What is the Motor Coater Kit?
The Motor Coater Kit is a complete 3 step engine paint kit that degreases, acid etches and then permanently coats an engine block, a set of brake calipers or a transmission case. The kit pairs KBS Klean and RustBlast prep with Motor Coater, a ceramic resin engine enamel matched to 42 OEM colors that resists intermittent underhood heat to 500°F and will not blister, flake, crack or peel.
3 Steps
Clean, Etch, Coat
Every painting professional knows the same two things decide whether an engine paint job lasts: surface preparation and material quality. The Motor Coater Kit was built so a home builder does not have to source those separately. Corrosion and organic contamination block any coating from bonding, so the cleaner the surface after KBS Klean, the harder RustBlast works, and the deeper Motor Coater penetrates to seal the casting.
Motor Coater brushes, rolls or sprays and self levels as it flows out, so brush marks disappear without spray equipment. Motor Coater colors are matched to the original factory finish, so a rebuilt small block comes back looking like it did leaving the plant rather than like it was painted in a driveway.
A pint of Motor Coater is usually enough to do an entire engine. Satisfaction guaranteed!
The KBS Motor Coater Engine Paint Kit
The Motor Coater Kit contains eight items: a quart of KBS Klean, a quart of RustBlast, Motor Coater in a pint, quart or aerosol in any of the 42 colors, 8 oz of KBS #1 Thinner, nitrile gloves, a brush, a stir stick and printed step by step instructions. The diesel colors are supplied as quarts. An 8 oz can of RustSeal Galvanized can be added at checkout for surfaces that are pitted or prone to rust.
- KBS Klean, Quart — water based cleaner and degreaser concentrate. Dilutes with water; the warmer the water, the stronger the cleaning action. Removes the oil, grease and fingerprints that ruin adhesion.
- RustBlast, Quart — acid etch and rust remover. Etches the metal and leaves a zinc phosphate film that Motor Coater grips. Also works on aluminum, brass and copper at a 10 to 20 minute dwell.
- Motor Coater, Pint, Quart or Aerosol — the ceramic resin engine enamel, in any of the 42 OEM matched colors. Choose the container at checkout. The diesel colors are supplied as quarts.
- KBS #1 Thinner, 8 oz — slow evaporating, VOC exempt reducer for spray work and the correct cleanup solvent.
- Nitrile Gloves — keeps skin contact and staining off your hands and fingerprints off the casting.
- Brush and Stir Stick — Motor Coater self levels, so a brushed engine still finishes smooth.
- Complete Printed Instructions — the full 3 step sequence with dwell times and cure windows.
- Optional: RustSeal Galvanized, 8 oz — add at checkout. On a pitted, coarse or previously rusted casting, RustSeal Galvanized smooths the surface and stops rust from returning under the Motor Coater finish.
A pint is usually enough to do an entire engine.
Do I Need the Optional RustSeal Galvanized?
RustSeal is an optional step, not a required one. A freshly sandblasted casting can be coated with Motor Coater directly after the loose dust is blown off. On a casting that was previously rusted, pitted or coarse, adding RustSeal Galvanized under the color coat smooths the surface and adds a second corrosion barrier. Allow the last coat of RustSeal to cure at least 8 hours before Motor Coater goes on.
Motor Coater is an acrylic enamel built on a ceramic resin system, which is what lets it dissipate heat and hold gloss where a conventional engine enamel chalks. Motor Coater resists intermittent temperatures to 500°F, bonds direct to metal on cast iron and aluminum with no zinc primer, resists oil, gasoline and transmission fluid, and stays UV stable so an exposed engine does not fade or chalk.
- 500°F Intermittent Heat Resistance: the ceramic resin system carries underhood temperature without blistering, flaking, cracking or peeling.
- OEM Color Match: 42 colors matched to factory engine finishes, including Chevy Orange, Ford Corporate Blue, Street Hemi Orange and the Cummins, Cat and Detroit Diesel range.
