The Clearcoat Failure Photo Archive

[Mike Phillips]

The Clearcoat Failure Photo Archive (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20411)


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

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/IMG_1514.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/600_ClearcoatFailure.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Preludehood.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/paintisshot.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/img030.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/1998_DodgeDakotaHood_1.JPG



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

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_8_30_06OG003.JPG


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.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/870Trunk.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/870Roof.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/9904.JPG


More pictures of clear coat failure...
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/clearcoatfailure005.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/clearcoatfailure006.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/clearcoatfailure007.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/clearcoatfailure008.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/clearcoatfailure009.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/clearcoatfailure010.jpg




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]

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]

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! :xyxthumbs


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.

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/clear3.jpg

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]

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]

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/clear3.jpg

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.

[Sprzout]

Wow...Looks like I need to add some pictures of my grandmother's Saturn, which has severe clearcoat failure, and post it here...It's so bad the clear is peeling up in flakes, just like when you get a sunburn and your skin peels.

Expect some pictures tomorrow!

[Mike Phillips]

Just to note, the original purpose of this thread was to show people what clear coat failure look like because so many people come to the forum explaining their car has oxidation and want to know if we make a product that will remove it and what they really have is Clear Coat Failure and there is NO PRODUCT that you can pour out of a bottle or scoop out of a can that will fix clear coat failure.

The only honest answer as to how to fix clear coat failure is to either re-paint the affected panel or panels or the entire car.

We never like sharing this kind of answer because most people are hoping for to fix the problem by buying a bottle of 'something', they aren't considering having the old Ford Taurus re-painted.

So if you have some good examples of clear coat failure, then please add them to this thread.

This by the way is Oxidation, see how the front portion of the car is dull with a whitish color to the red paint?

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/637/74MBextrememakeover025.jpg


See the same thing on this deck lid except where Paul rubbed some M80 Speed Glaze and cut through the oxidation to expose virgin red paint?

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/637/74MBextrememakeover005.jpg


In most cases, oxidation can be removed and a new looking finish restored, you can't do this with a car that has clear coat failure.

Before - Yes the paint is actually turning from red to white in some places due to extreme oxidation.
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450MLBefore2.jpg

After
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450SLfinished1.jpg


:)

[PorscheGuy997]

Yeah, but that is a bird-poop failure.

I took this with a macro lens, so the size is 6x the original. The hood is also covered with these check like clearcoat cracks. It is a sign that the panel is experiencing clearcoat failure.

[Sprzout]

Just to note, the original purpose of this thread was to show people what clear coat failure look like because so many people come to the forum explaining their car has oxidation and want to know if we make a product that will remove it and what they really have is Clear Coat Failure and there is NO PRODUCT that you can pour out of a bottle or scoop out of a can that will fix clear coat failure.

The only honest answer as to how to fix clear coat failure is to either re-paint the affected panel or panels or the entire car.

We never like sharing this kind of answer because most people are hoping for to fix the problem by buying a bottle of 'something', they aren't considering having the old Ford Taurus re-painted.

So if you have some good examples of clear coat failure, then please add them to this thread.

This by the way is Oxidation, see how the front portion of the car is dull with a whitish color to the red paint?

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/637/74MBextrememakeover025.jpg


See the same thing on this deck lid except where Paul rubbed some M80 Speed Glaze and cut through the oxidation to expose virgin red paint?

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/637/74MBextrememakeover005.jpg


In most cases, oxidation can be removed and a new looking finish restored, you can't do this with a car that has clear coat failure.

Before - Yes the paint is actually turning from red to white in some places due to extreme oxidation.
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450MLBefore2.jpg

After
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450SLfinished1.jpg


:)

Out of curiosity, can oxidization occur on a clearcoated car? I've only seen examples of it on what looks like single stage paint, so really haven't a clue if it can happen on a clearcoated car...

[Setec Astronomy]

I took this with a macro lens, so the size is 6x the original. The hood is also covered with these check like clearcoat cracks. It is a sign that the panel is experiencing clearcoat failure.

