06 white paint imperfections

[JPul]

When I first got my white truck in March 07, I noticed more than a few tiny rust spots throughout the paint. During a recent wash job, I still saw these rust specks but a couple of spots had developed a rusty haze that wouldn't wash off even with some scrubbing.



Are these spots contamination in the base paint or is the paint job so bad that these spots are the raw steel coming through a lousy primer and base paint job? can these spots be polished out? Anyone else seen this and what have you done?



Regards, John

 

[Diesel Thunder]

I would use a clay bar to try and remove the rust specs. They are actually rail dust from when your truck was shipped from mexico most likely. The rust specs stick in the paint, but most have very good results at removing them with a clay bar. You should be able to get a clay bar at most auto parts stores, or call your local body shop supply. While you wash the truck, run the clay bar while the truck is soapy, then rewash with a sponge and spray off. I believe this will take care of the specs. Your paint is fine, its just a result of being shipped by train. Good Luck.

 

[JPul]

Dieserl Thunder,



Thanks for your reply. I feel a little better and I'll give your thoughts a try.



Regards, John

 

[JPul]

Clay bar works!!

I finally got around to doing. I picked up a Meguiar's clay bar and a bucket of Meguiar's Final inspection and went at it right after a pre-wash. Lots of spots that did not polish out previously, came off with the use of the clay bar and a subsequent wash revealed only a few spots that did not come off or that I missed. I'm impressed. Thanks for the recommendations from this and previous posts.



Regards, John

 

[AH64ID]

There are two folks at work one is a white 06 and one is a grey 06. . They both have the rust spots like you mentioned... The white one went thru a 9 month arbitration and buy-back. .

Hopefully your clay bar removed them and didn't mask them. . but if its the same thing as the two at work then I would say it masked them as their paint is rusting from the bottom up.

 

[sag2]

There are two folks at work one is a white 06 and one is a grey 06. . They both have the rust spots like you mentioned... The white one went thru a 9 month arbitration and buy-back. .



Hopefully your clay bar removed them and didn't mask them. . but if its the same thing as the two at work then I would say it masked them as their paint is rusting from the bottom up.

It is very unlikely either of the two trucks above are rusting from the bottom up. But iron dust left on the paint will eventually eat through the finish and then it will look like it started from the inside. If it was really from the inside you would not see rust spots, you would see tiny bubbles trying to lift the paint off the metal long before you see a rust spot. With acid bath and modern e-coat systems panel rust is almost a thing of the past.

The iron dust is from not only the rail cars but from any industrial source. When the particle sits on the paint surface and then it gets hit with acid rain or acidic chemicals from the atmosphere mix with condensation it forms the visible rust spot you see. A good clay job will remove virtually all the surface contamination and then has to be followed up with some kind of wax and regular washings to keep it from occurring again. All vehicles have this, but light colors show it and cars that are not washed regularly and waxed occasionally will show it more. Iron dust is probably the most mis-diagnosed paint problem out there.

If you have never used clay you would not believe the amount of debris that is embedded in even the best looking car.

 

[AH64ID]

It is very unlikely either of the two trucks above are rusting from the bottom up. But iron dust left on the paint will eventually eat through the finish and then it will look like it started from the inside. If it was really from the inside you would not see rust spots, you would see tiny bubbles trying to lift the paint off the metal long before you see a rust spot. With acid bath and modern e-coat systems panel rust is almost a thing of the past.

The iron dust is from not only the rail cars but from any industrial source. When the particle sits on the paint surface and then it gets hit with acid rain or acidic chemicals from the atmosphere mix with condensation it forms the visible rust spot you see. A good clay job will remove virtually all the surface contamination and then has to be followed up with some kind of wax and regular washings to keep it from occurring again. All vehicles have this, but light colors show it and cars that are not washed regularly and waxed occasionally will show it more. Iron dust is probably the most mis-diagnosed paint problem out there.

If you have never used clay you would not believe the amount of debris that is embedded in even the best looking car.

Rail dust was the initial thought, but was proven not to be. IIRC the final outcome was bottom-up. . which is why the truck was bought back.