Suggestions?

[Cameronghanson]

Hey guys,
So after an assault of winter roads with road salt my whole car has thousands of little yellowish spots all over my paint. My car is opticoated but high pressure water and even ONR isn't taking it off.
Has anyone had any luck with any other cleaning method or is claybar pretty much the only way to get rid of it?

[whaap]

It's unfortunate your car wasn't more detailed before being sealed. What you have is rail rust. It results from cars being transported on open railroad cars. The rail dust settles on the cars being transported and end up rusting. It happens to all cars being transported that way but is most often only noticed on white cars. Car dealers are well aware of this and usually do nothing about it unless the customer says something. They have a mild acidic rinse that is not harmful that easily removes the rust spots. Now that you've had it opti-coated you have a bigger problem.

[Cameronghanson]

Originally Posted by whaap

It's unfortunate your car wasn't more detailed before being sealed. What you have is rail rust. It results from cars being transported on open railroad cars. The rail dust settles on the cars being transported and end up rusting. It happens to all cars being transported that way but is most often only noticed on white cars. Car dealers are well aware of this and usually do nothing about it unless the customer says something. They have a mild acidic rinse that is not harmful that easily removes the rust spots. Now that you've had it opti-coated you have a bigger problem.

Yeah I know what you mean but it's definitely not that. I've had the car since August and paint correction removed any of the rail dust spots although I didn't notice any. Not to mention the rear bumper (where the above pic was taken) was replaced and polished out and opticoated and has never seen a train. This has been a pretty gradual thing. Probably over the last few weeks. You can get each spot out with a little finger rub but I was just looking for an easier way. It's definitely not under the opticoat or anything though.

[whaap]

Do you park under any trees that might drip sap?

[Cameronghanson]

Originally Posted by whaap

Do you park under any trees that might drip sap?

No, It lives in the garage. I know it's from salt and shitty michigan roads, I'm just wondering the best way to get rid of it.

[whaap]

Got it. I know of what you speak. I was born in Royal Oak.

[Cameronghanson]

Originally Posted by whaap

Got it. I know of what you speak. I was born in Royal Oak.

yeah im pretty jealous of you. not to much salt and falling apart roads in Tucson.

[muffinman]

Iron-x gets in paints pores to remove the caustic stuff in there. I personally don't know of anyone that's used it on an opticoated car, but the principle seems similar( because there must be supre tiny pores in the opticoat that your crud is sticking to). At about 20 bucks a bottle it could potentionally save youfrom having to clay bar the entire car.

[Greg Nichols]

I have this hypothesis as I live in a salted road state. The blades of the plows will can can leave fine bits of iron on the roads, this can bond to paint as its sharp and sticks to the paint. I've cleaned and preped many paints only to have them get iron blooms again after the winter. I'm highly confident it was clean before the winter too.

Iron X is a great chemical cleaner for this, and your Opti coat should be able to handle the chemical cleaningd strenght of it. Get a super super soft brush (boars/horse hair) and agitate the Iron X on the paint. You will know you have most of it gone when the purple reaction stops. Wash the car and reapply, if there is still iron it will react again and turn purple.

dont use this in an enclosed space as the stuff stinks like a hair perm shop....similar active chemicals.

Cheers,
GREG

[Cameronghanson]

Originally Posted by Greg Nichols

I have this hypothesis as I live in a salted road state. The blades of the plows will can can leave fine bits of iron on the roads, this can bond to paint as its sharp and sticks to the paint. I've cleaned and preped many paints only to have them get iron blooms again after the winter. I'm highly confident it was clean before the winter too.

Iron X is a great chemical cleaner for this, and your Opti coat should be able to handle the chemical cleaningd strenght of it. Get a super super soft brush (boars/horse hair) and agitate the Iron X on the paint. You will know you have most of it gone when the purple reaction stops. Wash the car and reapply, if there is still iron it will react again and turn purple.

dont use this in an enclosed space as the stuff stinks like a hair perm shop....similar active chemicals.

Cheers,
GREG

Thank you!! Very helpful and i believe your theory may be correct!! NaCl is also a pretty thick medium when it gets on the paint and dries which would allow the particles of iron to stick even more...regardless never thought of it that way before and thanks for the input. Just ordered some iron-x. Hopefully it will help with the mineral deposits left by hard water after washing too!