The Clearcoat Failure Photo Archive

[Mike Phillips]

The Clearcoat Failure Photo Archive


We get so many questions for help from people trying to fix the paint on their car when the problem they're dealing with is un-fixable in that it's what we call Clear Coat Failure.

Many people confuse Clearcoat Failure with Oxidation and while clearcoat failure can be caused by oxidation and part of clearcoat failure can be oxidized clearcoat paint, clearcoat failure and oxidation are different categories of paint problems.


Oxidation is a problem more associated with older single stage paints while clearcoat failure is a problem specific to clearcoat paints. Because we're going on 3 generations of consumers only owning cars with clearcoat finishes and never owning a car with a single stage paint there tends to be some confusion over exactly what the problem looks like so this thread is to document with photos all kinds of examples of clearcoat failure in the 3 different general stages.


Photos of Clearcoat Failure















This is the beginning of clear coat failure, note how the paint is turning cloudy or hazy but it's not yet flaking off.




These 3 pictures show the last stage of clear coat failure, the clear coat has turned white and began to flake off. The car looks like it has a bad rash. This is not oxidation, but the extreme deterioration of the clear layer of paint over the color coat. There is nothing you can do to fix this problem except to repaint the car.








More pictures of clear coat failure...

















Just to note... Clear Coat Failure is not a problem --> on <-- the paint, as in on the surface, but it is a deterioration or breakdown of the paint itself. By this we mean the damage is --> in <-- the paint, as in... throughout the matrix of the layer of paint.

This is why you can't apply a topical paint cleaner to clear coat failure and fix the problem.

Does that make sense?

The only honest repair for clearcoat failure is to repaint the affected area or the entire car.

[OhioCarBuff]

What is the exact cause of clearcoat failure? I've seen cars that were extremely neglected that did not get CC failure, and some that were mildly neglected that did.

It looks to me like CC failure happens beucase the paint dries out, I assume the polishing oils in meguiars products would prevent this, given they are sealed in with a wax.

[PorscheGuy997]

There are a number of things that can cause clearcoat failure.

1. Thin clear / wet sanded too far
2. Frequent sun exposure
3. No protectant (most common reason)
4. Paint has dried out.

As for the pictures, I can hear Taps being played in the background. All those clearcoats that gave up after abuse.....

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Let's also had high engine temps! Some trucks from towing heavy loads can develop cracks in the CC due to the temperatures under the hood. You can take care of the paint as much as humanly possible and still develop CC failure.

Tim

[gb387]

Originally Posted by 2hotford

Hey,

Let's also had high engine temps! Some trucks from towing heavy loads can develop cracks in the CC due to the temperatures under the hood. You can take care of the paint as much as humanly possible and still develop CC failure.

Tim

Thats interesting, you learn something new new everyday!

[Lydia]

Originally Posted by 2hotford

Hey,

Let's also had high engine temps! Some trucks from towing heavy loads can develop cracks in the CC due to the temperatures under the hood. You can take care of the paint as much as humanly possible and still develop CC failure.

Tim

I'm glad I know that now! I've wondered many times why my truck, which is still fairly young, already has clear coat failure. Thanks!


Mike, What about the cracks in the clear coat? It seems like a much different type of clear coat failure, but it is failure none the less. Do you have any good pictures to add to the thread showing that? Just a suggestion...

Edit: On second thought, I also have the CC cracks on my truck roof. Any idea how that happened?

[PorscheGuy997]

Had some fun with my new macro lense.



You can see the tiny cracks in the clear. This is basically a different form of clearcoat failure.

...pollen is sticking to everything, too...

[J. A. Michaels]

Add me to the group that never knew about high engine temps adding to hood clear coat failure. Very interesting.

[ZoranC]

Originally Posted by 2hotford

Let's also had high engine temps! Some trucks from towing heavy loads can develop cracks in the CC due to the temperatures under the hood. You can take care of the paint as much as humanly possible and still develop CC failure.

+1 Same goes for turbo cars (ask me how I know LOL). You can see difference in the clear / single stage paint in the area that is over the turbo.

[Setec Astronomy]

Originally Posted by PorscheGuy997

You can see the tiny cracks in the clear. This is basically a different form of clearcoat failure.

Yeah, but that is a bird-poop failure.