I'm pretty sure it's from the dealer washing the car and water running in through the vent. Anyone else have some rust on the top side of their exhaust manifold? I'll try to get some pics...

You think a wire brush would do the trick?

 

i noticed rust on mine yesterday but i think it will be a pretty common occurance with the hood vents/carwash/rain pretty hard to fight. im more worried bout cracking while raining with a hot engine/manifold it is cast right???

 

I wouldn't worry about it cracking from water that contacts it when hot. Rain/wash water will not be of sufficient volume to effect rapid temperature that might otherwise cause it to crack. It's a relatively heavy duty piece. I think most people are concerned because of asthetics. If it bothers you enough, remove it for painting with VHT manifold paint. That should take care of the rust. I'm considering it.

 

Powder coat it... red, of course.

Otherwise yep, its rust colored, and will stay that way. Won't hurt it for a decade or two though.

 

that is common on all cars with hood Vents, especially EVO's