20 replies to this topic

[Bones]

Hey mini-peeps,

Yet again a question on painting a engine.

Is it not possible to use normal/household paint?

I've got a lovey shade of lilac. Which would set my purple engine bay off nicely.

Bones (give the dog some today!)

[Will]

Yes it is possible but no i wouldn't do it.

i think you can use proper automotive paint (like some of the americans do) but you're best either using hammerite or some high temp paint. :cheese:

[Guess-Works.com]

Hammerites ok, but peels on the head quicker than it does the block, especially if you over heat the engine ... but works for me !

[THedooBZ]

as said use hammerite or similar. hammerite do a vast range of colours but i dont think they do lilac, but im sure they sell something to suit.

[wolfie]

just dont paint it black makes the engine very unreliable, personally i would paint it orange this will give you at least 50 bhp

[ianbunyan]

Use radiator paint... don't see why not? Either way, it will peel quite fast because of the rapid extremes of temperature breaking the paint down on some kind of cellular-cheese level

oops, in a funny mood methinx!

[Adrenaline Junkie]

You're best of visiting halfords and buying for about a fiver, some high temperature paint.. designed for painting engines etc.

Thats what i used, plenty in one tin to paint the whole of the block.

[eddyg]

IS there no hammerite place like dulux where you can take in a sample colour and they mix it up!! lol u could get your lilac then!

[Jammy]

The equipment to mix up own paints in DIY stores like Homebase and B&Q is provided by Dulux (not sure how you'd 'go' to a place like Dulux though? :erm: ), and they can't mix up a high-temp paint, or anything like Hammerite, can't speak for what they do in Halfrauds though?

[Adrenaline Junkie]

The equipment to mix up own paints in DIY stores like Homebase and B&Q is provided by Dulux (not sure how you'd 'go' to a place like Dulux though? :erm: ), and they can't mix up a high-temp paint, or anything like Hammerite, can't speak for what they do in Halfrauds though?

'frauds definately sell it... I have some sat at home, with an engine bay showing the results

The dulux factory place near me only does decorating paint, would be no good for high temperature applications, the paint would just flake off, or burn or whatever.

You really need the high temperature paint designed for such applications.

[cooper_shaz]

About 10 different colours here,
ok none are lilac but hey..

Clicky

saying that, i wonder if you buy white hammerite from B+Q and get them to tint it with their mixing scheme, cant see a reason that would not work...

[1984mini25]

It does say on the back of the Hammerite tins

( do not mix paint from 2 tins to mix colours )

:smartass:
<karl>

[Bones]

Cheers for sharing your knowledge mini-guru's.

Guess the lilac engine may well be a passing fantasy (the wifey will be upset!)

Think it may end up being yellow or red after all.

Thank you once again

Bones

[philly c]

hamertie is a bad choice as it can go soft when the engine get s really soft and another prob is that any splash or drip of petrol will strip it right off ur block. I think the best thing is to go for high temperature paint at least then you know its not going to start peeling off.

What ever you do do not use house hold paint as it cant handel the heat that the block can get up to.

[998dave]

IS there no hammerite place like dulux where you can take in a sample colour and they mix it up!! lol u could get your lilac then!

well, yes, but it's expensive

My engine paint is one off, but my dad was working in a paint factory at the time and so got the most blindingly bright red they could muster, heat proof to about 800C, and oil and solvent proof too, is magical stuff. Just paint on and bake at 220C (gas mark 7), for about 4 hours, then spend the rest of the week trying to get rid of the smell in your mums kitchen! hehe