Powder coat question/problem
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Grapevine, TX
Powder coat question/problem
I am on the process of doing an intake refresh and have a question/problem with my recently PCed intake. When I dropped my intake parts off to get coated I had asked to just have the steel nipples masked and to coat the entire rest of the parts, however this apparently got lost in transferring the job to the flood,, and they masked the areas where the tubes go to join the side plenums and runners. So to keep from having to re strip the parts the conclusion was made to clear over the existing PC and over the uncoated areas. This would protect the rest of the part and save them the labor of having to strip the parts, plus the uncoated ares would be covered by the sleeves and wouldn't be visible anyway.
So here's the problem. I was going to flush out the inside of the runners before reinstalling them to ensure there was no grit left that could damage the engine. I sprayed a little carb cleaner into the runner and noticed immediately that the clear coat became rubbery and could be easily scratched off with my finger nail.
So is clear PC not chemically resistant? if not I don't think it is acceptable to run on engine parts as they are going to come in contact with may chemicals. Or did they just grab a can of clear and spray a layer of wet over the parts to make them look acceptable. I know very little about paint and PC so all info you guys have would be appreciated. Seems the best thing would probably be to take them back next week to have them stripped and fully PCed this time. I'm a frustrated at the moment as I was hoping to get the car back together over this weekend, which apparently now is not going to happen. Any other suggestions?
So here's the problem. I was going to flush out the inside of the runners before reinstalling them to ensure there was no grit left that could damage the engine. I sprayed a little carb cleaner into the runner and noticed immediately that the clear coat became rubbery and could be easily scratched off with my finger nail.
So is clear PC not chemically resistant? if not I don't think it is acceptable to run on engine parts as they are going to come in contact with may chemicals. Or did they just grab a can of clear and spray a layer of wet over the parts to make them look acceptable. I know very little about paint and PC so all info you guys have would be appreciated. Seems the best thing would probably be to take them back next week to have them stripped and fully PCed this time. I'm a frustrated at the moment as I was hoping to get the car back together over this weekend, which apparently now is not going to happen. Any other suggestions?
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 9,601
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From: Abbotsford B.C.
That is very difficult to read and understand exactly what has been done.
However when I had my parts done, I had them blast everything to remove the original material.
After that I had them bolt the side covers on and ONLY PC the outside of the intake.
You need to clean out the intake thouroughly! Not just in the runners, but around them too.
However when I had my parts done, I had them blast everything to remove the original material.
After that I had them bolt the side covers on and ONLY PC the outside of the intake.
You need to clean out the intake thouroughly! Not just in the runners, but around them too.
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,118
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From: Grapevine, TX
Sorry if my first post seems a little cryptic. I'd just come in from the garage and was a little flustered, so my thought to type process probably wasn't real clear.
I know everything needs to be immaculately clean to keep from contaminating the engine. Cleaning is not in question.
My problem is that the clear coat applied to my intake doesn't seem very chemically resistant, as when I got carb cleaner on it it softened. So the question is did they use clear powder coat (PC) or did they use a clear wet spray? If they used PC should it be chemically resistant to the carb cleaner, or is it normal for carb cleaner to soften clear PC?
I know everything needs to be immaculately clean to keep from contaminating the engine. Cleaning is not in question.
My problem is that the clear coat applied to my intake doesn't seem very chemically resistant, as when I got carb cleaner on it it softened. So the question is did they use clear powder coat (PC) or did they use a clear wet spray? If they used PC should it be chemically resistant to the carb cleaner, or is it normal for carb cleaner to soften clear PC?
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 295
From: Grapevine, TX
Unfortunately the powder coater is currently close (understandably with today being Sunday and July 4th) , so I have no way of contacting them to get any info. So thought I'd post here since there is such a wide collective of knowledge here to draw on.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 31,337
Likes: 4,290
From: Philly PA
you might try some brake cleaner on the inner parts,
dont let it get on the new coating.
then wash all of the parts in hot water and simple green,
the more washing you do the less chance of debris left behind.
FWIW some types of powdecoat are not chemically resistant, so gas and carb cleaner and acetone will remove the coatings .
If you have a soft coating now place the part in the sun and it should reharden.
as an option i would ask the PC operator if they do have resistant coatings.
you can also do a google search for different PC coating properties some are better with UV protection, hardness and chemical resistance.
All in all keep anything stronger than car soap off the outer coatings , simple green may also damage the coating if left on too long
dont let it get on the new coating.
then wash all of the parts in hot water and simple green,
the more washing you do the less chance of debris left behind.
FWIW some types of powdecoat are not chemically resistant, so gas and carb cleaner and acetone will remove the coatings .
If you have a soft coating now place the part in the sun and it should reharden.
as an option i would ask the PC operator if they do have resistant coatings.
you can also do a google search for different PC coating properties some are better with UV protection, hardness and chemical resistance.
All in all keep anything stronger than car soap off the outer coatings , simple green may also damage the coating if left on too long
Last edited by Mrmerlin; Jul 4, 2010 at 02:06 PM.
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Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 295
From: Grapevine, TX
Okay, so I need to use soap and water. I hadn't planned to clean the entire assembly with carb cleaner, There was just an area in one of the runners that looked like it had some baked on oil left from the post blast bake out prior to coating. I was just going to use some carb cleaner in that runner to see if it would come loose, and when I did I noticed the clear along the edge of the runner softened where I got the carb cleaner on it. So then I guess it's normal for carb cleaner to soften PC and that the only solution I should use is soap and water. Thanks for the feed back.
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