Engine Paint and Exhaust Paint: Motor Coater to 500°F, XTC to 1500°F
Engine paint is a heat-resistant enamel or coating chosen by how hot the part runs. KBS Motor Coater is a single-component engine enamel rated to 500°F in 42 OEM-matched colors, for blocks, transmissions and brake calipers. KBS XTC is a silicone high temperature coating for headers, manifolds and exhaust, rated to 1500°F as a liquid and 1200°F as an aerosol.
Which Engine or Exhaust Paint Do I Need?
Match the paint to the hottest surface you are coating, not to the engine bay as a whole.
| Your part | Choose | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Engine block, heads, transmission or brake calipers | Motor Coater | Engine enamel rated to 500°F, bonds direct to metal, 42 OEM colors |
| Exhaust headers, manifolds, pipes, turbo housings, wood stoves or grills | XTC | Liquid runs 500°F to 1500°F, aerosol to 1200°F; not for cooking surfaces |
| Bare or rusty metal that runs hot | XTC Zinc Rich Primer | Zinc primer rated to 1200°F; topcoat with XTC for a 1500°F system |
| Engine paint with the prep products included | Motor Coater Kit | KBS Klean, RustBlast and Motor Coater in one 3 step kit |
Still deciding? Motor Coater directions | XTC directions | Ask an expert
What Else Do You Need to Paint an Engine or Exhaust?
Engine and exhaust buyers most often add a pour spout, a drill mixer and prep products. When a coating needs thinning for spray, use KBS #1 Thinner and never lacquer thinner.
KBS Paint Spout
Pours Motor Coater and XTC without drips and keeps the can groove clean, so the lid seals tight between coats. Fits pint, quart and gallon cans.
Hurricane Paint Mixer
XTC and XTC Primer are heavily pigmented and need 5 to 10 minutes of mixing. The Hurricane Paint Mixer does it with a drill, sized for quart, gallon and 5 gallon cans.
KBS Klean and RustBlast
Motor Coater goes over metal degreased with KBS Klean and etched with RustBlast. XTC goes over sanded or blasted metal degreased with KBS Klean.
Motor Coater or XTC: Which One Is Right?
Motor Coater is the engine enamel and XTC is the exhaust coating, and the dividing line is 500°F. Below 500°F, Motor Coater is the better fit because it air cures and comes in 42 OEM-matched colors; above 500°F, only XTC is rated for the heat.
| Feature | Motor Coater | XTC |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum heat | 500°F | 1500°F liquid, 1200°F aerosol |
| Best for | Engine blocks, transmissions, calipers | Headers, manifolds, exhaust, stoves |
| Cure | Air cures, no heat cycle needed | Heat cure at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes |
| Recoat window | Within 30 minutes or after 7 days | 1 to 2 hours between coats (liquid) |
| Colors | 42 OEM-matched colors | 11 colors including the primer, plus XTC Clear |
| Primer | None needed, bonds direct to metal | None needed for adhesion; zinc primer for rust |
Finishing and Specialty Options
| Your part | Choose | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| A gloss finish over XTC colors | XTC Clear | UV stable clear coat for headers, grills, smokers and stoves, to 1200°F |
| Rusted rotors or calipers seen through wheels | Rotor Restoration Kit | Clean, prime and coat 4 or more standard car rotors |
Motor Coater Engine Paint Colors
Motor Coater comes in 42 OEM-matched colors: 36 automotive colors and 6 diesel and heavy-duty colors, matched to engines built from the 1940s through current production.
Monitor colors lie. Get a free painted color sample, an actual coated swatch, so you know what you are getting before you order. Request a free sample
| Color | Engine or years |
|---|---|
| Chevy Orange | '55, '57 to '75 V-8s |
| T-Bird Red | OEM engine color (not body) |
| Ford Corporate Blue | '67 on, 302 Engine |
| Pontiac Metallic Blue | '66 to '72 |
| Street Hemi Orange | '66 to '71 426 Street Hemis; '70 to '71 383 & 440 Hi-Perf; '70 to '71 340 |
| Race Hemi Orange | '62 to '64 413 & 426 Max Wedge; '64 to '65 426 Race Hemis |
| Ford Dark Blue | '41 to '48 |
| Chrysler Blue | '73 to '83 |
| Olds Gold | '64 to '67 330 CI & '68 to '76 350 CI |
| Olds Bronze | '65 to '69 400 CI |
| Cadillac Dark Blue | '49 to '76 |
| Chevy Blue | '54 to '62 6-Cyl & '53 Auto |
| Pontiac Light Blue | '59 to '65 |
| Buick Green Late | '53 to '65 |
| Buick Red Late | '66 to '71 |
| MG Green | '45 to '48 TC Engine & Firewall |
| Buick Turquoise | All '42 to '52 & some '53 Spec |
| Chrysler Turquoise | All 383 to 440 Big Block / '62 to '71 |
Colors will vary based on your monitor settings.
