unless you apply a few dozen coats. Remember, your engine is cooled 95% by your radiator and coolant, not by the engine releasing heat into the air. Just don't do putting a bunch of coats of any paint on your radiator. I suspect it would not take many coats there to start affecting radiaor efficiency and thus engine temp.

Now if you were an Iraqi driving around with no hood installed and the engine exposed to the blistering light of the desert sun, I guess having a white and chrome engine would help a little. However, I find that scenario highly unlikely and, if true, you'd have more things to worry about than a couple degrees of engine heat. Sorry to ramble. I'm at work and bored!

The color of paint will make no difference on engine heat. The reason a light colored car is cooler in the sun is that the color reflects the LIGHT. EXACTLY! Theres no sun shining on your engine is there? LOL The only way I see it could make a differance,were if the paint was thicker,or the paint had metal particles in it.

Chevy orange looks Kool........

This mite sound crazy but my workshop air compressor was black (the whole thing)The water build up from the heat was un beleivable I changed the colour to silver now very little if no water (condensation)???? If your painting you dont want water in the tank or lines!!! I think orange is the go it looks sweet with the rite extra's!!Cheers Mick