rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

[bxd20]

rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?


Long time Meguiar's user, new to the forums.

We bought a 2007 Buick Rendezvous, brand new, two years ago. Brought it home and after a little while I found small specs of rust on the paint. It's almost a white car - "Cappuccino Frost Metallic". I realized it was rail dust but didn't do anything about it, because a simple wash cut the rust way down, seemed just about gone.

I had more time in 2008, so I bought a Meguiar's Clay bar kit and attacked the root of the problem so to speak. To my disappointment, it took a LOT of rubbing with a lot of pressure for the clay bar to remove the look of rust. But I thought to myself, at least this is a permanent fix. The dust is only on the rear bumper, rear hatch, and rear quarter panels, and those areas took me a couple hours of HARD rubbing with lots of pressure.

Over the winter I didn't pay close attention. Now after a hand wash, I see the rust is back big time.

I am sure the rust is not "new", the car is garaged and my other cars have never suffered this problem. So its not environmental.

I've searched these forums. Two things I learned:

1. Some people claim that the clay in the clay kits is too whimpy and mild, and that I should try a 'mild bar' bought separately.

2. Others say I need a chemical based, multiple step, decontamination system to I guess dissolve the ferrous steel shavings? This sounds extreme, but, after the clay bar experience I am willing to try whatever is needed to fix this.

Help?!?

Thanks
Brian

[Maserati Mario]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

Here's a list of other Rail Dust posts
Hope this helps
I know Joe at Superior Shine knows about this but, I couldn't find his posts.
So if these posts don't help email him and he'll set you straight

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/search.php?searchid=2137216

[Mike Phillips]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

Click the link below and it will take you to a list of threads on this subject.

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/tags.php?tag=decontamination+rail-dust

As for claying, if in fact it is rail dust or in other words, steel particles, then claying works in some cases but claying works by abrading above surface particles and than trapping the removed particulates into itself.

I'm not sure if the abrasives used in a medium to aggressive clay are strong enough to actually abrade steel, or at least abrade steel effectively.

If claying did abrade the steel till it was level with the surface then any steel particles still stuck in the paint will tend to rust and thats where the rust spots you sometimes read about in threads like this come from.

Another problem is if you do abrade the steel then the steel particles will be in the clay and as you rub the clay over the paint the potential risk is that the removed steel particles will now start instilling scratches into the paint which will have to be removed in another step.

Not sure what the best solution is as I've never had to deal with this on a personal car or even a customer's car.

Do click the link above, read through the threads and do some more research and please update this thread with what you find out and what solution you decide to go with.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

Oh yeah... since this was your first post...

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

[bxd20]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

Thanks guys. I did search before posting, and saw Joe's suggestions. I guess I was just looking for anyone else who has done the decontamination? Anyone else to recommend it?

I sent a PM to Joe - hopefully he'll reply on this thread. I just want to understand what product to use, best place to get it, how to use it properly.

Anything that dissolves ferrous metal sounds scary. What's to say it won't damage some uncoated steel bolt/screw it drips on? Or an edge of a body panel, where perhaps the paint application was thin? Of course I'm picturing some chemical you spray over your whole car, maybe you just wipe it on affected body panels.

That's why I need some more details and help from Joe and anyone else who's done the chem decontamination.

Or if you guys think I should try a more aggressive clay bar, I'm all ears.

Thanks!!
Brian

[AeroCleanse]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

I have found that the Hi-Tech Body Sponge does a better job that clay on rail dust. I took loads of rail dust off two white cars, and with regular maintenance hasn't come back in 2 years.

Hi-Tech Body Sponge

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

I would give the c 2000 mild clay a chance. Last June When my mother in law came to visit, she asked me to detail her new Ford Fusion. It had rail dust specs everywhere. The clay in the smooth surface clay kit was not doing the job. I broke out the mild professional clay. Two passes later it was all gone. For the record, it has not re- bloomed as of the middle of February.

