Unusual Random Etching Marks on Paint - What are they from?

[sxdc58]

Hi,

I have a question to all the professional detailers out there. I'm an auto damage appraiser and am inspecting a 2010 Porsche Boxster with random unusually shaped marks in the paint. The vehicle was transported from Dallas to Calgary by truck transport. Marks seem minor from 1/8 inch to 3/4 inch in size but none are circular. All have random patterns. All spots seem to have been made while stationary, there are no trace spray patterns. Also, the marks are deep enough to etch the clear coat and seem to have a bluish color. The vehicle color is black so the marks are fairly noticable in the sunlight. The marks seem to be worse at the rear of the vehicle and are on the metal panels as well as the plastic rear bumper cover. A polish with 3000 grit and detail seem to remove the the etching marks. But it is possible they my return in time.

Does anyone have a possible cause for the marks? I don't think it is rail dust since it wasn't transported by rail, only open car carrier. Possibly 2 or 3 different carriers were used. I don't know if vehicle was stored near a place that might cause environmental fallout.

So I don't think rail dust or "acid" rain are the culprit. Any thoughts what might cause this type of problem? Also if it is "acid rain" or chemical fallout and it polished professionally and removed, what are the chances it will return over time?

Thanks for reading this and any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Dwight

[mis3]

Re: Unusual Random Etching Marks on Paint - What are they from?

How about bird droppings? They dried and etched the paint. Then someone washed the car before delivered the car to you...

[Murr1525]

Re: Unusual Random Etching Marks on Paint - What are they from?

Chance of a pic?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Unusual Random Etching Marks on Paint - What are they from?

Without seeing the marks it is a bit difficult to even guess at what might have caused them. Is it possible that another vehicle was above it on the transporter and that vehicle leaked something onto the Porsche? Or it could have been something leaking from the ceiling in a short term storage facility - we've seen this happen with all kinds of strange effects on paint.

While it would be nice to trace the source of these defects (do you know for sure that they were not there when the car was initially loaded in Dallas?) the most important thing is that you have a means to remove them. If they were in fact etchings or stains of some sort, and you've been able to buff them out completely as opposed to simply covering them up, then they should not just come back on their own like bad stains in a poorly cleaned carpet often do. But just to make sure you have actually removed them rather than simply hid them, try wiping the surface with a 10% to 20% mix of isopropyl alcohol and water. That will remove any wax, polish or compound left behind and lay the paint bare. If they don't reappear after doing that then you can safely assume they are gone for good.

[STRIFE]

Re: Unusual Random Etching Marks on Paint - What are they from?

I'm thinking bird poop or some sort of fluid from a vehicle place on top of the Porshe? Maybe once it crossed over the border, was it unloaded and parked in a holding lot.....I think customs might have parked it in a open lot, or a warehouse?
A close up pic would help