color-matched cross member in the engine compartment of a 2005- is this normal?

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marshotel

marshotel

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Does anybody know if the cross member at the top front of the engine compartment in a 2005 Land Cruiser is normally painted to match the color of the vehicle?

I am looking at the 2005 shown in the picture below and it struck me as odd that the crossmember immediately in front of the top of the radiator is color matched. Is this normal?

I know that part was black on my 2000 LC in Champagne Pearl, but maybe they changed it in subsequent years.

The vehicle does not appear to have been repainted ever, -but I thought the part immediately in front of the top of the radiator was supposed to be black, not color-keyed.

Can somebody with a 2005 let me know if you think anything in the picture below has been repainted, or if you see anything else fishy in the picture.

Any advice is appreciated.

63d36d9756454c29b879869dafa52672.webp
 
yep, new cross member. Get under there and look at the frame, also look under the hood at the front fenders for rippling or signs of new spray.

If the frame is good and fenders look good i wouldnt worry
 
Flat color at the side, black in the center.

image-2979199564.webp

Looks like its also missing the factory sticker. Definite repaint.



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image-2979199564.webp


image-1159239178.webp
 
Not even my '06 LX470 in white is colored keyed there. It's black from the factory just like OregonLC posted.

Edit: Though that sole white sticker, if it's guidance for coolant, makes it look very factory legit. I just looked under my hood and that sticker placement matches perfectly. That rub line from the seal also looks very factory. If it was a respray, I would expect to see black under some parts. I'm starting to chalk it up to some factory variance.
 
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TeCKis300 said:
Not even my '06 LX470 in white is colored keyed there. It's black from the factory just like OregonLC posted.

Edit: Though that sole white sticker, if it's guidance for coolant, makes it look very factory legit. I just looked under my hood and that sticker placement matches perfectly. That rub line from the seal also looks very factory as if it was a respray, I would expect to see black under some parts. I'm starting to chalk it up to some factory variance.
Click to expand...

Yep, looks like they went with the smaller sticker in later years. Here's an 05:

image-1443950585.webp

image-1443950585.webp
 
I guess the real question is 'why the black' in the first place? Extra corrosion resistance around the coolant?
 
Black dissipates heat... and is why almost all stock radiators are black. Keeping them in the aluminum finush would have been cheaper.
 
hoser said:
Black dissipates heat... and is why almost all stock radiators are black. Keeping them in the aluminum finush would have been cheaper.
Click to expand...

Ummmmm ... nice idea, but not true :confused:
 
Here is mine from my '99. I'm guessing the question of "why black" is so that you don't see the radiator and surrounds through the grill.

image-4070790570.webp
 
Rotfl! OP wonders if his cross member may have been painted in a repair, and we wind up quoting Plank (and should have quoted Kirchoff too because he doesn't get nearly enough love.) Gotta love this place :-)
 
OregonLC said:
Once again, Hoser has a winner. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck's_law

Although I agree with the black backdrop to the grill as a nice added benefit.
Click to expand...

Sorry, try again.

We're talking efficiency of thermal energy transfer resulting in a net flow of energy from the coolant to the atmosphere. Planck's work is predicated on no net flow of energy.

No matter the color of the paint on the radiator, it will act as an insulator and inhibit energy transfer. Admittedly to a very small degree.

I would suggest that manufacturers paint radiators more out of a desire to control corrosion and manage aesthetics than to enhance energy transfer.

:cheers:
 
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Thanks for the feedback and advice.

I had not considered blackbody radiation in my explanation of the repainted crossmember.

I passed on the 2005 with repainted crossmember and instead purchased a 1998 model with a black crossmember in front of the radiator.

I will report back on the thermodynamic properties of the Champagne Pearl 1998 LC once testing is complete.

:cheers:
 
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