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Just curious.Walking around Advance Auto today buying a few things and looked at the various cleaner/waxes on the shelf. Noticed that quite a few state, removes paint oxidation, or words to that effect. The paint has clearcoat over it. How does this stuff "remove paint oxidation" without destroying the clearcoat?
All paint has clear in it but is tinted with a color pigment...the clear on top is also paint and is susceptible to UV rays, shrinkage and oxidation.
Oxidation is what makes paint turn cloudy. Protecting from oxidation is part of a good cleaning, polishing and protectant regime.. If paint becomes neglected it becomes cloudy whether it is a clear coat or a base coat clear coat. If the paint is a non-cleared ( no Base coat ) the clear in the paint is what makes it shiny.... Base coat has no shine to it, when the top coat ( clear coat )becomes oxidized, removing this is no more than using a polishing compound, or any of the many polishes on the market.. Oxidation occurs only in to top layer, microns thick.. removing this oxidation does little to remove any paint...
All paint has clear in it but is tinted with a color pigment...the clear on top is also paint and is susceptible to UV rays, shrinkage and oxidation.
Oxidation is what makes paint turn cloudy. Protecting from oxidation is part of a good cleaning, polishing and protectant regime.. If paint becomes neglected it becomes cloudy whether it is a clear coat or a base coat clear coat. If the paint is a non-cleared ( no Base coat ) the clear in the paint is what makes it shiny.... Base coat has no shine to it, when the top coat ( clear coat )becomes oxidized, removing this is no more than using a polishing compound, or any of the many polishes on the market.. Oxidation occurs only in to top layer, microns thick.. removing this oxidation does little to remove any paint...
A very good description ... indeed.
Clearcoat is just unpigmented paint and can oxidize over time as a single stage paint (colored) will. Using these products will abrade or chemically remove the oxidation and allow for a fresh finish. Using good waxes and sealants will help to keep paint from needing it. Protection is the key, but proper prep is the necessity.
But would anyone REALLY depend on a cleaner-wax to remove oxidation, as in a car taken from a junkyard ? I doubt it. You'd go right to a rotary buffer with a cutting pad, and an aggressive polish or rubbing compound.
Just my opinion - but I think the claims about these cleaner waxes are greatly overinflated. They're good for removing tar and some grime that didn't come off with the wash, but that's about it in my experience.
Also there are some polishes and cleaners that are formulated to remove oxidation and other problems chemically instead of using abrasives as the polishing medium. I always advise using the chemical polishes and cleaners first. If it isn't effective, then get aggresive.