As Mike stated it will work for some and others it will not work for. I would give this step a try before the decontamination system.

Good Luck.

[akimel]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

The decontamination system that I keep hearing about is the one from Finish Kare. Based on forum reviews, the products appear to be relatively safe for the paint finish, but many state that the decon system does not eliminate the need for subsequent claying: see, e.g., this Autopia thread. You might want to also check out these car manufacturer TSBs.

[bxd20]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

akimel- Thanks!

That Autopia thread taught me a lot. I sound like one of the guys near the bottom. Same rust blooms I clayed are coming right back!! These are definitely not new contaminants.

I think I will try the Finish Kare and possibly even clay during the acid step like some suggest. Thanks.

[cm2005300]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

I have found that the Hi-Tech Body Sponge does a better job that clay on rail dust. I took loads of rail dust off two white cars, and with regular maintenance hasn't come back in 2 years.

Hi-Tech Body Sponge

i used a mr clean magic eraser last year to take them off and it worked great problem is mine are back as well and i was obvioulsy warned against doing so again how is this hi_tech sponge any diffrent???

MIKE???

[AeroCleanse]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

i used a mr clean magic eraser last year to take them off and it worked great problem is mine are back as well and i was obvioulsy warned against doing so again how is this hi_tech sponge any diffrent???

The Hi Tech Body sponge is aimed at detailers as a clay bar replacement, which I use all the time.

If yours are coming back, may I ask how you take care of your car.

[oldmodman]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

When I bought my Ford Cobra in 2002 (Zinc Yellow), I could see the dreaded little red spots all over the car. I started out using a Zaino white clay bar but it was taking forever. So I got out a more aggressive clay bar from Clay Magic. It was their red clay bar and it removed every trace of the rail dust. And it has not returned in five years.

[cm2005300]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

The Hi Tech Body sponge is aimed at detailers as a clay bar replacement, which I use all the time.

If yours are coming back, may I ask how you take care of your car.

Yes you may sir!

let me say first that i was told the mr clean eraser would damage and dull my paint ....will this body sponge have the same effect as a magic eraser or is it formulated for this type of application?

also during the winter i just go to the touchless 2 times a week.....summer heres what i do

wash with gold class and microfiber mitt
dry with water magnet
clay
clean with either color -x or dc
spray with qd to remove any remnants of dust or clay or anything
wax with gold class wax or nxt

as you can see from my avatar it works well for me

but after every winter they come back? maybe im not sealing well enough right before winter which could be true since i only wax about 2 or 3 times all summer/spring

[miahjohn]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

this may not be the best for your paint, but I use wheel cleaner on the paint while washing which seems to disolve the rust spots with zero effort and I have never had a problem with damaging the paint. the product I use is by Zep called Zepalume.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: rail dust - time for 3 part decontamination?

Yes you may sir!

let me say first that i was told the mr clean eraser would damage and dull my paint ....will this body sponge have the same effect as a magic eraser or is it formulated for this type of application?

also during the winter i just go to the touchless 2 times a week.....summer heres what i do

wash with gold class and microfiber mitt
dry with water magnet
clay
clean with either color -x or dc
spray with qd to remove any remnants of dust or clay or anything
wax with gold class wax or nxt

as you can see from my avatar it works well for me

but after every winter they come back? maybe im not sealing well enough right before winter which could be true since i only wax about 2 or 3 times all summer/spring

The Hi-Tech Body sponge is made for car detailing, the magic eraser is not. If you drive your car in the winter, you may want to call your local government agency that is in charge of salting the roads. You may find, that like were I live they use specific chemicals that can stick into the paint and cause those spots. I have found that where the "salt" spray goes thats where the spots show up most.

Before winter you may want to apply a few coats of NXT 2.0. If your car is kept in a garage, you should check out Optimum No Rinse for your winter washing needs. I personally use ONR all year.