Water spots?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Water spots?
Hey all have a 2000 torch red coupe.
Paint is in great shape.
Car sat around for a while outside with a cover on it before I bought it, I noticed water spots on horizontal surfaces, mostly on the hood. Yeah I am probably the only one who notices it but the more I look at it under certain light and certain angle.....I gave it a bath and used Mothers brazilian carnauba wax, which is a mild cleaner wax. Shines fantastic afterwards but the water spots remain.
I don't want to experiment here any farther than the cleaner wax I used.
Is there something out there that will remove the water spots while obviously not cutting into clearcoat or paint?
Paint is in great shape.
Car sat around for a while outside with a cover on it before I bought it, I noticed water spots on horizontal surfaces, mostly on the hood. Yeah I am probably the only one who notices it but the more I look at it under certain light and certain angle.....I gave it a bath and used Mothers brazilian carnauba wax, which is a mild cleaner wax. Shines fantastic afterwards but the water spots remain.
I don't want to experiment here any farther than the cleaner wax I used.
Is there something out there that will remove the water spots while obviously not cutting into clearcoat or paint?
Administrator
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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Have tried both methods and have been able to remove some stubborn water spots from the paint.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
here is the problem... drops of water are like magnifying glasses because of the shape of the droplet... in North America, there is a lots of chemicals in the air that cause acid rain... as the sun hits that drop of acidic rain, the droplet acts like a magnifying glass increasing the temp and etching the acid rain drop into the clear coat...
You can't pull the etching from the clear coat, you have to use an abrasive to remove the rim around each drop... You never want to allow rain drops to dry on the roof trunk or hood, where rays of sun can cause damage...if the sun doesn't come out after the rain there is no problem... usually wax will protect a finish but its the suns rays that cause this problem... you can try a product called final cut from Meguiars, or a similar product from Mothers... clay only pulls out surface debris, like bug guts, road tar, bird droppings etc.. they do not remove subsurface contaminants.
You can't pull the etching from the clear coat, you have to use an abrasive to remove the rim around each drop... You never want to allow rain drops to dry on the roof trunk or hood, where rays of sun can cause damage...if the sun doesn't come out after the rain there is no problem... usually wax will protect a finish but its the suns rays that cause this problem... you can try a product called final cut from Meguiars, or a similar product from Mothers... clay only pulls out surface debris, like bug guts, road tar, bird droppings etc.. they do not remove subsurface contaminants.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
here is the problem... drops of water are like magnifying glasses because of the shape of the droplet... in North America, there is a lots of chemicals in the air that cause acid rain... as the sun hits that drop of acidic rain, the droplet acts like a magnifying glass increasing the temp and etching the acid rain drop into the clear coat...
You can't pull the etching from the clear coat, you have to use an abrasive to remove the rim around each drop... You never want to allow rain drops to dry on the roof trunk or hood, where rays of sun can cause damage...if the sun doesn't come out after the rain there is no problem... usually wax will protect a finish but its the suns rays that cause this problem... you can try a product called final cut from Meguiars, or a similar product from Mothers... clay only pulls out surface debris, like bug guts, road tar, bird droppings etc.. they do not remove subsurface contaminants.
You can't pull the etching from the clear coat, you have to use an abrasive to remove the rim around each drop... You never want to allow rain drops to dry on the roof trunk or hood, where rays of sun can cause damage...if the sun doesn't come out after the rain there is no problem... usually wax will protect a finish but its the suns rays that cause this problem... you can try a product called final cut from Meguiars, or a similar product from Mothers... clay only pulls out surface debris, like bug guts, road tar, bird droppings etc.. they do not remove subsurface contaminants.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 779
Likes: 67
From: Simi Valley Ca
St. Jude Donor '12
I had the same problem. I used my new Griot's orbital, that my lovely wife gave me as a Christmas present, with Meguiars Scratch X 2.0 and it removed the spots. It took several passes though. I tried clay barring and using the Meguiars by hand before I had the orbital, but it didn't work. The spots were driving me crazy, I'm sane again.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 13
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '12
You are going to need to polish using a dual action or other type of polisher. Lots of information related to this in the detailing section on the forum. The sponsors there provide a lot of how-to's on their websites. I promise, it's not as challenging as it appears.
However, if you just want to use a stand alone product, check this out from one of our sponsors.
Chemical Guys Water Spot Remover
I recently purchased this, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. It got great reviews from several different detailing sites.
chris
However, if you just want to use a stand alone product, check this out from one of our sponsors.
Chemical Guys Water Spot Remover
I recently purchased this, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. It got great reviews from several different detailing sites.
chris
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Hmmm, a few different things to consider here I see.
Well yesterday I already ordered a Pinnacle Clay Bar kit with lube and micro towels, so I am committed to giving it a go. I wanted the least abrasive option for first (and hopefully successful) attempt without a machine because being a long time boater we are used to battling oxidation on hard gelcoats and from that, habitually aggressive with machines to cut it down. I want to avoid using a machine if possible but will buy the right one if need be if the clay does not work.
So will give the clay bar a go and will be sure to post back results. Will try to photograph the spots beforehand.
Well yesterday I already ordered a Pinnacle Clay Bar kit with lube and micro towels, so I am committed to giving it a go. I wanted the least abrasive option for first (and hopefully successful) attempt without a machine because being a long time boater we are used to battling oxidation on hard gelcoats and from that, habitually aggressive with machines to cut it down. I want to avoid using a machine if possible but will buy the right one if need be if the clay does not work.
So will give the clay bar a go and will be sure to post back results. Will try to photograph the spots beforehand.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,188
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
I bought an 01 Torch Red coupe a few years ago with water spots on the hood, roof, and trunk (even the glass). I thought I could polish them out. I tried clay bar, vinegar, various products "guaranteed" to remove spots, polishing compound and more. I took it to a professional detailer. He was able to get the spots out of the glass (mostly), but said the etching was too deep in the clear coat to get out. He was afraid to go any farther into the paint. I sold the car with the spots still there. The car shined great, but under flourescent lights it looked like a leopard to me. I couldn't take it so I sold it and bought one that didn't have the spots.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 347
From: SC
I bought an 01 Torch Red coupe a few years ago with water spots on the hood, roof, and trunk (even the glass). I thought I could polish them out. I tried clay bar, vinegar, various products "guaranteed" to remove spots, polishing compound and more. I took it to a professional detailer. He was able to get the spots out of the glass (mostly), but said the etching was too deep in the clear coat to get out. He was afraid to go any farther into the paint. I sold the car with the spots still there. The car shined great, but under flourescent lights it looked like a leopard to me. I couldn't take it so I sold it and bought one that didn't have the spots.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Cobden Ontario
When is "good" ---"good enough"???
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,735
Likes: 14
From: Visalia CA
It's "never good enough". Technology and chemistry are constantly changing. After using brand "X" for many years, and thinking I was a fairly knowledgeable detailer, I tried a new glaze from a vendor I hadn't used before. The results brought the shine and "wow" factor up a notch or two.
