what is on my paint!!!

[Fly Bye]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

wonder if rail dust ever penetrate the vehicle's steel or are in contact to allow body rust ?

If it were to go completely through the paint, the steel would begin to oxidize & rust. Were talking total paint failure for this to happen.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

I agree it is rail dust. Give it a good claying. Then re-wax the areas. It is a more common problem then you might think.

[SHYNEMAN123]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

What does this have to do with the thread starter

It was the first line of the first post I got a new truck.

[Fly Bye]

Re: what is on my paint!!!




SX4DUDE2013
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''Got a new Truck''






SHYNEMAN123
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''It was the first line of the first post I got a new truck.''

[Fly Bye]

Re: what is on my paint!!!











Whatcha talkin bout Willis?!?!?!

[Fly Bye]

Re: what is on my paint!!!




The truck is new to the thread starter, but that doesn't make it a brand new truck.



That is NOT a brand new truck.

[Tim Lingor]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

wonder if rail dust ever penetrate the vehicle's steel or are in contact to allow body rust ?

Morning,

Honestly I do not know. Over the last 2.5 decades, I have seen this problem on hundreds of vehicles, but it would be interesting to see a long term study. Because it is on the surface, unless it breaks right through the paint to the metal panel, it should stay on the surface.


Tim

[SX4DUDE2013]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

i said new cause the truck is new to me. its a 2006.
A 2010 one was $55,000...I think a lil pricey????

[Tim Lingor]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

i said new cause the truck is new to me. its a 2006.
A 2010 one was $55,000...I think a lil pricey????

Isn't that the truth!!! They are very expensive, trust me, I understand!

It does not have to be new. In fact, the rail dust spots do not usually show up for a year or two. When they do, people will often remove the orange rust discoloration only to discover that the spots are back within a few months or after the winter. Until they are removed with either claying or a specialized acid wash, the spots will keep coming back.

Tim

Like I said above, it does not matter if the truck is new (and a 2006 truck is pretty darn new to me! ), rail dust is bonded to the surface and unless it is removed, the rust discoloration (spots) will keep coming back. Like I said, in the thread, just use some clay, and Quik Detailer or M34 etc as the lube and remove the spots. Then use UC to remove any remaining discoloration, perhaps use SwirlX for any hazing from the UC, then top with your favorite wax and you will be done.

Now with that said, that will probably remove the vast majority if not all of the rail dust particles, but you will see next spring if any spots missed show up again. If any do, then just repeat the process and you are good to go!

Tim

[Fly Bye]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

Over the last 2.5 decades, I have seen this problem on hundreds of vehicles, but it would be interesting to see a long term study.

Over the last 2.5 decades, I have never seen rail dust on an automotive paint finish. New autos here in Cali are transported on car trailers via hwy/freeway.

I see the posters that talk about rail dust are on the East coast.





Edit: Or BC

[Tim Lingor]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

Over the last 2.5 decades, I have never seen rail dust on an automotive paint finish. New autos here in Cali are transported on car trailers via hwy/freeway.

I see the posters that talk about rail dust are on the East coast.


Edit: Or BC

And how do you think they get to the depots where they are loaded on to trucks and delivered to dealerships?

There are several vehicle depots on the west coast and on the east coast, where the vast majority of vehicles are sent by the factory by train. Moreover, that is not the only place rail dust or other metal particles may have become embedded into or on to the paint.

Vehicles that arrive from overseas come by ship (only the very rare get shipped by plane). They again are transported to the ports and then to the depots by train. Very few are transported to the depots by truck as it is simply not cost effective for the large volume of vehicles.

Finally during the assembly process there are many opportunities where a vehicle can be bombarded by hot metal particles, so it is not just the transporting to the dealer, but I assumed most would have realized that hence why I did not mention it.

You may have seen many vehicles on transport trucks in your area but obviously you have not detailed very many as you would have come across this issue quite often. Of course it is more prevalent in the ice belt areas where road salt or liquid ice melter's are often used.

Tim

[Fly Bye]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

during the assembly process there are many opportunities where a vehicle can be bombarded by hot metal particles, I assumed most would have realized that hence why I did not mention it.

I have never stepped foot into (I'm sure most people have not) an automobile manufacturing plant. So, I'm not quite clear as to why you thought I assumed that vehicles are bombarded with hot metal particals after they've been painted

Just curious, where did you get this info? Are you in the automobile manufacturing industry, or is this just a theory of yours?

obviously you have not detailed very many as you would have come across this issue quite often. Of course it is more prevalent in the ice belt areas where road salt or liquid ice melter's are often used.

Uhh...I have actually detailed and inspected quite a few cars in my time. I just simply said that I have never, ever seen rail dust on a car in California. I never disputed that rail dust doesn't exist, just that I have never seen it in person.

I wasn't expecting you to write an essay

[buda]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

Those who told you that the spots were rust are correct and they are most likely caused from rail dust when the truck was transported by rail to the dealership as was indicated.

The steel wheels against the steel rails causes metal flakes to fly in the air and land on the vehicle. They are hot and burrow into the paint and when they get wet they rust (orange spots).

Clay will not remove the rail dust completely, it only breaks off the top part and leaves the other piece in the paint.

The rail dust removing process is as follows:

a. Wash vehicle to remove dirt
b. Dilute rail dust remover in a 5 gallon bucket of warm water
c. Drench 15" x 24" towels (hand towel size) in the liquid and lay on all the surfaces of the vehicle that have rail dust problems and allow to dwell for say, 30 minutes. This should give the acidic chemical to liquify the rust and release the rail dust from the paint.
d. Rinse the vehicle off thoroughly to eliminate the metal flakes
e. Spray an alkaline cleaner on the entire car, to neutralize the acid. (YOU MUST DO THIS)
and allow it to dwell to insure neutralization of acid remover
f. Rinse with fresh water again thoroughly
g. Hand wash with a good car wash shampoo
h. Buff, polish, wax as required.

That is the only way to properly remove rail dust and diminish the negative effects of the acidic remover.

Regards
Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS
Proud Member of the INTERNATIONAL DETAILING ASSOCIATION

[Golden]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

Yep, it's rail dust.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: what is on my paint!!!

Plenty of cars that are produced in the US and Canada and sold in California arrive here with rail dust. Most Japanese and German manufacturers with US assembly plants have them in Tennessee, Georgia, and elsewhere east of the Mississippi river. Rail is the preferred method of transport for west coast delivery. We see rail dust fairly regularly here in SoCal - not sure why you've not seen it in NorCal, Fly Bye, but that doesn't mean this truck can't have it!

Our call center has talked with several people who've struggled to remove what the uninitiated often describe as "these spots that have been on my white car for a few years now - nothing seems to get 'em off". Perhaps the original owner of this truck was one of those folks frustrated by this phenomenon.

Otherwise, let's please keep this thread on topic - how to remove these rust colored deposits, not a debate on how they might have come to be on a used vehicle.