Engine re-paint

[DavidGrieves]

My engine is a bit old and the paint is falling off, has anybody painted an engine? What sort of paint produces best results? What about undercoat etc?
I don't want to go to all the effort only to have it all flake off when it gets hot.
Many thanks

David (Whitehaven)

 

[BarryH]

I repainted my engine. The paint used depends on what your engine is made of, Ali or cast Iron. If its Ali, then to start with you'll need an etch primer. If its cast then use an engine enamel available from most car shops. As with anything painting, prep is 85% of the finish.

Its best if you can remove the enging from the boat and strip off all the ancillaries to make the job easier. Remeber to block all the holes tho to keep the paint out of the engine. Choose a light colour so oil leaks are easily spotted. If your painting the exhaust manifold then you'll need a UHT paint form some one like Hypol along with the proper primer if its ali.

A lot of work but the finished result if you take your time can look quiet stunning if you take your time.

Yeah! I know its running rough, but your lucky its running at all!!

 

[SteveA]

I repainted my BMC engine about 4 years ago with Hammerite spray paint and it has worked well - I would agree that preparation is the key to success.

 

[airbubble]

forget about the manufacturers colour- their gonna know its repainted anyway, the only usefull stuff is indeed HAMERRITE, luckily now available in various colours.
Clean and degrease, brakeclean does wonders, no need to take it out of the boat, couple of cannisters of hamerrite- as good as new. Lasts for years !
success.

 

[BarryH]

Just a word of warning. Brakeclean contains acetone and can have detrimental effects on gaskets and such like. I wouldn't use it to degrease things around the engine. Use gunk or such like. If you don't take it out then you've got the prob of all the crap in the bilges to get rid of.

 

[Strathglass]

The paint I use is the paint used for painting high temperature air ducting. It is a high temperature silver paint and sticks to everything. I bought a gallon and have been using it for five years. Paint everything on the engine with it and it lasts for ages. So far I have painted ten engines.

Iain

 

[tr7v8]

Don't fuss about with anything special, just make sure it's clean and then prime it and use an oil based paint. Lot of people use Hammerite but I've always found it chips as it's brittle. I've used Japlac & one of the single coat paints in tha past.

Jim
------

 

[kingfisher]

I simply retouch every year:
-spray with engine cleaner (buy it at Halfords or similar), let soak for 1/2hr.
-wash off
-pump bilges dry
-put heater in front to let dry
-mask items you don't want to paint
-spray paint with Volvo green. Mind you: be very carefull, because the volvo paint apparently contains a certain amount of gold particles. What else could justify the exhorbitant price (14£) for a can of paint ?

Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[Guest]

To those lucky enough to live near Notts or Yorks there is a firm called DACRYLATE who manufacture paints and coverings for industry ie:- the anti-cimb stuff for intruders,the stuff for lamp-posts (anti dogs wee ), commercial vehicle paints and enammels ( my topsides have had this on for 4 years no prob ) and a paint called Hammer Finnish that is every bit as good as Hammerite at a fraction of the cost, I`ve put this on my trailer and its now ready for a new coat but its been on for about 6 years, left exposed to the ellements and not washed after launch etc. I have no connection with this company but am lucky enough to live nearby.