Paint cylinder & head

[41chevy 74]

I’m ready to paint my 8 hp kholer. What’s your opinions, to paint head or not? I’m using Rustoleum etching primer, then primer, then red on sheet metal, will the same work on the cylinder or do I need high temp?

[daveoman1966 3,762]

Don't paint the head... Paint on the cooling fins partly defeats their purpose...to help cool the engine.

 

[953 nut 56,262]

Paint is not a great conductor of heat.  Do not paint the head.   If you feel you must paint the cooling fins of the engine block just apply a very light coat of high temperature enamel to the portion that will be visible.

[oliver2-44 9,931]

[Achto 27,983]

13 hours ago, 41chevy said:

do I need high temp?

 

You will get a few opinions on this subject. I'm just going to add what works for me.

 

As stated above I don't paint the cylinder head, just sand blast it clean. For the block & cylinder I spray one coat of self etching primer and three coats of the same acryic enamel paint that I use on the sheet metal. After working the tractor the paint around the exhaust port will discolor and eventually burn off, but to me this is not a big issue.

[Stormin 9,981]

I don't prime. I just spray with aerosol BBQ paint. Matt black or gloss. Depends what's on the shelf.

[kpinnc 12,865]

On 2/26/2022 at 12:46 PM, Stormin said:

I don't prime. I just spray with aerosol BBQ paint. Matt black or gloss. Depends what's on the shelf.

 

Ditto. Then mask off the head and paint the rest with the same as the tractor.

 

Seems other high temp paints tend to rust. Double so for silver. Gloss black grill paint seems to hold up better.

 

20+ years doing this, and never had one damaged by deep south high humidity heat. Just my opinion.