Last week, we introduced the first in a series of iii blogs talking virtually fixing oxidized motorcar paint. In that opener, we explained how modernistic cars, trucks, and SUVs are painted, what causes paint oxidation, and introduced a few ways of fixing said paint damage.

If you need a refresher, read part one start, so head back over hither to follow along. In today's second step, we'll explore the options you have for fixing faded car paint.

In the information below, nosotros'll explain why it'southward important to practise some initial research most your current paint job, and how to determine the type of paint task (specifically the clear blanket used). Finally, nosotros'll outline the 2 ways you tin can gear up the oxidized clear coat.

So – let'southward get dorsum at it.

Why it's Important to Sympathise Pigment Used on Your Car

Here is a quick question – how practise you fix a broken motorcar part? For instance – allow's say yous have a spark plug wire that is frayed, and you need to supplant it. Exercise y'all only head to the parts store and select the cheapest plug wire on the shelf? Of course non.

Nearly intelligent car owners empathise that although a part might be similarly designed, there are certain parts that are unique to your brand, model, year, and sometimes – the trim level.

The same thing applies to paint – specifically clear coatings. If you lot don't know what type of paint is on your vehicle, it's hard to fix areas of the paint or clear coat that has oxidized. While you lot can totally bypass this important footstep by taking your car downwardly to the local Joe's paint store to have it completely redone, that is gonna put a huge dent in your wallet.

So, to salve yourself a lot of stress, coin, and ensure you lot do the chore right, make sure you consummate due diligence to make up one's mind what blazon of paint chore you've got. You don't need to know exactly what paint manufacturer or clear coat batch from the factory was, just gain a general agreement of the type of paint used by the factory – or previous owner.

Tips for Identifying Your Cars Paint Job

In the good old days, painting a car was universal. You'd prep, prime number, pigment, clear, flake, pearl, some more clear, curing, and color sanding – with varying levels of coats in each step to produce a desired look. While most custom paint jobs still follow a similar mentality, the manufacturing plant paint job is much more streamlined.

It breaks down to whether you've got a single or dual phase paint. The single stage uses a unique paint that is urethane-based that combines the paint (which is clear coating with a pigment) and a hardener – which serves as the 'clear'. Information technology's typically practical on lower-end or mass product models, commercial vehicles, and heavy-duty vehicles.

Well-nigh production cars, trucks, and SUVs use the dual-phase method – where they'll apply the pigment (paint) followed by a separate clear coating. At that place are unremarkably multiple coats of each stage.

So – how do you know what type of paint job your motorcar has?

Well, there are a few ways to decide this. Here is how you can tell if you take a clear coat.

Visit your local dealership. For the time sensitive motorcar owner, call your local dealership and speak with the service department. Requite them your VIN number – which is located on your registration or the inside of your driver door (or nether the hood). They'll look it upward and tell yous the type of paint job – and even the pigment lawmaking if you want to match information technology.

Locate Paint Lawmaking on the Door Plate. If you lot're a easily-on guy or gal, try to observe the paint code on the door plate. On the vehicle ID tag (the one on your door or under the hood) you'll find several numbers and letters. To find the pigment lawmaking, look on the vehicle certification characterization or the service parts identification sticker.

Here is a cool link to a website that will help you identify the location of your VIN ID Tag.

The Sometime Paint Thinner and Sandpaper Test: There are two ways to manus-examination your pigment to determine if y'all've got a clear coat or single-stage. First, put some paint thinner on a rag. Find a location on the vehicle that isn't too noticeable.

If you lightly wipe the pigment thinner soaked rag on the paint, and you see the colour of your paint – the articulate coat is non-existent. You tin also use 600 grit sandpaper and lightly sand a section. If the debris is clear, yous take a articulate glaze. If it'southward colored – well, you know.

How to Decide if Articulate Coat Repair is a Good Thought

If yous're reading this blog, it'south more than probable you lot're a DIYer – that loves to take on projects that otherwise would have to be completed by a PRO. But sometimes it just doesn't make sense to invest time and effort into fixing something.

