Ducati Monster Forum

QUESTION:
In the quest to get the bike looking as black as I can, I need to do something with the factory oil cooler.

Common sense says that powdercoating it might (stress the word might) make the cooler not perform as well as if it weren't coated (with anything). But, if I do have it coated it would nicely blend in with the rest of the bike and not stick out as much as it does currently...

Anyone powdercoat/paint their oil coolers on their scoots ?
And if so, anyone notice an increase in temp because of it ?

As usual, ALL help is greatly appreciated  [thumbsup]

Look up radiator paint.,, but that stuff pretty much only comes in black or silver

Stuff like powder coatings will act as an insulator as you've noted.  If you were careful and masked off the cooling fins, only painting/coating the outer body of the cooler, you could probably get away with it, with minimal detriment.  But I wouldn't coat the radiator fins

Thats kinda what I was thinking.
If I do end up coating it, I will just do the body and leave the fins alone.
Atleast that will help the side profile of the cooler blend in with the rest of the bike better than it does now..

somewhere in my project thread there are pics of what and how I did it.   [thumbsup]

radiator paint is the way to go. clean scuff spray dry wait!

+1  [thumbsup]

It's formulated not to affect thermal transfer.

10-4
Ordered some up from Eastwood- thanks guys  [thumbsup]

Kinda off topic but in my meandering thoughts about when I tear down my bike and wildly customize it, i think it'd be cool to rotate the oil cooler so that its vertical, maybe move it back between the frame tubes, a la the new Honda Fury chopper.  I think this, combined with the paint would make the cooler almost disappear.  IDK, just thinkin' 

I def. thought about mounting the cooler vertical rather than in it's stock position.
I would def. "flow" better with the rest of the motor/frame/etc..
Once I get into that part of the project I will see what's all involved, and if it isnt like re-inventing the wheel I will
prob. do it..

I used VHT hi-temp engine paint in the past on the SS2R project and it worked just fine.  As long as you're not giving it many coats (I did two thin coats BTW), it won't really affect heat transfer.  P'coating it would be like wrapping it in a blanket though (IMO).

Post up some pics when it's done!  I'd like to see how it comes out.

BTW, there are a few Duc's out there with the oil coolers relocated to different positions...  Could be good!

All the radiator paint I've used has been nasty stuff that always stays kinda sticky.

Anyone have a link to the eastwood stuff?

oh comeon now, ever GW Bush can use the google  [laugh]

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=125&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=390&iSubCat=391&iProductID=125 (http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=125&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=390&iSubCat=391&iProductID=125)



Also, and probably not needed...  I cleaned the cooler with brake cleaner, then sanded the tanks down with scotchbrite (red stuff).  Recleaned again and wiped it with a tack rag.

I then masked off the fins and painted the end tanks with a spray bomb epoxy paint designed for engine blocks.  After 3-4 coats, I painted the fins with the eastwood stuff.  There was a slight difference in the finish, so I applied one more coat to the entire thing.

So far, after about 3K worth of riding, no chips on either the cooler or radiator. 

Probably don't need to do the epoxy paint on the tanks, but it hasn't seemed to hurt anything either.

Both the epoxy and the eastwood rad paint dried fairly quickly.....iirc it was around 80 deg when I painted.

I would have if I really cared. ;D

I will def. post up some pics of the final project.
I am pretty much tearing my whole bike apart to do little things here and their I have been wanting too since I brought it home from the dealer.

I have a build thread going on over at the Half Fast Chicago forum (see below if you want/care):
I will update it as much as I can as progress begins to be made on the project...

Any update on the painted oil cooler?  Some have suggested turning the cooler vertical, too. 

No progress as of yet.
I am still waiting to get my Exhaust and the bike back from the shop and then I will tackle the small things like painting the oil cooler, ditching the factory side covers, etc. Def. plan on re-mounting the cooler vertical but that prob. wont happen till riding season is over (and my big ass garage is built [thumbsup])...
Once all is said and done I will post pics 4 sure...

I painted my oil cooler with BBQ paint thinking that may not last, however, it has and for a few years now..!

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3486479317_25e245ae2b.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3487289496_5132f7e8ca.jpg?v=0)

Juan, what oil line is that?

Not to completely threadjack... But are there any options or alternatives for aftermarket oil coolers? I've looked and found only a few.

Hey NAKID, I am using the monster long stock, and  the long stock of the Hipermotard

which oil cooler is it? is the the square one or the curvy edged one?

Ducati use black ones on some bikes so depending one whether its the same or nicer than yours you could swap for one of those.


IIRC NCR do theirs in anodised black.  cost almost as much as my bike did tho lol.

Any oil cooler will work, as long as you dont go smaller than stock (for obvious reasons)..
Go open a parts unlimited/drag specialties catalog and look around. You could prob. even get one from
Jeg's or Summit racing (cooler is a cooler)...
What is this "long stock" you speak of ?

The longer of the two stock lines. So, the left line of the stock Monster oil line and the right line of the stock Hyper oil line...

 [thumbsup] right on NAKID..!