Farm Equipment - Radiator paint color

Radiator paint color

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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
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URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=153006
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Topic: Radiator paint color

Posted By: dfh9036
Subject: Radiator paint color
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2018 at 10:01pm

I am in the process of restoring my D15 Series II and I have a question regarding the radiator color. The previous owner had the radiator rebuilt and it is very obvious that the housing and shroud were once orange. What I’m not sure about is the fins of the radiator. Should they be orange or black. The whole unit was repainted black and there is only black on the core. I believe this was all replaced so no original paint to go by. Appreciate any help in this matter.

Replies:

Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2018 at 8:38pm

The fins and main part of the rad are black. The shroud is orange. Paint everything black, the tape and cover up the parts you want black in order to paint the shroud orange.

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Posted By: dfh9036
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2018 at 8:51pm

Thanks for your help on this. I greatly appreciate it.

Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2018 at 1:43pm

I don't think the fins were or should be painted. Affects cooling if you do.

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Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2018 at 2:12pm

I think it would depend on the paint, and how much....They make special radiator paint, and it's black.....But....

If you think about it, a radiator is a misnomer. Heat ejector or something would be a better term.

The hot engine coolant is in contact with the material the rad is made out of, transferring the heat of the fluid to the rad material by conduction. The material of the radiator transfers its heat to the ambient surrounding by both convection and radiation, but the radiation fraction is tiny tiny tiny in comparison to the forced air through the fins.

So, if a radiator actually was a radiator, black would help. In the case of cooling an engine, very little effect good or bad.

Posted By: JimWenigOH
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2018 at 5:39pm

I use radiator black paint from Eastwood in PA on my radiator fins, specially made for that.