Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

[bsilver]

I noticed a couple of small scratches on my trunk so I went and bought some Scratch X and followed the directions to use it by hand. I used a cotton cloth and rubbed it in until dry. I started to notice that the area i was rubbing in had become lighter colored than the rest of the trunk. I now have a spot on the trunk which is quite a bit lighter than everything else and appears to be hazy. Any ideas of what I can do to get rid of the haziness and get the area back to the same color as everything else?

[gsymoens]

re

Try and get some ultimate polish to refine the spot the scratch x is an abrasive which will dull and haze the finish which requires further refining and also try to pick up a couple microfiber towels to use instead of the cloth towels your using. Like when we do full paint corrections we dull the finish in our correction stage and then must follow with a polish to refine the finish to its natural gloss. Hope this helps

[Murr1525]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

What sort of cotton cloth? Terry would be a bit aggressive. as mentioned above, a milder applicator, or milder product may be needed.

The other possibility of course is that the ScratchX removed some dirt from the paint, and the lighter color is what the paint should be, minus any haze.

[kiwiatlarge]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

You didn't get any colour on the terry cloth did you?

[ethereal45]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

I know you said you followed the instructions, but just to be sure....did you wipe it off after you were done?

The correct procedure for using ScratchX should be something like:

1) Apply to pad
2) Work in until it's "almost dry"
3) Wipe up the excess with a microfiber towel.

If you worked it in too much (until it was completely dry), and especially if you didn't wipe up after, what you may be seeing is dried product on the paint.

The other thought is that you may have just hazed up the surface by using a terry cloth towel. ScratchX really should be applied with a special hand pad as to not marr the surface.

Lastly, relax -- it's fixable.

[bsilver]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

What sort of cotton cloth? Terry would be a bit aggressive. as mentioned above, a milder applicator, or milder product may be needed.

The other possibility of course is that the ScratchX removed some dirt from the paint, and the lighter color is what the paint should be, minus any haze.

Yeah I used a terry cloth

[bsilver]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

You didn't get any colour on the terry cloth did you?

I actually did have a bit of color on the terry

[bsilver]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

I know you said you followed the instructions,but just to be sure....did you wipe it off after you were done?

The correct procedure for using ScratchX should be something like:

1) Apply to pad
2) Work in until it's "almost dry"
3) Wipe up the excess with a microfiber towel.

If you worked it in too much (until it was completely dry), and especially if you didn't wipe up after, what you may be seeing is dried product on the paint.

The other thought is that you may have just hazed up the surface by using a terry cloth towel. ScratchX really should be applied with a special hand pad as to not marr the surface.

Lastly, relax -- it's fixable.

I did wipe off with a microfiber. And also waxed afterwards

[ethereal45]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

What is the make/model/year of the car? Could this be simply removing heavy oxidation off a single stage?

[bsilver]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

What is the make/model/year of the car? Could this be simply removing heavy oxidation off a single stage?

2006 subaru wrx sti

im not really sure what it is to be honest. i hope its not the clearcoat, but i dont see why it would be. i dont see why i would even damage the paint seeing as this is a paint-safe product.

[ffboy]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

What's the history of the car? Has it been corrected a number of times that the clear has become a bit to thin and then as you applied with a terry cloth finally took too much of clear on that particular spot or it could simply be that your subaru has single stage paint as some new cars also have? Or mayybe you can try to softern things a bit by using a foam pad and use lighter pressure, and see if there is any improvement and if the paint shade evens out.

[FX4619]

What is the make/model/year of the car? Could this be simply removing heavy oxidation off a single stage?

2006 subaru wrx sti

im not really sure what it is to be honest. i hope its not the clearcoat, but i dont see why it would be. i dont see why i would even damage the paint seeing as this is a paint-safe product.

It's a clear coat safe product. If there's no clear coat then it could probably do some damage to the paint. I'm not saying that's what you did, but it's good to know the history of the vehicles paint. I would try using some UP or M205 to try and fix what you're seeing. Post some pics if you can.

[ca2kjet]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

I had this exact situation happen many years ago on my previous vehicle. I worked ScratchX (first generation, not as powerful as the newer 2.0) on a scratch and ended up making a lighter, hazed spot and it was obvious no matter the lighting. I worked the product in too much and too long but didn't destroy the paint, just hazed it, and was easy to fix.

Hitting the area with another product (both found in most stores) such as SwirlX (my recommendation) or Ultimate Compound and working it lightly over that area to restore its shine would probably be your best bet. I would definitely recommend getting a foam pad (something like this) to work the product. And be sure to not let any of those products completely dry. Then follow up with a layer of wax.

Hope this helps

[Meticulous-Detail]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

Yeah I used a terry cloth

I actually did have a bit of color on the terry

I did wipe off with a microfiber. And also waxed afterwards

2006 subaru wrx sti

im not really sure what it is to be honest. i hope its not the clearcoat, but i dont see why it would be. i dont see why i would even damage the paint seeing as this is a paint-safe product.

2006 WRX STI is def. clear coat/2 stage paint unless repainted. I do not use terry cloth towels on paint as they are too aggressive. Are you sure the color was paint and no dirt, SwirlX with terry cloth is an aggressive combo, could be dirt and contamination instead of paint.

Like others have stated, I would use some Megs UP followed by wax to remove the haze or even an AIO like D151 or cleaner wax if you have some. I would also use MF instead of terry cloth when you do this.

I recently had a customer who took rubbing compound to some scratches and did the same thing, he didn't wash or clay when he did this.....ouch!. I used some D151 and a Megs MF cutting disc to fix the problem in one step.

[Murr1525]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

First, ScratchX is safe for any paint, clear cot or not, not going to damage it. The terry cloth could cause hazing.

Dirt is going to come up a gray color also.

I would want to look at a milder product, maybe like SwirlX, or Ult. Polish/#205, and work them is some with a smooth foam applicator. Or even the ScrathX applied more gently with a smooth foam applicator as a next pass. That would remove hazing, and as you increased the area, see if it is still removing more dirt as your area gets bigger.