A question about paint

[Beer Runner]

I have and old bike and would like to get it to look a little better. The engine shows it's age. So I was thinking about giving it a good cleaning, and painting it with that high heat paint that's out on the market, it's good for up to 1600 d. Good idea or bad.

I have painted all kinds of thing in my time, just not an engine.
Any ideas would be welcome.

[Beer Runner]

Well I just checked the net for the answer to my question. And the answer is don't do it. Here is why.

Spray paint acts as an insulator on the engine, therefore it can not cool itself as well as an unpainted engine

Makes sence to me.

[mswarrior]

Is your engine Air or Liquid cooled? If yours is Air cooled I wouldn't paint it. Mine <-- is liquid cooled and the engine is painted at the factory. The only parts that are not painted are the outside edges of the fins.

[Beer Runner]

Air cooled, so I'm leaving it alone. I can paint other parts that need it.

[mswarrior]

There are products out there to help renew the look of aluminum. What they are... I can't remember. Do some more searching and ask alot of questions and you'll get it looking new, or close anyway.

[Gilfy650a]

my engine is air cooled and it came from the factory painted, do they do somthing different at the factory?

[XJRJohn]

i have painted both water and air cooled motors with vht paint.never done the motor any harm,but didnt last long .some actually say they will help cooling.dont know if thats true but i wouldnt bother eccept as a touch up on a black motor.xjrjohn

[old-n-slow]

I can't see what it would matter unless you plan to lay the paint on a 1/4" thick. A thin coat would be unlikely to provide much insulating value. Particularly the stuff from out of a spray can.