Weird contamination. Help!

[mrspartanz10]

Hey guys. I recently paint corrected a car. I did not put any protection on it other than a spray wax/detail spray during the drying stag as I was waiting for the delivery of a coating that I ordered. The car was then driven and not washed for a whole month as I did not have any time to work on it. After a month, there was the usual dust/ dirt and traffic film on the car. The car is bright yellow so the film was very easy to see. It was darker and more visible on areas that water was running (next to door handles, along trim etc). Usually this stuff comes right off. On my other cars they seem to come off just fine with a normal hand wash. But this time, to my surprise, it did not. It came off easy on most of the car, but on the places where water would run there were still noticeable black water runs. It was not hard water but more like road film that is stuck to the clear coat or something. I tried EVERYTHING from scrubbing it harder to using super degreaser 4:1 to using different car soaps and still not budging. I have not tried clay yet because I would hate to have to spend the time to clay the car again and possibly marring the perfect finish that I have on the car. My question is, has anyone else ever had to deal with this stupid contamination and is there any possible solution other than to clay and re polish the car?

[Murr1525]

Re: Weird contamination. Help!

If it is tar or something similar, I have used TarX with good success... not sure how that would affect coatings afterwards, or of you would still be re-polishing, at least in that area.

[mrspartanz10]

Re: Weird contamination. Help!

If it is tar or something similar, I have used TarX with good success... not sure how that would affect coatings afterwards, or of you would still be re-polishing, at least in that area.

it does not seem like tar. I will give a tar remover a try but it does not seem like tar. Tar usually i can feel on the surface. This stuff feels like nothing. Its almost like the clear coat is stained if that is even possible.

[Nick Winn]

Re: Weird contamination. Help!

I was going to suggest similar, some type of Iron Remover, IronX is a popular one. Meguiar's does not offer a product which fits this category at this time. Other than that, and based on what you have tried, unfortunately it may require clay and/or some type of abrasive.

[HCAD]

Re: Weird contamination. Help!

My guess is a quick hit with your finishing polish that you used originally during your paint surface correction should do the trick. For example, Meg's #205. I've seen stain marks like I think you're describing quite often on single stage paint, mainly white paint. What year, make and model is your car?