This is applicable to articulate glaze oxidation. Hither are a few indicators that should assistance you determine if it'south best to have the vehicle repainted correctly vs trying to set up the damaged clear coat.

Unmarried Phase Paint

If your OEM pigment job is the unmarried-phase version, yous can't really ready the oxidation or sun damaged paint with the methods beneath. The articulate is mixed with the pigment, and so when you lot endeavor to remove the damage, you'll eventually impairment the color coat.

Bare Spots on the Paint

If yous have a ii-stage paint job, and can run into primer spots on your hood, roof, or other parts of the motorcar, it's best to have it repainted. At this bespeak, the oxidation has worn through the clear and nigh of the pigment. Then, y'all can spray a new articulate coat on it, but it volition wait like crap.

Whatever Rust?

If you find any rust or what appears to be damage to the bare metal or plastic, it's best to remove any damage, rust, or imperfections before trying to add a clear blanket. If oxidation has penetrated to the bare substance, it will abound under the clear glaze, and somewhen intermission downwards the material.

What Are the Options for Repairing Oxidized Clear Coats?

Finally, when you've determined that your car is a expert candidate to repair the articulate coat, yous've basically got two means to reach this job.

DIY Panel or Section Articulate Coat Repair

In that location are some "hot spots" of a car that typically show signs of clear glaze damage. This includes hoods, roofs, rear trunk lids, and rounded corners. Many DIY'ers choose to focus on these damaged areas and repair them a-la-carte for lack of a improve term.

How to Repair Clear Coat Fix 100% all types

This is more than acceptable if yous're looking for a quick and easy style of repairing small areas of clear glaze damage. However, in that location are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros

It'due south initially cheaper and quickest option. If your daily driver is showing early signs of paint oxidation, repairing that minor section is the cheapest and quickest way to prepare it.

Information technology gives you feel. Fixing articulate coat impairment is not the easiest DIY production out there. In fact, applying spray products like paint or clear coats tin can be challenging. Repairing a smaller section gives you a change to endeavour a repair and learn from mistakes. If you screw up, information technology's easier to prepare it when you focus on a small surface area.

Cons

Leaves other areas unprotected. The biggest CON of fixing small areas is that you leave other areas of your auto unprotected. While the "hot spots" typically wear quicker, it'south important to remember that other parts of your car are likely thinning.

Somewhen fix those other areas. If yous only fix small areas, somewhen you'll spend more fourth dimension and coin on fixing other damaged areas somewhen. The trouble with clear coating(south) is that once you activate the hardener, y'all've got to apply the whole tin. You lot can't keep information technology on the shelf until the next job – so yous'll spend more than money.

Complete Machine Paint Restoration

The other option to consider is to remove the clear coat on your machine and spray the entire vehicle with clear glaze. This typically is the pick of choice for those with some painting feel and professional equipment – like spray guns, compressors, and regulators.

Car Painting: How to Spray Clearcoat

If you have the means – can afford to not bulldoze your vehicle for a calendar month (the average time needed for prep piece of work, spraying and curing), then this method volition produce the best results. One manner to expedite the process is to consider having a professional paint store use the articulate coating – afterwards y'all handle the prep work.

Again, this is a great mode to gain auto trunk experience, while letting someone with commercial equipment handle the technical tasks.

Wrapping it Up

Equally you can see, there are many questions that you should answer before attempting to repair oxidized clear coating or paint. Just like whatsoever other DIY project, there are pros and cons to consider, which mainly depends on your budget, time, and experience.

The all-time advice is to make a list of the pros and cons of each type of paint repair method and determine which is all-time for your private application.

With the final edition of this topic, nosotros'll provide some steps for completing DIY clear coat repair, and a few means of protecting freshly applied clear coat to reduce future damage.

If you lot enjoyed this article, then y'all'll love AvalonKing's automotive care products for Exercise-It-Yourselfers. Nosotros create "No B.South. products" for an affordable price. And the best office, we treat our customers like family, then if you have any questions or simply looking to chat near cars, we're only an electronic mail or call away. Check out our homepage here.