little rust spots..i think..

if i get up really close to my car i can see all these little tiny brown dots(maybe surface rust) that i can pick off with my fingure nail there is especially allot on my trunk lid..not noticible unless your right up looking for it..i was just woundering what the best way to remove this stuff was...and how to prevent it from happening again. thanks

[Amber99ga]

clay bar, that was the only thing that got it off of my car

yah..i have the mother's claybar kit...just kinda worried about using it..and messing up my paint/clearcoat or something..but ill do it when i have a full day to myself thx....and is their a good way to prevent it from coming back..i live in BC and we get some pretty harsh winters.

[coupe]

If they are really tiny its rail dust from when your car was shipped VIA train.
Clay bar it. Just follow the directions to the T. You will be fine.

[03xGAxSE]

Originally Posted by coupe

If they are really tiny its rail dust from when your car was shipped VIA train.
Clay bar it. Just follow the directions to the T. You will be fine.

yep had my car claybar'd for the for the same reason, they shouldent come back

tip: if you bought the car less than a year ago, take it back to the dealer and its covered under warrenty, as dammage caused by transportation, but some dealerships will give you a hard time...

the one i bought my car from tried something other than a clay bar, dident work as i knew it wouldent, then i told them "i know what im talking about, im a detailer at another dealership." they replied "then why dont you do it" to which i replied "because this is included in all those damn dealer handeling fees, if you have a problem with doing my warrenty work you have 2 choices. you can give me back what i payed you for the fees, or i can call GM and let them know about our issue... they clayed it and it was spotless...

[coupe]

I should hope they dont come back, you dont plan on putting your car on a train do you?

If you can flick it off with your finger nail and it is mostly on your trunk lid...I would say it is road tar. That stuff will fade to a rust looking color.
Use mineral spirits or paint thinner. Just be careful on the plastic parts because if you rub too hard it could mar it.
I only use clay in extreme conditions because that stuff scratches something fierce.

[coupe]

^^^^Paint thinner! Have you lost your damn mind! Clay baring does not scratch either. Where in the hell did you get your info?

From 15 years of auto detailing experience in a professional shop.

[coupe]

He has no experiance if he is tellin someone to put paint thinner on their paint. Thats just retarded.

[action]

Paint thinner isnt going to harm your paint if its done right. 10 years experience will teach you that and tells me your wrong!!! I've used paint thinner in the past to remove road tar (before the days of claybars) with great success.

Finally! Someone that knows what I am talking about. Thank You!

For your info...I am a SHE not a he and not only do I have the experience in the shop.... I have been in the car/bike show circuit since I was 7, having grown up with the whole family involved. So I would say I do know what I am talking about. Just trying to throw a little advice from first hand contact. No need to call me a retard...I not s-s-lowwww...

[coupe]

I dint call you a retard i said your statement is retarded. I seriuosly cannot believe that using paint thinner is a good idea.

[tenspeed]

It's just amazing how people will jump all over someone if their answer doesn't line up with the "common knowledge" that is spread on this board.

Paint thinner, lighter fluid, polishing compounds or household cleaners can be used to remove the spots. Start with something light like windex and move up through the scale. I use 409 or Fantastic on some spots. You could also try a cleaning wax or polishing compound.

Everyone is guessing what the spots are. Rust and road tar are leading the polls. What if it's fly specks or tree sap? How can you advise someone how to remove them if you don't know what it is? Rust is going to stain, tar is going to smear. Something you can scratch off with your fingernail is something else, probably biological.

You are right tenspeed!
Glad you didn't jump down my throat either.

Start with window cleaner, then denatured alcohol, then mineral spirits (aka laquer thinner), then scratch and swirl, then 1500, then CLAY, then heavy compound.

I did jump the gun on my advice but given the fact that it is mostly on the trunk lid... I ruled out fly crap, tree sap (alcohol will remove), and fall out(only clay will remove). But, road tar will flick off with fingernails and does turn rust colored when left on too long. Just a guess but I am thinking the car is white also...makes it easier to determine.

[coupe]

I dint get my info from just this site. I have been all over the net talked to detail shops and body shops and no one has ever said anything about using paint thinner.

[tenspeed]

Originally Posted by coupe

I dint get my info from just this site. I have been all over the net talked to detail shops and body shops and no one has ever said anything about using paint thinner.

It may be a regional thing or has something to do with age.

In the old days people painted with oil based paint. To clean up, you used things like mineral spirits, naptha, paint thinner, etc. People has quart and gallon cans of the stuff under the workbench in the cellar or garage. They would grab the a can of one of those solvents and use it to clean all sorts of stuff including cars and clothes.

Paint thinner is just that. It soaks into petro-based spot quickly and the spot can be transferred to the cleaning rag.

Get a small can of paint thinner or lighter fluid (naptha) and give it a try. It might be best to try it on a old junk car that you don't care about before you try it on someones hood. Maybe the old lawn mower deck might be a better test bed.

[coupe]

I use paint thinner all the time to clean. Just not car paint or anything that is painted. I will give it a try when i pick up my truck (beater).

OK, this may sound stupid but isn't laquer thinner the same as paint thinner??

I just used it yesterday to clean spattered paint off of a 2001 Chevy truck that came into the shop to be detailed. As long as you don't dump it or spray it on..it does work. Just put a little on a rag and rub away. I also used it to take tar off the rockers on a Lincoln Town car.

We use mineral spirits and laquer thinner every day to get that type of road grime off of the vehicles. I know it sounds a little out there but it is safe as long as you don't get carried away. We use mineral spirits on entire cars (SPRAYED ON) when we are cleaning up the rust proofing over spray and it has never ruined a car yet...and that is usually on brand new cars. I have used it to clean floor mats and to get the nasty crap out of ash trays...as long as you rinse it good, so it doesn't flare up when the customer throws a burning cigarette in the ash tray.

Give it a try..I guarantee you will get good results.

[Terran_Defense]

Originally Posted by Sc0oB

if i get up really close to my car i can see all these little tiny brown dots(maybe surface rust) that i can pick off with my fingure nail there is especially allot on my trunk lid..not noticible unless your right up looking for it..i was just woundering what the best way to remove this stuff was...and how to prevent it from happening again. thanks

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