looks like it is!

 

I got 2 small ones on the hood and 2 on the leading edge of the front fender.
I try not to think about it

 

So the aluminum won't rust? For some reason that doesn't quite sit well, but that's awesome to know and I won't worry about it as much. CO puts down magnesium chloride in the winter as a de-icer for the roads, could that cause some rust on exposed aluminum?

 

stonegard and ralliart mudflaps here, no chips in the paint, 1 small one in the windshield. 7200mi.

 

aluminum wont rust. rust is Fe2O3 (iron oxide) which is a very unstable oxide layer. It is permiable to oxygen meaning it will allow the underlying material to rust and will spall off (flake) exposing new material. Aluminum and aluminum alloys form a very atable Al2O3 (alumina) layer that will protect the base material very well. The alumina will darken in color with age but is fairly impermiable, and will not spall off. Just my .02 from my years trapped in a corrosion and oxidation lab.

YMMV,
Greg

<just to be more accurate, some aluminum alloys will form an alumina/ chromium oxide layer if they have sufficent chromium content to support the oxide layer forming, this is even more stable and weather resistant>

 

Hmmm, well that's good to know. I was all freakin' out, cuz my hood is ripped to shreds already. Paint just flakes right off that aluminum. I won't worry as much about it now.

 

paint doesn't stick well to aluminum. In the aerospace industry (my field) there's a lot of work and multiple steps to follow to get good adhesion of paint/primer to raw aluminum. I sincerely doubt that mitsubishi alumapreps and alodynes the hood and fenders prior to painting. Good luck and invest in a good clear bra, mine was like $650, but well worth it for a $35k car in my opinion.
YMMV,
Greg

 

Yeah, it's the ONE time I wish I woulda listened to the salesman. He told me straight up that they'd chip real easily, but I was like nah this guy is just like every other salesman... 1 year later and 20 chips...I believe him now.

 

OOooooo Noooo paint chip. get over it. As soon as you fix it you'll get another if you drive it. It's part of buying a new car. I painted the bottom half of front and rear bumpers flat black (blk evo). when they get to dinged up, another coat goes on. I think it looks bada$$ but not for everyone no doubt.

 

if you go to a real body shop that knows how to color match and blend panels you wont even tell...... i do all my own autobody work never had it look 2 tone just tell them to blend it and just re clear the fender it will look 100%

 

Nice!