Seems some black stains have appeared. I've done the elephant mod.

Tried to picture them....

Anyway I know they would probably clean off but I fancy freshening it up with a coat of silver anyway.

However I've read a load of contradicting posts on google regarding paint and air flow etc. any advice?

Would be a spray can of hammerite or something - durable and direct to metal ability!

Dont paint it it reduces the cooling ability of the intercooler, so the air going into your engine will be warmer and less dense and you will loose performance.

Heat still transfers through paint. Radiators are the same idea and they've been painted since they were first used in cars. I've used painted intercoolers with an air temp differance of 0.2 degrees compared to bare metal. Also remember, if painted a dark colour, it will emit heat better, giving an even better effect on the air temp

Alu-magic aluminium polish for the sides

Then g101 and a paintbrush gently on the core

Then a light watering off

Before

After

I've cleaned it all up before, well the sides. Looked like this

Was it a continuos job you had to do Jase in regards to cleaning the sides?

I'm thinking now I may just paint the sides but clean the core with that 101 you mentioned

Yeah its continuous! Its aluminium so just tarnishes in no time at all

Do you need special paint to paint aluminium! Might look nasty if say it gets stone chips??

Seen a few coolers sprayed black and they look trash in no time with stone chips

Agree with Jase on this, just leave it tbh. My Forge Fmic is aluminium and is already fairly tarnished and dull looking.

Yeah its continuous! Its aluminium so just tarnishes in no time at all

Do you need special paint to paint aluminium! Might look nasty if say it gets stone chips??

Seen a few coolers sprayed black and they look trash in no time with stone chips

Yeh mate makes sense, might leave it.

That G101 though says not to use on Aluminium?

Well did the trick for me!

I use it on almost everything

Well did the trick for me!

I use it on almost everything

That's good enough for me, will order a small pot to try it.

Can you use it as a de-greaser on door shuts and that. Also cleaning wheels? Could be good for removing chain gunk off the wheel of my bike!

yeah its awesome stuff

one of the best degreasers, non acidic so doesn't kill anything and it works like fluff

wheels look like new with the aid of an old paintbrush, i actually cleaned the mother-in-laws whole car with it and an old paintbrush and it came up like new, obviously takes all protection off paintwork (wax etc) but just wash car with shampoo afterwards and then re-wax!

its awesome stuff, gets bays like new too

check out my old octy bay after a bit of g101 and a pressure washer