what are those strange stains and how to remove them

[skywalker30]

After I clayed my car, I've noticed some weird stains that actually can be felt with the finger on it.
What are those strange stains and how can I remove them?
10X

[HCAD]

Re: what are those strange stains and how to remove them

Most likely they are etchings into your clear coat of paint. Causes are bird droppings and tree fallout, among a hundred other things. Can they be removed? Possibly. The determining factor is how deep is the damage. Some will attempt to wet sand the damage, essentially removing clear coat until the etchings are gone. The end result is an area of your paint that is now thinner. That area will be more susceptible to failing in later years.

So you should follow-up the question, can they be removed, with questions like; Is it a show car? Will it be garaged? Is it a daily driver? Will future bird droppings be ignored or cleaned? Future tree droppings? And the ultimate question, can you live with it?

My vote is to keep it waxed and see how good you are at establishing exceptional car care practices. Then you can go after some of the minor flaws.

[skywalker30]

Re: what are those strange stains and how to remove them

Most likely they are etchings into your clear coat of paint. Causes are bird droppings and tree fallout, among a hundred other things. Can they be removed? Possibly. The determining factor is how deep is the damage. Some will attempt to wet sand the damage, essentially removing clear coat until the etchings are gone. The end result is an area of your paint that is now thinner. That area will be more susceptible to failing in later years.

So you should follow-up the question, can they be removed, with questions like; Is it a show car? Will it be garaged? Is it a daily driver? Will future bird droppings be ignored or cleaned? Future tree droppings? And the ultimate question, can you live with it?

My vote is to keep it waxed and see how good you are at establishing exceptional car care practices. Then you can go after some of the minor flaws.

Those stains ( dozens of them) are all over the hood, so it's really bothers...
I've got Ultimate Compound but as a paint is still new, maybe its better to use something less abrasive like ultimate polish or glaze?

[The Guz]

Re: what are those strange stains and how to remove them

Do you have a better close up photo. It almost looks like tree sap.

[skywalker30]

Re: what are those strange stains and how to remove them

Do you have a better close up photo. It almost looks like tree sap.

[HCAD]

Re: what are those strange stains and how to remove them

A tip: place a penny beside one of the damaged spots, then take your pic. It'll help the camera to focus.

When you say your paint is "still new", do you mean it's been repainted recently? Or it's just a new car?

[skywalker30]

Re: what are those strange stains and how to remove them

It's a new car

[Nick Winn]

Re: what are those strange stains and how to remove them

These do appear to be some sort of stain or etching in the paint (clear coat layer). I also would like to ask the below question:

When you say your paint is "still new", do you mean it's been repainted recently? Or it's just a new car?

Whether a new car, or recent re-painting of a car, it is quite amazing how quick certain contaminants can work to stain or etch into the paint, requiring a mild or aggressive abrasive paint cleaner or compound to be used.

I don't mean to startle you, but based on the last very close up picture you posted, the two spots on the left appear to have possibly caused the clear coat layer of paint to crack or begin to fail in these areas.

Will you be working by hand or machine? If machine, what type of machine?

You are welcome to try a mild cleaner polish like our Ultimate Polish, but i anticipate you will need a more aggressive cleaner like Ultimate Compound. If these stains have caused the clear coat to fail in these very small areas, unfortunately the proper way to repair is to have re-painted. A paint cleaner or compound may help to diminish the defect, but again if the clear has failed in the area, in the future it will get worse. We will often use various magnifying tools like a folding jewelers loupe to get a closer look at defects like this:

[HCAD]

Re: what are those strange stains and how to remove them

Since it's a newer car, you at least have the advantage of fresh clear coat that hasn't thinned over several years. It allows you a little more leeway when polishing. Having the Ultimate Polish and Compound, I'd certainly use those first. You won't do any harm working by hand. If you have a polishing machine it's important to be more careful, but even with the machine and your current products I think your safe to do some testing. Tell us about your experiences. Working by hand or machine?