It's your car, so I can't really know, but IMO that paint failure was initiated by bird poop or something similar.

[Sprzout]

Here's some photos of a 1998 Saturn that my grandmother has been driving, with severe clearcoat failure:

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/741/ccfailure1.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/741/ccfailure2.jpg
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/741/ccfailure3.jpg

Severe peeling of the clearcoat on a car that has certainly seen better days...We used to take good care of this car, washing & waxing it; now it resides at an apartment complex that is right under the final approach path of Gillespie Field, a small planes airport in San Diego County. That, combined with blistering summer heat and lack of car care by my grandmother (she hoses it off maybe twice a year, despite me telling her to wash it more often than that before the clearcoat failed), has added to the quicker failure of the paint.

[EAT HEMI]

Thanks Mike. My entire drive home I was looking at the paint on other cars for clear coat failure.

I have already found myself evaluating swirls and cobwebs on cars already in parking lots. Thanks for contributing to my APED (Automotive Paint Evaluators Disease)

[99 softy]

I worked at a dealership in the early 90's. I cannot remember the body type it was either the corsica or the cavalier. Any way we repainted thousands of tops and hoods because of a adhesion problem from GM. You could blow the clear off with your air gun.

[EnvisionDetailing]

Wow, that red really came back! Did you do that one by hand, or using a buffer?

[JOCKTHEGLIDE]

is there a way to prevent the clear coat failure or is that something ineveitable over time? this happened to my old honda car while in AZ heat of course? I always kept trying to wax it to clear the blemich, but no worky lol.........

[Mike Phillips]

is there a way to prevent the clear coat failure or is that something inevitable over time? this happened to my old Honda car while in AZ heat of course? I always kept trying to wax it to clear the blemish, but no worky lol.........


The sun is a formidable enemy to your car's paint, (and just about everything else). Except for what you're already doing, (regular maintenance), and keeping the car out of the sun there's not much else you can do.


:scratchhead1

[bluecadillac]

I worked at a dealership in the early 90's. I cannot remember the body type it was either the corsica or the cavalier. Any way we repainted thousands of tops and hoods because of a adhesion problem from GM. You could blow the clear off with your air gun.

im pretty sure it was the corsica i had one and the paint just peeled off and all you could see was the nice gray primer. you could even peel it off by hand!

[jpitt1987]

Hey guys,

Haven't been on in a few weeks due to school overload, but I sure have missed being on MOL.

I do want to comment on the heat issue causing CC failure. You know, that makes complete sense and I think it explains what happened with my hood. Is there anything that can be done to prevent that again? Like any sort of lining on the bottom of the hood that can be applied that will keep it from getting that hot. I have a CF (as some of you have seen the pictures) and there is no sort of "heat guard" on the bottom side. Any thoughts?

Mike, sorry if this is out of place, feel free to move it if need be.

:D

[RacerX88]

im pretty sure it was the corsica i had one and the paint just peeled off and all you could see was the nice gray primer. you could even peel it off by hand!

If it was the Cavi I would be in big trouble with my '97 right now! Must have been the Corsica.

[Mike Phillips]

Is there anything that can be done to prevent that again? Like any sort of lining on the bottom of the hood that can be applied that will keep it from getting that hot.

I have a CF (as some of you have seen the pictures) and there is no sort of "heat guard" on the bottom side. Any thoughts?



There's a number of products on the market for heat control and sound deadening, couldn't hurt to try one of these. Besides heat thought it's also exposure to direct sunlight.

:)

[ywurry]

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. the paint is like first lot of photo's has not got to white stage

[ywurry]

the car has stood in the sun for a long time as it has been parked all day while at work

[Mike Phillips]

the paint is like first lot of photo's has not got to white stage

the car has stood in the sun for a long time as it has been parked all day while at work

If your paint is looking like any of the pictures in the first page of this thread then there is no way to fix it. You can either have the car or the affected area re-painted or live with it.

Sad but true.

:)