Does anybody know what is causing this?
It does not affect the performance of the car. And i just noticed it while under the hood today. It has also been raining a lot here in San Diego. Is this something that could do damage? How to fix it?

 

Wow that's crazy, I have never seen anything like that before. If its not affecting the performance than its probably just on the outside of the pipe.

I would take it apart and try cleaning it and to get an idea of whats going on.

 

it looks like something spilled on it honestly, do you wash your engine bay out? what year xb? how old is the battery?

 

No, but my grille is the chromed aluminum slats. I do have some minor protection from the outer elements but rain can still get inside the bay. Its a 2006 (read my sig?) and the battery is literally 2 weeks old. Just replaced the original stock one.

 

what is the chance that the old one leaked and did that?

 

You live in San Diego, and you have that kind of corrosion? I could guess something like that in the rust belt, but San Diego?

My guess, if it wasn't a chemical like your battery, would be some sort of galvanic corrosion caused by maybe a bad ground to the engine.

 

That would be if the section was in contact with the electrical system , it is isolated with rubber hoses and anti vibration mounting.not even the MAF sensor makes a connection with the intake ( plastic with o-ring gasket)

I would say it is battery acid spilled on it during the replacement , and not being cleaned properly after. Try rinsing with a solution of water and baking soda , if she bubbles when you do it you will have found the cause. The fix would be to remove it , clean it with baking soda lightly scoth brite it and then clear coat it.

 

Thanks frogbox! I am sure that is probably the problem. The last time I looked under the hood was when I replaced the battery. Although, I do not know how the acid could have easily spilled since I was holding it the whole time while taking it out. As long as it isn't damaging. I will clean it like you said and will update this thread to see if that was it. Does battery corrosion take a couple days to form before it is white like that?

 

good call on the battery acid...after looking at the pictures. there is very little else it could be

 

If you scrape a soda can ( aluminum ) and put a couple drops of battery acid on it you can watch it bubble up and do what you intake did in a few minutes.

( your welcome just tryin to help)