- Direct to Metal: Motor Coater bonds to cast iron and aluminum with no zinc primer. Prep is KBS Klean, then RustBlast.
- Self Leveling, Brushable: brush marks flow out. A brushed engine block finishes smooth without a gun or a booth.
- Extremely High Gloss: the high gloss finish holds up rather than dulling after the first heat cycle.
- Fluid Resistant: Motor Coater resists oil, gasoline and transmission fluid, which is why it works on oil pans and transmission cases as well as blocks.
- UV Stable: Motor Coater is an exterior grade coating and will not discolor, chalk or fade in sunlight, so it holds up on a tractor or a mower deck too.
- Great for Brake Calipers: the same heat and chemical resistance that suits an engine suits caliper housings.
- Fast Drying: dry to touch in 2 to 4 hours at normal shop temperature and humidity.
The Motor Coater Kit is sized for a single engine and everything around it. Motor Coater goes on cast iron and aluminum blocks, heads, intake manifolds, valve covers, oil pans, transmission and bell housings, brake calipers and any underhood bracket that gets heat. Outside the engine bay, Motor Coater works on tractor, mower, chainsaw and generator castings.
- Automotive and Truck
- Engine blocks, cylinder heads, intake manifolds, valve covers, oil pans, transmission cases, bell housings and brake calipers.
- Motorcycle and Powersports
- Motorcycle engines and cases, ATV engines and personal watercraft powerplants.
- Diesel and Heavy Equipment
- Cummins, Cat and Detroit Diesel engines, with the OEM colors to match. Marine diesel and power plant equipment as well.
- Agricultural and Outdoor Power
- Tractor engines and castings, lawn mower decks and engines, chainsaw housings and generator sets.
- Marine
- Inboard and outboard engine blocks, manifolds and mounting hardware.
- Not for
- Exhaust manifolds, headers and turbo housings run far hotter than 500°F. Those need XTC Xtreme Temperature Coating, which is rated to 1500°F.
Wire brush or sand the casting to a solid profile, scrub with diluted KBS Klean for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse, then keep the surface wet with full strength RustBlast for 10 minutes to 2 hours depending on how rusted it is, rinse and dry. Stir Motor Coater for several minutes and apply one or two thin coats between 55°F and 82°F. A second coat goes on within 30 minutes or after 7 days, not in between.
Step 1: KBS Klean
Wire brush or wheel the casting, or sand with 320 grit, to remove loose paint and flaking rust. Dilute KBS Klean with water, apply liberally and scrub for 5 to 10 minutes. Heavily soiled parts can soak up to 24 hours. Rinse clear and let dry, and do not let KBS Klean dry on the surface before rinsing. Never use a solvent based cleaner: it leaves a residue that ruins adhesion.
Step 2: RustBlast
Apply RustBlast full strength to a clean, dry surface and keep it wet: 10 minutes on smooth or lightly rusted metal, 20 to 40 minutes on moderate rust, 1 to 2 hours on heavy corrosion. On aluminum, brass or copper, 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely. The white powder left behind is zinc phosphate and it is what Motor Coater grips. A RustBlast treated part can sit uncoated for up to 30 days.
Step 3: Motor Coater
Stir Motor Coater thoroughly for several minutes, touching the bottom of the can and lifting to bring settled pigment back in. Apply one or two thin coats by brush, roller or gun at 55°F to 82°F. A single full coat usually covers with full color depth. Spray metallic colors rather than brushing them for the best cosmetic result.
What Is the Recoat Window for Motor Coater?
A second coat of Motor Coater goes on within 30 minutes, or after 7 days. That window is narrower than most paints and it matters: recoating between those two points, while the first coat is partly cured, is what causes wrinkling. Average dry to touch time is 2 to 4 hours depending on humidity and temperature.
Can Motor Coater Be Thinned or Sprayed?
