Painting the expansion tank

[rlampman]

I'm getting ready to buy my expansion tank and thinking about how to finish it. It's basically a radiator and I never had good luck painting my classic mustang radiators. They usually pealed off. What would you recommend for this? I was thinking por15 or maybe powder coated. I want the clasic black look but want it to last. Not sure about the heat.
Rod

[Gumball]

Rod - Be careful with powdercoating. If your tank is brazed, the heat of the oven used to cure the powdercoat will soften and likely cause all of the brazing to run out of the joints. If it's a welded aluminum tank, then that is a different story. I used black hi-temp radiator paint for my vintage Ford degas tank... just make sure you scuff it up really well and clean all the grease and stuff off before you paint it if you go that route.

[2FAST4U]

You can also use rattle can epoxy black paint.

[rlampman]

Chris,
thanks, didn't think of the oven affect on the tank I was thinking about the heat of the engine ruining the pc. Guess I'll go with the paint. I always used bomb cans. Didn't know there was a high temp paint for radiators. Is this the same as exhaust paint? Where do I get it, local auto parts store?

[skullandbones]

I don't know if you tried BBQ paint yet. It works great on the side pipes and touches up evenly too. WEK.

[Svtfreak]

Aluminum is all about the prep. Either blast it or etch it well using an acid (muratic acid works well) then neutralize with plenty of water. After dry, a good etching primer is best, but any good primer will work as long as it's rated for the temp. Coolant systems rarely see extremely high temps, but high heat engine paint will work. As someone above said, so will bbq pit paint which dries a nice semi gloss finish, if you ask me.

[SCFFR]

I used black engine paint on my vintage Ford Galaxie expansion tank. So far, has worked great.

Ron

[kdeo111]

Dude i also use the black engine paint it is very attractive and good looking paint for the tank..if you show me the pic of your tank than we all guys suggest the right decision..

[OCCPete]

I recently re-painted my expansion tank with POR-15. Seems to be holding up well and still shiny after many heat cycles.

Pete

[Gumball]

Eastwood is a great source, but black engine paint (I prefer the semi-gloss) will work, too.

[Austexican]

If you want to know where to find parts and products, I suggest taking out a subscription to Hemmings Motor News. I bought a quart of high temperature paint from one of their advertisers for the muffler, tail pipe, and exhaust manifold of my 1930 Model A Ford. I haven't had to touch that up in ten years. I used a gray color to match the unpainted cast iron appearance of the manifold but I believe it also comes in black.