# Rust in exhaust manifold **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [April 28, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161 "2016-04-28T23:41:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FXing\_Serious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@FXing\_Serious](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FXing_Serious)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/1 "2016-04-28T23:41:36Z")
Hi there, I am wondering if rust in the exhaust manifold is something to be worried about. Can this be treated? With something like a high temperature rust converter or maybe B’laster’s corrosion stop for example. Thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/2 "2016-04-29T00:12:03Z")
How do you know you have rust in the exhaust manifold? What’s the year, make, model, and mileage of the car? ---
**Author:** ![FXing\_Serious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@FXing\_Serious](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FXing_Serious)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/3 "2016-04-29T00:50:05Z")
I dont have the picture but it kinda look like this ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/a/aeed8aca8fc30296eea3973751d4c0b854ab8ad4.jpg) Its a 2004 Mazda 3 and has around 120k miles. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/4 "2016-04-29T00:55:43Z")
Oh, rust on the outside. If it looks like this, that’s normal. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/5 "2016-04-29T00:56:53Z")
Agree. totally normal. It might well have looked like that on the dealership lot. But what’s the story on that blue wire? It looks awfully close to the exhaust manifold to me, and it doesn’t look like factory wiring. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/6 "2016-04-29T01:03:19Z")
Normal, Cast iron will rust in a heartbeat; especially after heat has been applied. I agree that harness with the blue shield is dangling awfully close to the manifold. ---
**Author:** ![FXing\_Serious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@FXing\_Serious](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FXing_Serious)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/7 "2016-04-29T01:05:20Z")
Oh no… this is just an image I grabbed from google images, but the manifold on the Mazda 3 looks exactly like this. If this normal then great =) Thanks a lot for the replies. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/8 "2016-04-29T01:59:35Z")
Exactly how it should look. Sleep peacefully drive happy and move on. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 3:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/9 "2016-04-29T03:57:56Z")
Absolutely normal. There are, however, high temperature automotive paints in rattlecans just made for exhausts. You could if you like try masking everything else off and painting it. You can get the paint at any parts store. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/10 "2016-04-29T04:31:00Z")
Now when you see a hole, and it is due to the bolt rusted out ~ that is bad, like in my 93 ford f250, looking ok so far for you. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 7:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/11 "2016-04-29T07:06:02Z")
Both of my vehicle’s exhaust manifolds look like that. 40+ and 20+ years, no problems so far. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 8:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-in-exhaust-manifold/93161/12 "2016-04-29T08:42:56Z")
Is this possibly your first car?