Duplicolor Engine Enamel

[jfl1960]

Hey guys got a question regarding engine paint, I am sure you have all heard of Dupli-Color with ceramics for engine blocks and such, well I am in Canada and all I can find is the Dupli-Color Acrylic Polymer engine enamel, no mention of ceramics at all on the can anywhere. I contacted Dupli-Color help desk and they were as much help as a light bulb in a power outage. does anyone know why the US product clearly says "With Ceramics" and the Canadian product states "Acrylic Polymer" and please no Canada bashing, that just isn't polite.

Any recommendation regarding other paint that would last would be appreciated, thanks. I have never had good long lasting results with any rattle can paints on motor or exhaust parts, but have seen many that have lasted, trying to do my homework and hope to do this one right the first time around.

 

[PanamaExpat]

The duplicolor here is like you have Acrylic enamel. I used Rustoleum engine and farm implement paint on mine.

 

[jfl1960]

The duplicolor here is like you have Acrylic enamel. I used Rustoleum engine and farm implement paint on mine.

hmmm interesting that in Canada and Panama it's different from US. Anyone got an explanation, I am sure there must be a paint expert that can shed some light on this.

 

[Captain Ledd]

We used that stuff with my friends 4.7L Jeep stroker, Pontiac Blue. Was the closest thing to Jeep blue and he was tired of having dark colored engines. Makes chasing down a leak a real pain in the rear. Scratched/rubbed off real easy. over the course of fitting it into the vehicle it looked like crap. It was really the only stuff the local store had, was name brand, really hoped it'd be better than it was.

On the other hand, after the engine has cycled a few times and heated the paint up and cured it a little maybe it would have been more robust.

 

[nine-teen91stxranger]

this is going to sound dumb but see if you can get ceramic brake paint. i used it on my exhaust tip and other then the road salt getting to it it works really well.

 

[jfl1960]

We used that stuff with my friends 4.7L Jeep stroker, Pontiac Blue. Was the closest thing to Jeep blue and he was tired of having dark colored engines. Makes chasing down a leak a real pain in the rear. Scratched/rubbed off real easy. over the course of fitting it into the vehicle it looked like crap. It was really the only stuff the local store had, was name brand, really hoped it'd be better than it was.

On the other hand, after the engine has cycled a few times and heated the paint up and cured it a little maybe it would have been more robust.

Yeah it stays soft until heat cycled and cured, I built a run in stand to chase down leaks and mechanical problems before I drop motor into the engine bay so heat cycling the engine to cure the paint will not be an issue.

 

[jfl1960]

this is going to sound dumb but see if you can get ceramic brake paint. i used it on my exhaust tip and other then the road salt getting to it it works really well.

Hmmm something to think about, but still hoping someone can shed light on Dupli-Color Acrylic Polymer Engine Paint vs Dupli-Color Engine Enamel with Ceramics.

 

[a31ford]

.
JFL, LOL, :you Cannuck you !!

Tremclad makes some good paint, works great in our climate.

The BIG issue with spray cans is prep-work.

good thing is a REALLY GOOD, de-greasing of the parts to be painted. if using an enamel paint like tremclad, wipe the parts down with rags that have been dipped in solvent,AND rung out, THEN let sit overnight (or goggles and compressed air).

Body shops CLEAN AND TACK-RAG for a reason, it's NOT just for a good shine... it's so the paint sticks.

Greg

 

[jfl1960]

Got to laugh at Dupli-Color's "Help Desk" hahahaha, I sent them a request regarding asking them to explain the different labeling on the American and Canadian spray cans of engine enamel, they couldn't explain it at, all they kept saying is it's the same paint, obviously it isn't or it would be labeled similar noting the presence of "Ceramics" in the product, anyway I described a problem I had with a previous application in 1995 on a 1982 305 stroker I built for my 82 Z28, and their final response was polite but useless, they told me to use some other product if I wasn't satisfied Dupli-Color's performance and that the formulation hasn't changed since then. This is lame for a paint company to say, must be scripted responders that have no paint experience. I highly advise against using this product solely on the lack of support the "Helpless Desk" has provided.

 

[crazypj]

I think the real reason, they are not allowed to tell lies in Canada and WILL get sued by trade description people
In USA someone would have to get a bunch of people together and start a class action suit
(or maybe I'm just cynical? )

 

[jfl1960]

.
JFL, LOL, :you Cannuck you !!

Tremclad makes some good paint, works great in our climate.

The BIG issue with spray cans is prep-work.

good thing is a REALLY GOOD, de-greasing of the parts to be painted. if using an enamel paint like tremclad, wipe the parts down with rags that have been dipped in solvent,AND rung out, THEN let sit overnight (or goggles and compressed air).

Body shops CLEAN AND TACK-RAG for a reason, it's NOT just for a good shine... it's so the paint sticks.

Greg

Good advice Greg, I always degrease and grind sharp corners before painting, never used a rag and solvent, usually just the spray degreaser and a pressure washer. Will give the solvent a try, any suggestions as to what solvent??

 

[crazypj]

I've always found spray engine cleaners/degreaser leaves an oily film to prevent corrosion
I use concrete cleaner after degreasing block, heads, etc before paint

 

[ZMan]

You can use anything on an engine, it doesn't get hot enough to actually burn the paint off. I've always used regular car paint (urathane) with absolutely zero problems. I would suggest a good etching primer and a sealer, but I have seen dozens of engines painted with urethanes with no sealers hold up for years of racing.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You can use anything on an engine, it doesn't get hot enough to actually burn the paint off. I've always used regular car paint (urathane) with absolutely zero problems. I would suggest a good etching primer and a sealer, but I have seen dozens of engines painted with engine enamel with no sealers hold up for years of racing.

Manifolds/headers do obviously, the engines themselves do not though.

 

[jfl1960]

I've always found spray engine cleaners/degreaser leaves an oily film to prevent corrosion
I use concrete cleaner after degreasing block, heads, etc before paint

Did not know, that thanks. So process you use is degrease/clean,remove rust and sharp edges then the concentrate cleaner, I assume wash between processes with soapy water then rinse with clear water, allow to dry or air dry, then primer, sealer and paint, does this sound correct???