Thinning is not usually required, but 5 to 10 percent is normally adequate when it is. Use only KBS #1 Thinner or xylene, both slow evaporating solvents. Do not reduce Motor Coater with lacquer thinner. Spray at 35 to 45 psi with a siphon or pot gun, or 25 to 35 psi with a gravity or top container gun. From an aerosol, shake for a full minute, hold the can 6 to 8 inches off the surface, move back and forth overlapping each stroke, and shake again for 10 seconds every 1 to 2 minutes.
Safety: always wear protective gloves and safety glasses and work in a well ventilated area. When spraying Motor Coater from a gun or an aerosol, use a NIOSH/MSHA approved air supplied respirator. Clean up immediately, spray gun included, with KBS #1 Thinner or lacquer thinner.
Do not apply Motor Coater thick. Heavy coats wrinkle. Two thin coats beat one heavy coat every time.
Motor Coater is an ambient air cured coating and reaches full cure in 7 days at room temperature with no heat required. Dry to touch is 2 to 4 hours. A force cure shortens the wait: let the final coat air cure at ambient temperature for at least 1 hour, then hold the part at 140°F to 180°F for 20 to 30 minutes.
| Stage | Time |
|---|
| Dry to touch | 2 to 4 hours, varies with humidity and temperature |
| Recoat window | Within 30 minutes, or after 7 days |
| Full cure, air dry | 7 days at room temperature, no heat required |
| Force cure | 1 hour ambient, then 140°F to 180°F for 20 to 30 minutes |
| Before clear coating | Wait at least 7 days |
Clear coat is optional. Motor Coater does not need one. For extra durability and gloss, wait a minimum of 7 days and then apply DiamondFinish Clear or KBS MAXX Clear over it.
Pro Tip: stir, do not shake. Touch the bottom of the can with the stir stick and lift repeatedly for several minutes so settled pigment and matting agents come back into suspension, and keep stirring occasionally while you paint. Shaking whips in air bubbles that show up in a high gloss engine finish.
A Preval Sprayer Kit handles the hard to reach areas around a block without setting up a full gun.
The Motor Coater Kit differs from a can of aerosol engine enamel in that the kit supplies the prep that decides whether engine paint stays on: a degreaser and an acid etch, plus a brushable ceramic resin enamel. An aerosol engine enamel supplies color only and leaves the cleaning and etching to whatever the builder has on the shelf.
| | Motor Coater Kit | Aerosol Engine Enamel |
|---|
| Surface prep included | Yes, KBS Klean degreaser plus RustBlast acid etch | No, color coat only |
| Heat resistance | 500°F intermittent | Varies, commonly 300°F to 500°F |
| Application methods | Brush, roller, spray gun or aerosol | Aerosol only |
| Coverage per engine | A pint is usually enough for a whole engine | Typically two or more cans per engine |
| Color range | 42 OEM matched colors including diesel | Usually a short list of common OEM shades |
| Fluid resistance | Resists oil, gasoline and transmission fluid | Varies by formula |
The Motor Coater Kit is sized and priced for a whole engine, which is why it carries the degreaser and the acid etch rather than color alone. A pint covers a full block, the 42 colors are matched to factory finishes, and the prep is what makes the finish stay on a casting that runs hot and lives in oil.
Motor Coater is available in 42 OEM matched colors covering American V8 engine families, British and import engines, and the Cummins, Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel range. Pick the color at checkout. Monitor settings shift color, so request a free physical color sample before committing on a visible engine.
- Chevrolet and GM
- Chevy Orange, Chevy Blue, Chevy Grey, Chevy Dark Charcoal, Olds Gold, Olds Bronze, Pontiac Metallic Blue, Pontiac Light Blue, Cadillac Dark Blue, Buick Green, Buick Red, Buick Turquoise, GM Corporate Blue.
- Ford
- Ford Corporate Blue, Ford Dark Blue, Ford Green, T-Bird Red.
- Mopar and AMC
- Street Hemi Orange, Race Hemi Orange, Chrysler Blue, Chrysler Turquoise, 64-67 Rampart Red, 68 Caravelle Blue, 69-72 AMC Engine Blue, 73-81 AMC Engine Blue.
