MCM asks does a black intercooler work better

[team_v]

Just saw the video and was pleasantly surprised.
Might be some benefit for the heavy traffic users.

[tigger73]

Hmmm I see a run on black spray cans at Autobahn...

[mitch750]

interesting

[THE_EGG]

Wow big difference. Radiators used for liquid cooling in computers afaik are only available in a black colour so maybe they knew this all along haha. Anyway I would have thought though that on a hot day, the surface temperature of the road surface would make it worse if it were painted black (like Vincent points out at the end of the vid with the effects of sunlight). Interesting though, I really did not expect that much of a difference.

[staryknight]

Much better for low rpms and at the lights, but slightly worse at the top end i assume due to the layer of paint slightly inhibiting when the airflow cooling effect is greater than the colour heat release effect.

Wagner Tuning who only do intercoolers for various models only sell their intercoolers in black. Performance Parts online | Ladeluftkühler bei wagner-tuningshop.de

[wai]

It can, but it depends on how it is made black.

If you spray paint it, YOU might see a nice rough matt black surface, but as with a pancake, there are two sides to it. The surface in contact with the original surface can be extremely smooth and polished, and this can end up reflecting the heat back into the intercooler body.

This is much the same as chrome plating engine components. They might look good, but the chrome plating has a smooth, equally shiny surface in contact with the component that (in)conveniently reflect the heat hack in. So, chrome plating anything that is designed to lose heat is a no-no.

Now, in both cases if you have a process that coverts the base material to the appropriate colour/texture, then yes, it could be beneficial. Applying a coating to the existing surface may not be that good, and could well make things worse.