Oil cooler paint?

[Jcurry]

The oil cooler fins get dull and grungy over time. Has anyone painted them with high temp paint? Any reason I shouldn't do it if paint is used sparingly?

Thanks

 

[swjohnsey]

Actually, a thin layer of flat black paint has been shown to increase heat transfer.

 

[Marc Bourget]

FWIW,

Coast Guard studies establish that flat white is superior to flat black IIRC Black absorbs in a greater spectrum than white.

OK for ship engine rooms, not so well for an aircraft