Question regarding High Temp Exhaust Manifold rust stopper products

[harkauto]

I discovered after buying this truck that rusted and broken exhaust manifold bolts are a very common problem on my 2001 Dodge Dakota.

I have inspected the bolt heads and although they do have some surface rust none are broken yet and I have no evidence of exhaust manifold leaks.

I know there are High Temp manifold paints out there and I'm wondering if there is a rattle can product that is both a rust stopper and coating that I can spray on these bolt heads in order to protect them from further rusting.

I found a product by Eastwood that has a two foot flexible applicator hose on it that would make reaching these bolt heads easier; that is if this product will work directly on top of surface rust without it being required that the surface rust to be removed first. I have an email in with Eastwood asking about this.

This is supposedly a rust stopper and protective product that is good for up to 2000-F.

I'm thinking that this treatment may stop the rusting process of these manifold bolts possibly saving me some severe future headaches.

I've considered removing and replacing these bolts, but from what I read this can cause even more headaches.

Does anyone out there know of high temp products that can be used directly over the top of surface rust that is both a rust stopper and inhibitor?

Thanks!

[vgames33]

POR-15 is a rust stopper and an inhibitor against future rust. See if they make a high-temp formula.

I would look into replacing the bolts one at a time so you don't have to replace the gaskets.

[harkauto]

Originally Posted by vgames33

POR-15 is a rust stopper and an inhibitor against future rust. See if they make a high-temp formula.

I would look into replacing the bolts one at a time so you don't have to replace the gaskets.

Thanks VGames33 for your response.
Por-15 is rated at 1500 degrees and is used on exhaust manifolds. I have read great things about it and am considering it as well.

I thought about removing and replacing the bolts one at a time which would be great if they all would remove fairly easily. Problem is...if I twist the head off of just one of the bolts and it breaks flush with, or below the manifold hole you almost then need to remove the manifold completely so that you can get a bite on the bolt shaft sticking above the header surface in order to twist it out.
From what I read ...these jobs are rarely done where all the bolts are removed without at least breaking the head off at least one bolt.

If these high-temp rust stop products like Por-15 are as good as they say it would be a cheap solution to an otherwise possibly very time consuming and expensive project.

Even though it is reported that broken manifold bolts are quite common on the 2001 and several years in that range, I just wonder what percentage of these Dakota owners actually end up having this problem.

And it also makes me wonder...for those that do experience broken manifold bolts... I'm wondering...are these bolts simply breaking due to inferior bolt material, or are the owners possibly doing something that would aggravate or compound conditions that more likely lead to broken manifold bolts? For example comparing to the little old lady that drives her Dakota to church on Sunday morning who does very little to put a strain on the engine, muffler, and manifold connections vs the guy that is pulling a 40' sailboat or hauling a bed full of river rock everyday to construction sites. Is the later going to experience broken bolts where the little old lady would most likely not?
I can't imagine that everyone that owns one of these "Manifold bolt inferior" trucks is going to end up with their exhaust manifold flopping around under their hoods some day.