XTC High Temperature Colors and Uses
XTC comes in 11 colors plus XTC Clear: Jet Black, Cast Iron Grey, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Pure White, Charcoal Metallic, Rocket Red, Flame Blue, Pontiac Metallic Blue, Off-White and XTC Zinc Rich Primer in matte grey. Sizes run from a 12 oz aerosol to a 5 gallon pail.
XTC is formulated for metal that regularly runs above 500°F, including:
- Exhaust headers and manifolds
- Exhaust pipes and collectors
- Turbocharger housings
- Wood stoves
- BBQ grills and smokers (not cooking surfaces)
For rust protection on bare or rusty metal, prime with XTC Zinc Rich Primer and topcoat with XTC. XTC bonds without primer, so the primer is an upgrade for corrosion protection.
Engine and Exhaust Paint Learning Center
How to Restore an Engine Bay Without Removing the Engine
Remove rust, prep the metal and coat an engine bay with the engine still in place.
Read the Guide →How to Paint Rusty Exhaust Headers So the Finish Will Not Crack, Flake or Peel
The KBS Klean, XTC Zinc Rich Primer and XTC steps to prep, prime, coat and heat cure headers.
Read the Guide →How to Paint a Motorcycle Engine So It Will Not Peel, Flake or Burn Off
Degrease, etch and coat a motorcycle engine with Motor Coater, a 500°F enamel that needs no primer.
Read the Guide →Engine and Exhaust Paint Questions
Engine paint and exhaust paint are different products because the parts run at different temperatures. Motor Coater covers the engine up to 500°F, and XTC covers exhaust parts from 500°F up to 1500°F. The answers below cover what buyers ask most before they order.
The best engine paint is an engine enamel rated for the heat the part actually sees, applied over clean metal. KBS Motor Coater is a single-component engine enamel rated to 500°F that bonds direct to cast iron and aluminum with no primer, self-levels to a smooth finish even when brushed, and resists oil, gasoline and transmission fluid. It comes in 42 OEM-matched colors.
Use Motor Coater on engine blocks, heads, valve covers, transmissions and brake calipers, anywhere the metal stays at or under 500°F. Anything hotter, such as exhaust manifolds, headers and turbo housings, needs XTC, which runs from 500°F to 1500°F as a liquid. Match the paint to the hottest surface you are coating.
Not with Motor Coater. It bonds direct to metal on ferrous and non-ferrous engine parts, including aluminum, with no primer. It does need prep: degrease with KBS Klean, etch with RustBlast, then apply one to two thin coats. For rusty exhaust parts, prime with XTC Zinc Rich Primer before XTC. XTC bonds without primer, but the primer adds corrosion protection.
Yes. Degrease the engine with KBS Klean, etch it with RustBlast, then brush, roll or spray one to two thin coats of Motor Coater. Recoat within 30 minutes or wait 7 days. The Motor Coater Kit bundles KBS Klean, RustBlast, KBS #1 Thinner, gloves and a brush with the paint, and the Motor Coater directions cover each step.
Temperature. Motor Coater is an air-cured engine enamel rated to 500°F, sold in 42 OEM-matched colors. XTC is a silicone coating for metal running from 500°F to 1500°F as a liquid, or to 1200°F as an aerosol, and it is heat cured at 350°F. If the part runs hotter than 500°F, use XTC.
No. Motor Coater is rated to 500°F, and exhaust manifolds, headers and turbo housings run hotter than that. Use XTC on exhaust parts and keep Motor Coater for the engine block, transmission and calipers.
Liquid XTC is rated for continuous use from 500°F to 1500°F. XTC aerosols and XTC Zinc Rich Primer are rated to 1200°F, so choose liquid XTC for the hottest surfaces. With proper prep and heat cure, the XTC finish is warranted against burn-off.
Yes. Let the final coat flash off at least 8 hours, then heat cure at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes. The XTC directions and the XTC heat cure video walk through the cure step by step.
Yes. Motor Coater is made for brake calipers: it handles brake heat and resists brake fluid and road grime. For rusted rotors and calipers that show through custom wheels, the Rotor Restoration Kit includes KBS Klean, RustBlast, XTC Primer and an XTC aerosol, enough to prep, prime and coat 4 or more standard car rotors.
Motor Coater comes in 42 OEM-matched colors: 36 automotive colors and 6 diesel and heavy-duty colors. XTC comes in 11 colors, counting XTC Zinc Rich Primer in matte grey, plus XTC Clear. A free painted color sample shows the real color before you order.
