Engine rust? What is this? 2022 Bronco

[mcguireland]

Hi all

I have a 2022 Bronco Big Bend, only 300 miles in. I spent a lot of time installing various accessories and caught a glimpse of a part of the engine I’m not familiar with.

What is it?
Why is it already rusted (only 300 miles driving, stored in a garage idle)?
Should I be worried about it’s quality and have the dealership replace it?

I rubbed it with a napkin and it seems like surface rust of sorts, but I wanted to get your opinion on it. Nothing else has rust, only this. Thanks all!

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[BlueBronco]

I wouldn't be concerned about the rust. What I would be concerned about is a small coolant leak in that area causing the rust. Look around the coolant hoses in that area for any wetness/leaks. Also check your coolant level.

Edit. See below for diagnosis and further clarification.

 

[mcguireland]

I wouldn't be concerned about the rust. What I would be concerned about is a small coolant leak in that area causing the rust. Look around the coolant hoses in that area for any wetness/leaks. Also check your coolant level

Got it, thanks for some advice, I'll check this now.

 

[mcguireland]

I wouldn't be concerned about the rust. What I would be concerned about is a small coolant leak in that area causing the rust. Look around the coolant hoses in that area for any wetness/leaks. Also check your coolant level

Coolant is about 1mm under MIN, left it running for a while and didn't see any wetness, but I don't want to take chances and have scheduled a dealership to look into it tomorrow. It doesn't seem normal to have something relatively deep in the engine bay to have that much rust after 3 weeks of ownership.

I'll follow up with what they find.

 

[markpilip]

Hi all

I have a 2022 Bronco Big Bend, only 300 miles in. I spent a lot of time installing various accessories and caught a glimpse of a part of the engine I’m not familiar with.

What is it?
Why is it already rusted (only 300 miles driving, stored in a garage idle)?
Should I be worried about it’s quality and have the dealership replace it?

I rubbed it with a napkin and it seems like surface rust of sorts, but I wanted to get your opinion on it. Nothing else has rust, only this. Thanks all!

This is dangerous, terminal rust.

You must immediately get the advice of the holy hour one/day one (TM) reservation holder and do exactly what they say.

Rust doesn't happen on Broncos. This is a horrible, horrible sign. God help you!!

 

[BlueBronco]

After further examination, what I thought was a coolant hose is actually the outlet for the turbo and the rusted part in question is the center cartridge of the turbo. This piece is made of unpainted cast iron, is subject to very high heat cycles and prone to rusting. I popped the hood on my BL 2.3 to have a look and this is what I found:

So, new diagnosis is that I don't think there is a coolant leak and am not at all concerned with the rust.

 

[mcguireland]

After further examination, what I thought was a coolant hose is actually the outlet for the turbo and the rusted part in question is the center cartridge of the turbo. This piece is made of unpainted cast iron, is subject to very high heat cycles and prone to rusting. I popped the hood on my BL 2.3 to have a look and this is what I found:

So, new diagnosis is that I don't think there is a coolant leak and am not at all concerned with the rust.

Oh! I appreciate you looking into it on yours as well. I’ll have the dealer review it tomorrow as a safety precaution and let you know what they say.

 

[Gtrekker]

Hi all

I have a 2022 Bronco Big Bend, only 300 miles in. I spent a lot of time installing various accessories and caught a glimpse of a part of the engine I’m not familiar with.

What is it?
Why is it already rusted (only 300 miles driving, stored in a garage idle)?
Should I be worried about it’s quality and have the dealership replace it?

I rubbed it with a napkin and it seems like surface rust of sorts, but I wanted to get your opinion on it. Nothing else has rust, only this. Thanks all!

Hey, I don't like rust or corrosion of any kind! I keep my engine clean. After a wash I fog / spray my entire engine bay with WD40. Been doing it for years.

 

[mcguireland]

Minor update on this, the dealership mentioned this particular part is a bracket, and maybe got missed in QA for coating/protection of rust like all the other goodies under the hood. They couldn't actually replace it or help because there isn't anything 'functionally wrong'. I understand that, but when we are all paying ~50K on a vehicle and an engine bay part rusts in lest than 3 weeks, it should at least look nice (I have a 12 year old Mazda that doesn't have a spec of rust in under the hood)!

They are putting this issue in officially and recommended that I reach out directly to Ford to see if they will be willing to clean and coat the part correctly.

I appreciate the other advice on painting the piece, but dang this thing is in the engine DEEP. I'd rather the manufacture did it right the first time for all of us. More to come.

 

[Romano]

After further examination, what I thought was a coolant hose is actually the outlet for the turbo and the rusted part in question is the center cartridge of the turbo. This piece is made of unpainted cast iron, is subject to very high heat cycles and prone to rusting. I popped the hood on my BL 2.3 to have a look and this is what I found:

So, new diagnosis is that I don't think there is a coolant leak and am not at all concerned with the rust.

At least I didn’t have to write that out! Good observation!

 

[st3v]

Anyone else have this issue? I would check but I don't have my Bronco yet.

 

[DogHauler]

That isn't a bracket.

 

[Sooner]

this is not an issue, wasting the service guys time complaining about it!

 

[mcguireland]

this is not an issue, wasting the service guys time complaining about it!

Some of us don’t have our standards so low that we are ok with parts rusting on a $50k vehicle within literal weeks of ownership.

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