Is this common for the 370Z exhaust flanges/bolts to rust?

gq4life1345

I had the same issue with my new 2012 370z and according to the service manager at the local nissan dealer, its normal. This is was his explaination: "The rusting of the solid steel flanges are a normal condition with that type of untreated metal.Unfortunatly the manufacturing process does not use any treatment on that solid flange.If the flange was a stamped steel flange the metal would be treated because it would be much thinner and could rust out after a number of years without treatment.By using the solid flange type it would allow more clamping force to seal the two components and last longer than a stamped steel type because of the thickness." And his suggestion is to paint it with some high heat rust paint like Tremclad available at homedepot, lowes etc