is this normal for protege5?

[Brian48216]

I'm just a 19 year old college kid with a small budget and I came across a Protege5 that is absolutely spectacular. It drives like a dream and is a HUGE improvement over the 1992 ford escort with 80hp that I've been driving.

What I'm looking at now is a 2002 protege5 with 20,300 miles on the odometer. Carfax checks out completely, the engine is really quiet, performs great.

The only odd sticking point is when I look in the engine compartment, certain parts like a bolt on the exhaust manifold, a random tube, and a few other obscure places have rust on them. It's really odd. The engine block itself looks like it has scaling or what sorta looks like hardwater stains on it.

To me it just doesn't seem like something 2 year old car should have. Has anybody else experienced this? I'd really appreciate it if you can help me out.

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

The EGR tube on the exhaust manifold should be a copper color. On my exhaust manifold I have what looks like hardwater stains..It's just dirty thats all..really dirty. The exhaust manifold under the heatshield is dark brown/red. It looks like rust, but trust me, its normal.

 

[YellowMP5]

yeah, sounds normal but pictures would help us figure it out

 

[Protege52003]

the cast manifold heat shield gets rusty fast, valve cover gets crap on it and it can turn color, EGR tube gets rusty along with everything else in the engine-bay. normal......

 

[Pretzellogic]

Sounds fine. Buy the sucker and join the club already.

 

[kickniteasy]

I'm just a 19 year old college kid with a small budget and I came across a Protege5 that is absolutely spectacular. It drives like a dream and is a HUGE improvement over the 1992 ford escort with 80hp that I've been driving.

That's AWSOME dude, I had a 93 escort hatch and went to an 03 ES sedan. I really wanted the 5 but couldn't find one in price range, I miss having a hatchback. Off topic but just thought it was a small world.

 

[Brian48216]

Pictures of the rust

yeah, sounds normal but pictures would help us figure it out

in the 3rd picture, the lower right corner has a nut that has some random rust on it
but the other two close shots are near what I'm assuming to be the exhaust manifold. I'd take better pictures but I'm blind at 1AM with no light.

 

[jonlong]

Engine compartment looks clean to me...there is normal oxidation and rust, but that is nothing to worry about

 

[Matthew]

looks ok to me! nothing a little TLC cant fix!

 

[JOS3]

thats normal. honestly, that engine compartment is very clean. its sounds like a great car. also, it should still have some of the ramining factory warranty on it for the next year or so. just in case anything may occur.

 

[asterix]

I've got an 2002.5 with about 20K that I've been babying and my engine compartment looks just like that -- it is normal oxidation. Go for it - it is a fun fun car

 

[Pretzellogic]

Damn. That engine bay is a lot cleaner than mine.

Seriously, a little rust in the bay is normal. Nothing to worry about.

 

[Protege52003]

Damn. That engine bay is a lot cleaner than mine.

Seriously, a little rust in the bay is normal. Nothing to worry about.

i agree.....i have to try hard to keep mine looking half as clean as that. living in NE is tough on the engine bay area but is not hurting anything.

 

[jlanger]

Both my pro's have hardwater like stains on the valve cover. I don't do too good of job of cleaning the engine compartments though. My in laws old MX6 had the same kind of stains on his 2.2l.
That engine compartment looks like you could dang near eat off of it. I'd be suspicious of some oil leakage first, otherwise a very Obsessive owner!!

 

[shumax]

I'm just a 19 year old college kid with a small budget and I came across a Protege5 that is absolutely spectacular. It drives like a dream and is a HUGE improvement over the 1992 ford escort with 80hp that I've been driving.

What I'm looking at now is a 2002 protege5 with 20,300 miles on the odometer. Carfax checks out completely, the engine is really quiet, performs great.

The only odd sticking point is when I look in the engine compartment, certain parts like a bolt on the exhaust manifold, a random tube, and a few other obscure places have rust on them. It's really odd. The engine block itself looks like it has scaling or what sorta looks like hardwater stains on it.

To me it just doesn't seem like something 2 year old car should have. Has anybody else experienced this? I'd really appreciate it if you can help me out.

If you live on the coast, or in the rust belt where it snows, you should expect this. My 2002.5 with 35k has it. I've tried very lightly sanding some parts, but it comes back.

Curt