- Import and British
- MG Green, MG Maroon, Austin Healey Moss Green Metallic.
- Diesel and Heavy Equipment
- Cummins Beige, Old Cummins Gold, Cummins Apex Red, Cat Yellow, Detroit Diesel Blue, Detroit Diesel Alpine Green.
- Universal
- Gloss Black, Velvet Black (Matte), White, Aluminum, Fire Red, Torch Red, Daytona Yellow, Sea Foam White.
Request a free color sample to confirm a match before you paint.
Part of the Motor Coater range, including the Cummins, Cat and Detroit Diesel colors. Colors vary by monitor.
Same motorcycle engine, before prep and after Motor Coater.
Does a Motor Coater Color Match a Specific Model-Year Engine?
Many Motor Coater colors are tied to a specific factory application window. Use the historical guide below to match a Motor Coater color to your engine's original production years.
| Motor Coater Color | Historical Application Notes |
|---|
| Chevy Orange | 1955, 1957-1975 V8 Engines |
| T-Bird Red | Red/Red-Orange OEM engine color (not body color) |
| Ford Corporate Blue | 1967-on with 302 Engine |
| Ford Green | 1927-1941 |
| Street Hemi Orange | '66-'71 426 Street Hemis; '70-'71 383/440 Hi-Po; '70-'71 340 |
| Race Hemi Orange | '62-'64 413/426 Max Wedge; '64-'65 426 Race Hemis |
| Pontiac Metallic Blue | 1966-1972 |
| Pontiac Light Blue | 1959-1965 |
| GM Corporate Blue | 1978-1981 |
| Olds Gold | '64-'67 330 CI & '68-'76 350 CI |
| Olds Bronze | 1965-1969 400 CI |
| Cadillac Dark Blue | 1949-1976 |
| Chrysler Turquoise | All 383-440 Big Block (1962-1971) |
| Ford Dark Blue | 1941-1948 |
| Chrysler Blue | 1973-1983 |
| Chevy Blue | 1954-1962 6 Cylinder & 1953 Auto |
| Buick Green | 1953-1965 |
| Buick Red | 1966-1971 |
| MG Green | 1945-1948 TC Engine & Firewall |
| Buick Turquoise | All 1942-1952 & some 1953 Spec |
The Motor Coater Kit finishes the engine. Two things are worth doing afterward, and neither is required.
- Clear coat, optional
- Wait a minimum of 7 days, then apply DiamondFinish Clear or KBS MAXX Clear for extra gloss and durability. Motor Coater does not need a clear coat to perform.
- Protect the chassis under it
- A restored engine sitting in a rusting engine bay is half a job. The Frame Coater Kit runs the same clean, etch and seal sequence over a full frame or 50 sq. ft. of metal.
- Keep the leftover material usable
- Store Motor Coater in a cool, dry place and never pour unused paint back into the can. Returned paint shortens shelf life and can build pressure under the lid.
Read the Full Motor Coater Directions
Motor Coater Directions and TDS
The full 3 step sequence with dwell times, spray pressures, the 30 minute recoat window and the force cure schedule.
Read Article →
Detailing and Painting an Engine Bay
How to plan an engine bay refresh so the block, the brackets and the sheet metal all get finished in the right order.
Read Article →
Long Term Rust Protection for Metal
Why cleaning and etching decide whether any coating holds, and what each step of the KBS prep system is actually doing.
Read Article →
Engine Paint Color Samples
Request a free physical color sample so the OEM match is confirmed on your bench before the block gets painted.
Request a Sample →
KBS Instructional Video Library
Every KBS how-to video in one place, including the Motor Coater engine, caliper and prep videos.
Watch Videos →
Before and After Photos
Real customer engines, calipers and equipment finished with Motor Coater and the rest of the KBS line.
View Gallery →
Have questions before you buy? Find answers to the most common Motor Coater Kit questions below, or
order the Motor Coater Kit now and get it shipped same day.
