2008 G35X Rust Observations

[RobertR]

I posted a few days ago that I got a great deal on a 2008 G35X, with only 12,000 miles. Since then, I've been researching warranty stuff, and then I moved on to wax and stuff. Now that I've got Zaino products on the way, I decided to take a closer look under the hood, to investigate some corrosion that a co-worker pointed out earlier today. To me, it looked like salt residue, and since I know the car came from the NorthEast, it was explainable, and I wasn't too worried.

But then, I noticed some rust that I thought was odd. For instance, the plastic shield sitting on top of the radiator has four bolts running across the top. The two in the middle are fine (rust free), but the two on either end have heavy rust accumulation. Why would 2 be so rusted, when the other 2 are fine? Wanting to see how far the "problem" went (not sure if it really IS a problem, except that I want to replace the bolts because they're ugly), I removed the plastic shield that sits on top of the engine. For the most part, everything looked fine, but then I peered down the back of the engine and saw the dual exhaust manifolds. I cannot believe how rusted those things are. Those nuts are never coming off--not that they need to any time soon, but still. What is the deal?

Another thing I noticed is that the hood doesn't seem to seat properly. When shut, I can push on the hood, and there is a tiny bit of play (it rattles if I rapidly push down and let up on it). Visibly, you can't tell anything is out of the ordinary, but it just doesn't seem right.

I'm probably just being paranoid, especially since the Car Fax was clean, but I'm worried something might be amiss. Should I be concerned about any of this???

[RobertR]

Would anyone mind looking at their G35, at the bolts I referenced, and see if they have rust? I'm just wondering if for some really weird reason, those locations are more susceptible to rusting ???

Also, are your exhaust manifolds rusted as much as I described? I know it's not that unusual for rust in that location, but I was surprised at the sheer volume of rust on a 2 year old car??? I guess having the car in NJ for 2 years really took a tole!

[SVTCOBRA]

Yes, I'll try & remember to check our X when I get home.
I have seen what looked to be identical bolts under the hood where one was more rusted than the other.
If you get a chance, take a pic.

[tfree32]

I don't think a two year old car should be rusting.

[SVTCOBRA]

I looked under the hood and my bolts are rusty, but some appear to be oxidizing at different rates. So, I'm thinking what you are seeing is just inconsistancy in the coating of the bolts. I've looked at alot of used nissans over the years and pretty sure I've seen what you are seeing.

[RobertR]

I looked under the hood and my bolts are rusty, but some appear to be oxidizing at different rates. So, I'm thinking what you are seeing is just inconsistancy in the coating of the bolts. I've looked at alot of used nissans over the years and pretty sure I've seen what you are seeing.

Thanks for going through the trouble. A friend of mine looked at it and, collectively, we decided the bolts on either end of the radiator cover are more exposed. The middle are shielded a little more by the plastic cover, as the cover is higher in the middle and tapers off toward the end. Typically, this wouldn't matter TOO much, except that I know the car was in a corrosive area of the country before I bought it (I can't imagine what it would look like if it had spent one more winter in New Jersey). I'm still pretty shocked at the condition of the exhaust manifold, but a new pair would run $1,000, and I'm not about to go there. I wonder if there's a way to clean the rust off the manifold and then seal it???

Anyway, thanks again. Like I said before, I got such a good deal on the car, I just knew there must have been something I was missing.

[SVTCOBRA]

I don't think a two year old car should be rusting.

I've seen many 2 year old cars down here (NC) that were bought at auction that came from the north and bolts in the engine bay were rusty, the hood spring was rusty, and the exhaust was MUCH more rusty than a car that had lived in the south for 2 years.
I've spent alot of time finding cars for friends and family and use the online carfax to quickly eliminate cars from the north.

[RobertR]

What happens now that It's rusty? Will the corosion slow to an "average" pace, since it's no longer in the harsh New Jersey conditions? Or with so much rust already there, will it continue to deteriorate rapidly?

It would be a lot of work, but I'm actually considering taking the exhaust system apart and having it sand blasted to remove the rust, and then find something to seal it before I put it all back together. It seems like it's only the cast iron connections in the exhaust that are severely rusted. Everything else is either tolerable or easily replaced.