Is cerakote the way to go for engine block?
Posted by Final-Associate-2882@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 26 comments
will be painting my cummins when I pull it, seems cerakote isnt mentioned to much but those that have done it like it, anyone have any experience doing it? ill be using c series as i dont have a way to oven a 1100 pound motor. Thanks in advance
smthngeneric@reddit
Idk if I'd say "the way to go" but yes it will work. I say that because really it's overkill for an engine. I've painted engines with damn near everything (but not cerakote yet) and it really doesn't matter. As long as it is prepped well just about anything will stick. I just use regular paint most of the time and it doesn't flake off or anything like that. Cerakote is great for things like exhaust where you need that extra heat resistance but realistically if the outside of your block is getting hot enough to make normal paint flake off then you've got bigger problems and the engine is already coming out anyways. Also as a side note cerakote is meant to be sprayed on in 1 coat and is extremely thin. That means it won't fill or smooth out the cast surface of the block at all. Paint you can lay on thick and get it to smooth out the block a tiny bit if you care about that.
Final-Associate-2882@reddit (OP)
Not so worried about hiding the casting pits i realize it is over kill but I like over kill i was just curious ifs a bad idea or wont work how I want it to but sounds like ill be ordering Glacier black
smthngeneric@reddit
I mean it should. Get it hot tanked and then go over it with a wire wheel or 3m bristle pad rolock and then go over it with a torch to burn off any remaining bits of anything and it should be good to go. Cast iron likes to soak up paint so you might have to go against their recommendation and do a couple coats.
Final-Associate-2882@reddit (OP)
Hot tank wont be possible was just gunna do alotta scotch brite wire wheel brake cleaner and acetone
noladutch@reddit
Oh hell no.
I used heat to burn off impurities off a intake manafold before doing cerakote. Same with clutch covers on a motorcycle.
I glass bead blasted my bike frame before applying and never touched it with ungloved hands.
Trust me you won't get it clean enough with thinners and what not.
You might have a shot burning scrap out of the casting with a torch or propane but I doubt it.
But that sounds like entirely too much work. Go drink beer, walk your dog, and just use engine paint for fuck sakes instead of all that work nobody will see.
It is an ungodly light and thin coating. Don't think of it like paint at all.
Final-Associate-2882@reddit (OP)
Okay okay you convinced me just wanted to do something to last this trucks my pride n joy but getting a compressor and blaster and then everything else does sound like alot thank you
smthngeneric@reddit
That will do. Id do a small test section of cerakote first though. That stuff really likes a clean surface it doesn't do well with any kind of contaminants.
Final-Associate-2882@reddit (OP)
Yea thats the hope wish I could do a hot tank as mentioned but for 1 thats really more than I wanna do and spend for this as its my daily driver and 2ndly the only thing I could use to move around an 1100 pound motor is my truck đ
IGOR_ULANOV_55_BEST@reddit
So you like doing things that are overkill, but donât want to take the effort to do proper surface prep? Thatâs the only rule with cerakote. Youâre going to waste money on it. Without at least media blasting the block the cerakote wonât adhere properly and you will have spent more money for a paint job that flakes off and looks worse than regular engine block paint.
Final-Associate-2882@reddit (OP)
Blasting my block? Not sure id wanna risk contamination
IGOR_ULANOV_55_BEST@reddit
Thatâs literally the surface prep instructions. Heat part to 250, blast with rough media and then apply coating. You mask off any machined surfaces or oil/water passages. If you just wire wheel your porous, ambient temp engine block the coating will not stick as well as regular old high temp paint.
Donât waste your money if youâre not going to do it properly.
Final-Associate-2882@reddit (OP)
Im will to do it properly ive just heard sand blasting engine blocks you have to be really careful but if thats the prep work im willing to do it figured soaking in acetone would remove most all oil
SausagegFingers@reddit
arent you supposed to media blast the surface before cerakote? We do a small amount of it in work. i guess its just a different way of ensuring clean bare metal surface
Final-Associate-2882@reddit (OP)
I mean from what I can tell you dont have to you just gotta be really on top of it my only worry for sand blasting is getting media in my engine
noladutch@reddit
I have on motorcycle parts and other stuff like car intakes and exhaust manifolds even a bicycle. You have to prep exceptionally well.
Look up YouTube videos on it some is air dry some take heat. Easy to spray but expensive.
But a big old oily diesel I wouldn't bother.
I would just do regular engine paint. As dirty as those get over time you just need a surface to tell where the mess is coming from really.
I think you are over thinking it really.
ZeGermanHam@reddit
There are other options that work well and are easy. I used Duplicolor engine enamel with ceramic spray paint on my Pontiac engine and it still looks fantastic nearly 4 years later. And this was a dirty as engine that I wire-wheeled clean and repainted, not a block that got baked clean at a machine shop first.
And the Duplicolor engine enamel w/ceramic can be purchased off the shelf at most auto parts stores and comes in a lot of colors. Good stuff.
BigOlBahgeera@reddit
Nice poncho. I used inline tube enamel, it burned through at the exhaust ports with both inline and duplicolor. Maybe cerakote would prevent that
ZeGermanHam@reddit
The exhaust ports are a common failure point for paint on Pontiacs. They are holding up pretty well on my engine, and have turned a slightly golden hue, but the paint is holding on so far.
Final-Associate-2882@reddit (OP)
Thats beautiful, but is cerakote not a good choice for block and head? I know the prep work is gunna be extensive but its gunna be out of the truck i wanna do this once and be done and smile when I pop the hood
ZeGermanHam@reddit
I've never used Cerakote paints of any type, but they tend to make good products so I assume their paints would be good if you pick one that is suitable for long-term exposure to engine temps and oil and fuel exposure.
My point is that Cerakote is not your only good option out there. Someone else with direct experience using Cerakote on an engine will hopefully chime in.
Final-Associate-2882@reddit (OP)
I still appreciate the input, from what I can tell cerakote is chemical and corrosion resistant and the c series which air cures is good till 1800 f° and the highest temp i think possible on my truck is the egts which im not worried about breaking 1000
TheDirtDude117@reddit
Cerakote is more for a thicker coating to help a bit with heat. You can use engine enamel and header paint with good results. Just matters about the prep and your masking.
_clever_reference_@reddit
I just grabbed some VHT Engine Enamel from Autozone for my 2J. Coated excellently.
_clever_reference_@reddit
chuck-u-farley-@reddit
You should use âmotor coaterâ itâs fantastic for engines, holds up well for years and thru heat cycles and available in a myriad of colors.
Pretty much anything you buy in a spray can is absolute garbage, will fade and chipâŚ..
chuck-u-farley-@reddit
Another done with motor coater