Engine paint has to survive heat, oil and fuel at the same time, which rules out ordinary enamel. Motor Coater is an acrylic enamel built on a ceramic resin system that resists intermittent temperatures to 500 degrees F, resists oil, gasoline and transmission fluid, and bonds direct to cast iron and aluminum with no primer. Motor Coater is available in 42 OEM matched colors so the finished block matches the factory color. For exhaust manifolds, headers and turbo housings, which run far hotter, use XTC Xtreme Temperature Coating instead.
No primer is required. Motor Coater bonds direct to metal on cast iron and aluminum, so no zinc primer or etch primer is needed. What is required is prep: degrease with KBS Klean, then etch with RustBlast, which leaves a zinc phosphate film for Motor Coater to grip. A freshly sandblasted casting can be painted directly after the loose dust is blown off. On a pitted or previously rusted casting, adding RustSeal Galvanized under the color coat smooths the surface and adds a second corrosion barrier, and it can be added to this kit at checkout.
Painting an engine does two jobs at once. A sealed casting stops absorbing oil and moisture, so surface corrosion and staining stop spreading and the block cleans up with a rag instead of a wire brush. On a restoration the OEM color is also part of the car's correctness, and a factory matched block is visible every time the hood comes up. A pint of Motor Coater is usually enough for an entire engine, so the material cost is small next to the rest of a rebuild.
Durability on an engine comes from two things: the resin system and the prep underneath it. Motor Coater uses a ceramic resin system for heat dissipation and gloss retention, resists intermittent temperatures to 500 degrees F, resists oil, gasoline and transmission fluid, and is UV stable so it does not chalk or fade. Just as important, the Motor Coater Kit includes the degreaser and the acid etch, because the most durable coating still fails if it is applied over oil or bare, unetched metal.
The Motor Coater Kit contains a quart of KBS Klean, a quart of RustBlast, Motor Coater in a pint, quart or aerosol in any of the 42 colors, 8 oz of KBS #1 Thinner, nitrile gloves, a brush, a stir stick and complete printed instructions. The diesel colors are supplied as quarts. An 8 oz can of RustSeal Galvanized can be added at checkout for pitted or previously rusted castings. Choose the color and the Motor Coater container size when you order.
Apply the second coat of Motor Coater within 30 minutes, or wait 7 days. That window is narrower than most paints and it matters. Recoating in between, while the first coat is partly cured, is what causes wrinkling. Average dry to touch time is 2 to 4 hours depending on humidity and temperature. In most cases a single full coat covers with full color depth anyway.
The ideal application temperature range is 55 to 82 degrees F (13 to 28 degrees C), or 60 to 78 degrees F for the aerosol, in 70 percent relative humidity or lower. Motor Coater is an ambient air cured coating and reaches full cure in 7 days at room temperature with no heat required. To speed that up, let the final coat air cure for at least 1 hour, then hold the part at 140 to 180 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes.
Thinning is not generally required, but 5 to 10 percent is normally adequate when it is. Use only KBS #1 Thinner or xylene, which are slow evaporating solvents. Do not reduce Motor Coater with lacquer thinner. Spray at 35 to 45 psi with a siphon or pot gun, or 25 to 35 psi with a gravity or top container gun. Metallic colors are always worth spraying rather than brushing for the best cosmetic finish.
Yes. Brake calipers and transmission cases are exactly the kind of hot, fluid exposed castings Motor Coater is built for, and the prep sequence is identical: KBS Klean, then RustBlast, then one or two thin coats. Motor Coater also works on oil pans, bell housings, underhood brackets and, outside the engine bay, on tractor, mower, chainsaw and generator castings.
No. Motor Coater is a finished coating and does not need a clear coat. For extra durability and gloss on a show engine, wait at least 7 days after the final coat and then apply DiamondFinish Clear or KBS MAXX Clear over it. Applying a clear coat before Motor Coater has fully cured traps solvent under the film.
See all 14 Motor Coater questions and answers →
