Grill issue offer up opinions please

Bought an aftermarket aluminum grill from Empyre which I really like. It has a Toyota cut out. They also give you a stainless steel plate you can color how you want and place it behind the Toyota so it can look flashy. My issue is (see pics) the I believe the stainless bolts they bond to the aluminum have started some kind of chemical reaction. I think since I live in Nebraska and they use a serious brine solution they spray all over the streets on icy days. Today my truck was almost white from the crap so I washed it off with the power hose. Just plain soap and water. I even went back over the spots with a microfiber towel and plain tap water but the damn white circles come right back. I have already contacted them but being Sunday no response yet.

 

Looks like a powder coat or paint issue. I would touch it up as best as possible and move on. The point of contact between 2 dislike metals is going to rust very quickly.

 

This^
Or possibly drill holes and install short black screws with lock nuts. It may make it look like the screws are suppose to be there. Maybe.

 

I thought about fixing it but the grill is less then a month old so I decided against fixing anything more like get a new one make them address the issue hopefully.

 

Whatever became of this? I just installed mine last night.

 

washers so the screw doesnt spin againt the Powder Coat

 

Galvanic corrosion. Simple fix (if you can get the SS bolts out without jacking up the grill) is replace the stainless bolts with aluminum or nylon bolts and nuts

 

Yes.

Stainless + aluminum = battery.

The dissimilar metal junction will turn into a white powder.

 

Re read the original post.

 

Wat

 

powder coat looks scraped off

 

There's a stud spot welded to the backside.

 

Looks like "smoking rivet" syndrome. common problem in aviation when panels flex continuously that aren't properly supported. Does the metal piece behind the "toyota" move if you push it with your finger. doesn't have to move much just a small amount will cause those counter sunk rivets to work.

 

My update is:
The posts affixed to the aluminum grill are called Pems and are steel which is zinc coated according to the manufacture. The really have no idea why this is happening since it’s a first for them. But Empyre who sold it to me was great they offered me 2 choices either a full refund I ship grill back or I keep grill and get a half refund. I took the half refund and I will pull grill back off try to correct it in the spring. The powder coating on grill is fine no chipping. I do believe as someone above stated it’s a reaction between the aluminum and the steel. So I will find some kind of neutralizer then I will add another coat of paint on the grill hoping this will take care of the issue. Anyone have any ideas on what kind of neutralizer I should try?

 

He pointed out in the OP that the grill is aluminum, which oxidizes unlike steel... Powdercoat probably rubbed off and the bare aluminum is now oxidizing which is why it appears white

 

Just sand down the spots to remove the oxidations, blend the powder for a smooth finish, and paint it

 

The mfr likely pressed the PEM studs into bare aluminum, then powder coated the finished assembly. Because the PEM stud is in contact with the bare aluminum, the corrosion will continue. Neutralizer applied around the perimeter of the joint won't do anything. There are "jointing compounds" like PPG CA1000 meant to negate this, but it needs to coat the PEM stud before being pressed into the aluminum.

 

Honestly, I'd give the grille back.

 

I rebuilt semi-trailer wrecks for 20 years and dealt with this all the time. Galvanic corrosion. We covered all steel and SS that touched aluminum with mylar tape. Unless the steel is isolated from the aluminum the corrosion will continue.

 

Well it’s too late for me I’m stuck with the grill. At least it didn’t cost me that much. On the plus side I can get it pretty clean so you can hardly see it except if your real close. The pems only hold the stainless steel plate on and it is not needed on the grill so I just might take them off. That’s all for the info very helpful.