Engine Block Rusting Is It Normal

[aiboart]

The oxide coats on iron and aluminum, unlike rust on steel, are self limiting processes and act to protect the host metal once formed.

The oxide coat on aluminum is invisible, it is however there and forms exceedingly quickly on fresh metal. Iron takes longer to form its oxide coat and the distinct reddish color is visible to the eye.

There is no need to paint a iron block. In applications such as this, where it is advantageous to conduct heat to the atmosphere from within the engine, there are distinct advantages to not painting the block.

Rust on steel is altogether a different proposition, it is a self propagating, often exponential process that eats away at the host metal. Iron manhole covers on the other hand last centuries exposed to elements...

Re HSV brakes... I think you will find Ford currently have the more potent setup with the 6/4 pot configuration.

Regards,

aa

[strik9]

I won,t agree on the breaks. I have 6/4 as a extra option on my foon. and on my ve senator there standard system leeks all over the brembo,s. imo. fpv should have the 6/4 as standard. if not atleast brembo,s on the back. the standard single piston back brake. looks gay on a fpv

[Ryan]

I do not understand how it would be harder form having rust on it.. I do understand that rust is corrosion and I feel that it would be better if having the chance to treat it. But in saying this it probley will not harm you block for a while yet.

GK

When some metals heat up and cool naturally they begin to loose there internal stresses ie lathe beds are cast then put outside in the elements for a year or so, heat up and expand, cool and contract, helps stabilise the material composition, then they are brought in and machined and assembled.

Yes rust is corrosion to an extent, detrimental to some/in some cases.

Cast iron shavings and water dont mix however, react and dry like concrete haha

Brakes I agree with, should be over engineered from factory not an optional extra

[SILK RSPEC]

This is a photo of the rusting block, only reason I noticed it was the sun was shining straight on it

not bad rust for a sptember o0 build car not even 12 months old.

[senna_T]

No extra charge for that one mate! Mine and every other car in any dealers stock will look exactly the same, noth to worry about

[Led Ft]

when cast iron rusts it rusts the carbon on the out side? is that true? and bringing the carbon to the surface

which makes it harder

but no I dont believe the rust is bad or harmfull.. just sore to the eye

[jrfttf]

mines rusty! looks like arse but meh not everyone looks for it!

end of the day as said just stingyness on the paint!

Edited 31/07/08 10:10 AM by jrfttf

[seventytwo]

If you ever get to pull the engine out, paint it, other wise you will have to put up with it.

[Azzman460]

G'day, I think you'll find that more than just the block is rusty on all new falcons no matter what (unless they're painted of course) Have a look at you upper wishbones (just under the front guards) they are rusty on every new falcon just like the blocks. I'm sure its the same with other manufacturers as well. as for painting the block I'd tend to agree with the earlier post making the point that you want to extract heat from the block to atmosphere, especially when you start modding your car, the last thing you need is extra heat. Painting the block would cause the block to retain some of that heat. I'm just going to leave mine how it is. If it was more beneficial for the blocks to be painted, ford would paint them.

[senna_T]

My block is painted black, and I have no issues with heat over before it was painted. Plenty of people paint their blocks, especially alot of high performance Crate motors like Ford Racing Motors or Year One motors.

It looks a hell of a lot better that's for sure