Unusual Engine Corrosion on 5K mile 2019 2.0 G70 2.0

[Karamsoul]

Hi All!

New member here. Recently remote bought a low mileage 2019 G70 2.0 for my wife from a Texas dealership (we live in Georgia). The Carfax is clean, single owner, no accidents, no flood damage, etc. and the car is in perfect shape and drives like a dream. No dents, door dings, disfigurement, or even rock chipping up front. All components inside the engine bay (at least the plastic/non-metal ones) look good, but the engine block itself seems to have a lot of corrosion and rust. Not sure why it’s in the condition it is but figured I’d throw the question out here.

Anything you guys can think of that would cause this much corrosion on a low-mileage car, and will this become an issue later on? Throwing some pics on here so you all can see.

Also, what goes in the translucent container on the front right of the engine bay (the pic showing a container marked with “OK”)? It seems to be a bluish liquid in there that’s low, and I figured anti-freeze, but there’s also a radiator anti-freeze fill point on the front left of the engine bay, so I’m at a loss.

https://imgur.com/a/X5CwDZN

 

[rmod]

Hi All!

New member here. Recently remote bought a low mileage 2019 G70 2.0 for my wife from a Texas dealership (we live in Georgia). The Carfax is clean, single owner, no accidents, no flood damage, etc. and the car is in perfect shape and drives like a dream. No dents, door dings, disfigurement, or even rock chipping up front. All components inside the engine bay (at least the plastic/non-metal ones) look good, but the engine block itself seems to have a lot of corrosion and rust. Not sure why it’s in the condition it is but figured I’d throw the question out here.

Anything you guys can think of that would cause this much corrosion on a low-mileage car, and will this become an issue later on? Throwing some pics on here so you all can see.

Also, what goes in the translucent container on the front right of the engine bay (the pic showing a container marked with “OK”)? It seems to be a bluish liquid in there that’s low, and I figured anti-freeze, but there’s also a radiator anti-freeze fill point on the front left of the engine bay, so I’m at a loss.

https://imgur.com/a/X5CwDZN

My 2.0 engine along with some parts of the sub-frame looks the same with the corrosion after ~4 years of salt in Canada. If not due to road salt, maybe it was owned by someone who lived in a coastal area perhaps? One other part to look for corrosion is the brake parts - calipers, rotors etc.

That is the coolant overflow tank. It will collect the expanding coolant when the engine comes to operating temp. Check the level when its hot. The coolant color is green.

If it is running OK and more importantly without any leaks...then no cause for concern.

 

[Karamsoul]

My 2.0 engine along with some parts of the sub-frame looks the same with the corrosion after ~4 years of salt in Canada. If not due to road salt, maybe it was owned by someone who lived in a coastal area perhaps? One other part to look for corrosion is the brake parts - calipers, rotors etc.

That is the coolant overflow tank. It will collect the expanding coolant when the engine comes to operating temp. Check the level when its hot. The coolant color is green.

If it is running OK and more importantly without any leaks...then no cause for concern.

Thanks, Rmod! You’re right, the previous owner was in Michigan (northern US) and the wear might be from road salts. Like you indicated, the calipers also have the same amount of corrosion.

Regarding the overflow tank - I had no idea! Thank you so much for your insight and reply. Puts our minds at ease

 

[TinsleyC]

I've seen this on other cars. It's likely corrosion from a salty coastal environment. If it's power washed it's likely no big deal. If it can be coated with some sort of oil protectant, that would stop it. I had it on a car in Dallas but it never got any worse. Seems to collect on aluminum.

Is that tank holding windshield washer fluid? What does the fill cap say? Or the owners manual.

 

[Karamsoul]

I've seen this on other cars. It's likely corrosion from a salty coastal environment. If it's power washed it's likely no big deal. If it can be coated with some sort of oil protectant, that would stop it. I had it on a car in Dallas but it never got any worse. Seems to collect on aluminum.

Is that tank holding windshield washer fluid? What does the fill cap say? Or the owners manual.

Apparently it’s an overflow tank like Rmod said. Windshield wiper tank is separate and is easily identifiable. Wife’s been poring over the manual but couldn’t find info on it. I’ll take a look see myself. Might be in there tbh.

 

[joegr]

...

Is that tank holding windshield washer fluid? What does the fill cap say? Or the owners manual.

Definitely, the overflow tank. Some models have those instead of a pressurized reservoir.

 

[Karamsoul]

Definitely, the overflow tank. Some models have those instead of a pressurized reservoir.

Gotcha, thanks! As Rmod said too, I checked after the engine was hot and the fluid level was indeed higher (almost to the 2nd bar in the pic).

 

[JCtx]

Coolant tank should be checked when COLD. Sometimes oil says to check hot, but the difference is minimal on a wet sump engine, so not worth getting burned. I always check everything cold, and top off accordingly. And the full line is below the 'OK' letters, if I remember correctly. But it's marked on the part of the reservoir facing the engine, so can't miss it.

 

[Karamsoul]

Coolant tank should be checked when COLD. Sometimes oil says to check hot, but the difference is minimal on a wet sump engine, so not worth getting burned. I always check everything cold, and top off accordingly. And the full line is below the 'OK' letters, if I remember correctly. But it's marked on the part of the reservoir facing the engine, so can't miss it.

Got it. Thanks, ELP_JC!