Paint for the engine?

What is the best kind of paint for painting an engine? How do i apply it so it holds up without peeling and chipping? Or could i have the parts powder coated? Thank's, Jim.

i sanded the flat surfaces and polished em....wire brushed all the nooks ,fins,cranny's......sprayed the whole thing with fast flash off parts cleaner and an air nozzle to blast out tiny spots,wiped it with clean rags...taped the stuff that needed protecting..even the tiny screw and nut heads......then blew it all off again with air and wiped what was exposed again.....i used thin coats of duplicolor high heat satin black engine paint and repeated em after a few hrs dry time...the next day i wiped it down and gave it an even thin coat...it came out super nice.......

(youtube)

i had to sand the fins and fine art brush a few tiny tape show spots...it will pass for super clean up close no problem.....took 2 hrs and cost 25 bucks..cleaner,tape and paint

Depends on color Jim.
I myself always liked a gloss black for the Z1-KZ engine.
Gloss is hard to find. I like PJ1.
If you you want flat or satin there are plenty of paints out there. VHT, plastic coat wood stove paint, good to 1500 degrees.
1st, is your engine a rebuild? Cleaned? On the bench?
Or in the bike still?
I media blasted my cases years ago with aluminum oxide, then cleaned and cleaned again. always screw the screws into all holes when blasting.
Right before painting, I put lacquer thinner in a spray gun and just sprayed the heck out of the engine with clean thinner and let it evaporate. I also used a hand held propane torch, (WELL AFTER IT DRIES)!! And warm the aluminum, you can see the moisture coming out. Then it is ready to paint.
If you have a big enough oven, you can help cure the paint by baking it. Don't use your kitchen oven if your married! LOL!

Side covers, cam cover etc. can be powder coated easy and cheap. My next engine, I'm gonna powder coat the side covers black, with all stainless screws!

I really want to do the glossy black, it look's so good. It will be on the bench in the next couple week's as i am going to throw in new rings and such. I like the idea of the gloss black side and cam covers with stainless screws. Craig i love the MK-2 engine it looks killer, ill keep it in mind when i start tearing into mine. Il make sure to post lots of pics

Use PJ1 high temp engine paint in semi gloss. You'll love the finish and it will last a long time.

Should i clear coat it too?

VHT makes a good product as well

i was under the impression that paint will not let a motor breathe.

kz1k wrote:

i was under the impression that paint will not let a motor breathe.

The wrong kind of paint, like a high heat enamel seals the pours in the aluminum casting preventing the engine from dissipating heat as it was designed. (this was discussed in the thread"engine finishes")

PJ1 is the only paint I would use on an "air cooled" engine

The Dupicolor high heat engine enamel is designed for water cooled engines not air cooled engines.

Oliver wrote:

kz1k wrote:

i was under the impression that paint will not let a motor breathe.

The wrong kind of paint, like a high heat enamel seals the pours in the aluminum casting preventing the engine from dissipating heat as it was designed. (this was discussed in the thread"engine finishes")

PJ1 is the only paint I would use on an "air cooled" engine

The Dupicolor high heat engine enamel is designed for water cooled engines not air cooled engines.

what about the people who dont want a black engine? imo the bare aluminum look is the sexiest look for a bike motor. once the painted engine is cleaned and bare aluminum, how can you protect it from oil, grease, and the elements?

To expand on what I'm saying.
Painting your engine with the wrong paint will cause it to wear faster, It generally won't lock up a bike, but if you know what damage to look for, you will see it.

It will cause you engine to run hotter than it should. That might actually be a good thing if you are in a cooler climate, kind of like putting a cover on the radiator of a semi.
But you run that engine in a hotter climate and that's where you do the damage.

Painting your engine with the wrong paint can or will cause the following problems..
warping the head
cracks in the head
early failure of the oil return seals between the head and cylinders
chrome on the exhaust tarnishing faster or the paint finish rusting out faster.
burnt pistons and rings.
stuck valves
blown head gasket
breaks your oil down much faster
10k to 20k less miles before a rebuild.
and probably other things that I have not seen first hand.

If you already painted your engine, I'm not trying to bust your balls. I am simply giving you information I have found over the past 25 years building engines.

If you have already painted your engine. I wouldn't remove or do anything with the paint. just be aware of the possibility of running to hot while stuck in traffic, change your oil sooner and keep an eye out for leaks between the head and the cylinders.