Engine Colors

[Ben M-P]

We are getting ready to install the engine (it is on a pallet at the moment) and once the mechanic has gone through it we are planning on cleaning and painting it.
Which brings me to my question:

What color would you recommend painting it?

(I like black but it occurs to me that finding leaks could be hard to spot until it hits the bilge paint. My wife like red so that it will look like the innards of a giant fish.) It is grey over red at the moment.

[Me-and-Boo]

I have a life long preference for Ford blue.

Why wait to paint it? It is easier to clean and degrease, mask off the little parts, and spray it on a pallet or engine stand, then in confined quarters. Also, the paint can cure in open air and not stink up your boat.

[reiner]

A friend of mine painted his engine white and some bits are orange. When he told me his plan I didn't like the idea but when I saw it it looks real good and you can see everything.
If I ever paint mine it will be white.

[O.C.Diver]

It all depends on whether you want to see problems or ignore them. Yellow and white offer great contrast for leaks of oil or coolant and when things are starting to rust.

Ted

[Ben M-P]

Thanks for the input.
The engine will be painted prior to installation (but after the mechanic has a chance to see all the rust/leaks/stains). I had forgotten about white. We were on a schooner that had a white engine and it look really nice.

[barnakiel]

Paint it the color that will make it easy to spot trouble.

Volvo green is only OK. Yanmar gray is horrible, Vetus yellow is very good, Perkins/Nanni blue is marginal.

How about white?

b.

[Matt sachs]

White shows the oil leaks well

[Amapola]

I like my engines red.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Amapola

I like my engines red.

Perhaps overheating issues. ;-)

VP gas?

b.

[svcambria]

Paint your engine a reddish brown - that way you won't see stains and oil leaks and then you won't have to worry about them.
Ignorance IS bliss...

Michael

[markpierce]

Yeah, white because it best shows leaks. Best color for interior of hull too for similar reasons.



Note traces of engine oil on hull girder on which engine is mounted. After much detective work, traced leak to engine water pump.

[James S]

Old engine was white...new engine is black....white was way better.

[Cheapwine]

Vanilla white, give it that class

[James S]

Welcome to the forum Cheapwine
Yeah...all go with the Vanilla white as well....funny about adding class from a guy/gal called Cheapwine?

[nigel1]

Mac Hinery Green was traditionally used on the big ship engines