My wife came home in our Accord today, with some kind of splatter on the car. (Thankfully she doesn't drive my mini!!) I immediately drove it through a touch free car wash to clean it off. Seems to be something other than mud. After washing off it seems to still leave a stain that although not directly visible when looking straight on, still leaves a visible spot when looking in light at a certain direction. I tried one spot, Wax didn't remove it, rubbing compound did, but that seems to be gently scratch the metallic clear coat surface. Any suggestions? Clay Bar? Liquid clay bar (new turtle wax product) Are these products good for a clear coat finish? I don't know what the substance was, but it was semi solid, washed off well. Industrial splatter from a truck, chicken sh** (we live in a rural area)?? Who knows

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

I would try regular clay (the liquid clay bar is nothing like real clay, do a search here to learn more about it) and see if that removes it. If not, you might be in order for Scratch-X or something similar, but I'm guessing that if rubbing compound took it of, several passes of clay (it might take a while, but it's safe for your point) should do it.

Let us know how it goes.

 

Why are you using rubbing compound???? You ought to throw that away immediately! Especially with your question that using rubbing compound seems to be "scratching the clear coat". Of course it is! It's too abrasive! You shouldn't be using anything like that if you aren't familiar enough with how to use it. You're likely to do far more damage to your paint that way.

I agree with ML--get some clay bar and see if that removes the contamination--it might take some work--clay removes particles in very small increments--and sometimes a few passes may look like it's not working--but 50 or 100 passes will! Make sure to read the directions--use clay lube or a quick detailer, and definitely ask for help if you aren't sure about how to go about doing this.

Richard

 

^+1 on the clay.

also, what kind of pad did you use when you did the compound? if
some cheap cotton towels or an old t-shirt they tend to swirl the finish.
plus some compounds are very coarse.

if the clay does not work, i recommend using ScratchX on a cotton pad
and use some elbow grease.

 

Thanks for the advice. I only tried a tiny spot with rubbing compound to see if the affected areas would come off, or if the area was perhaps a chemical etching or staining of the paint. It does come off, so I'll try the clay this weekend, hopefully that will do the trick.

 

Just use plenty of detail spray or soapy water as a clay lube and it should take off whatever it is, assuming that it's something on top of the clear coat and not an actual color stain or something etched down into the surface of the top coat.

Let us now how it comes out for you and good luck!

 

I used a meguair's NXT generation tech wax. That worked also seemed to remove some light swirl marks I had. A friend suggested that as a less drastic step prior to using the clay bar. Not sure if it actually removed the swirls, or just fills them in.

It was about 98 degrees so I thought I'd save the clay bar treatment for this fall when it is a little cooler. I think it still needs it.

 

I don't mean to sound mean, but you need a new friend or someone that's a bit more knowledgeable.

How is a synthetic polymer wax less drastic than clay bar????????

That like saying, eat an apple because oranges are good for you---wth?? That makes no sense.

NXT Tech Wax does contain some mild cleaners in it, and it works ok with a PC for helping to remove light swirls and for waxing, but using it by hand isn't going to remove anything. Like any good wax, it will mask some defects by filling them in.

re: 98 degrees
As long as your surface temperature is cool to the touch, you can still clay the paint---it's when it's 115 degrees or higher in the shade that you don't want to be working because nothing is cool--been there, done that.

Richard

 

OG - you're going to get heat stroke!

 

Yeah I once scheduled a Black NSX on one of the hottest days in Orange County last year--it was 115 in the shade. Putting M80 on the paint (working in the customers garage) just evaporated, made buffing impossible.--not to mention I was sweating buckets.

Then it got really humid and rained, and kept the wax from drying...lol.

 

damn... dont want to read about OG flame out, so hopefully you
got an air controlled workshop now?! i know socal's scorching sun...
it's like getting hit by needles.

 

Really agree with everything you said. I was just trying to remove the potential stains that my wife got on the car. That worked, was less time consuming, and less painful. Agree, I probably just filled in swirls, I think I said that. The clay bar is for this fall. Car looks fine for now.

 

crap, i just remembered i forgot to remove bird crap from my legacy last night... thanks for reminding..