engine paint: primer or no primer?

[boomshakalaka]

I bought a can of plasti-coat or some crap from car quest. Its 500° engine enamel, yada yada. On the can it says to use primer. On duplicolor's site they say to use primer on old stuff, but not on new stuff. Also, do you think the brand matters much? Should I find a duplicolor retailer, or should the brand I have be fine?

 

[autoguy]

i used the same stuff on my engine on my cb450 and did not primer it and it has held up just fine to the heat, i have not ridden the bike yet, still need a battery and a new front brake line and more oil, i just wiped the engine down with a rag and sprayed away ;D

do not spray the headers with this stuff though, it burns off and stinks to hi hell, found that out the hard way ;D

 

[DrJ]

I've used Duplicolor without primer on my engine case with good results. If you bake it as in the instructions, the paint becomes more durable.

 

[boomshakalaka]

ok cool! No primer it is. I cant bake though, the case isnt split.

 

[swan]

Use an etching primer or a high primer such as Duplicolor engine primer de-1612. Thouroghly clean, degrease ,dry and lightly scuff with fine grit sand paper. Prime and follow instructions. A paint job is as only as good as it preparation.

 

[boomshakalaka]

how about temperature..? Do I need to wait until its warmer outside? It looks like it will be below freezing throughout the rest of january. Do I need to wait until its above freezing, above 40°, above 60°?

 

[swan]

In cold weather (sub zero today) and you do not have a heated and ventilated workspace keep the paint and parts warm inside, quickly spray outside then bring paint and parts back to warm space. Smell is minimal.

 

[boomshakalaka]

In cold weather (sub zero today) and you do not have a heated and ventilated workspace keep the paint and parts warm inside, quickly spray outside then bring paint and parts back to warm space. Smell is minimal.

it looks like Ill be waiting since the piece Im painting is the case. It will be too hard to move while the paint is wet. My garage is heated, however the propane heater just doesnt pump out enough btu's to combat this sort of cold. In a week or two it should be warm enough to have the heater bring the garage to 55-65°.

And ya, I think Im just going to clean the surface really well and skip the primer. The surface is nicely wire wheeled down to the bare metal, so it has some tooth.