Hazy, chalky paint finish.

[moparmaniac59]

This isn't necessarily a Mopar question, but more of a general paint question. I've seen a lot of cars with oxidized, dull, hazy, chalky looking paint. Is this due to cheap paint or just what happens to all paint from long sun exposure? I have a car that belongs to my mother-in-law that a few years ago my father-in-law (now passed away) had painted with a cheap MAACO paint job. To the credit of MAACO, it was actually not a bad looking job. Nothing much in the way of overspray and they even put a nice pin-stripping on the side. About 2 years after the job, it started to look very dull, hazy/chalky on the top surfaces (hood, roof & trunk). I was told by a a friend that has a body shop that this is just from cheap paint. Are some paints less likely to do this? Will a clear coated paint job protect from this or does it matter? Will keeping it washed & a good wax help prevent oxidizing? Also I've been working it with 3M rubbing compound and it's doing a good job of restoring the finish. I then follow up with a paste wax and then buff. Any easier way to restore the finish? I posted a picture. Yes...it's a Ford ('93 Tempo). I don't know much about automotive paints or their qualities.

                                                                            Matt B.

[moparmaniac59]

No paint/body shop folks here?? 





                                                                      Matt B.

[GranCuda1970]

Cheap paint!! Most 80's cars have that chalky attribute. That crappy paint almost had the eco-Treehumpers thinking it was raining Hydrochloric acid.

[burdar]

I think single stage paints do that more then base/clear. 

[Super Blue 72]

   I'm curious too, Matt.  Good question.  Sorry, I'm no help, not a body guy.

My Challenger's paint is looking like that.  I think it was painted in the 80's or something like that.

What can be done to fix this short of a paint job? 

[moparmaniac59]

I've been told that rubbing compound is only to be used as a last resort, but other places I've looked seemed to indicate that's it's Ok to use as long as it's done properly. I rubbed out the hood using 3M rubbing compound and then followed with a Mcquire's ultra cut #105 polish and then applied a good carnuba wax. It actually brought the finish back pretty good. But the ultra cut was extremly hard to remove. I did it by hand. and used a little orbital 5" hand polisher for the wax. I was hoping someone experienced with this type of thing to give their take on it and how they would go about trying to bring the finish back. I've seen it done (youtube) with a #0000 steel wool and then polish followed by wax. It was a cheap single stage paint.


                                                                                Matt B.

[msbaugh]

I like using a clay bar, they've always worked well for me

[moparmaniac59]

Claybar works good, but I don't think it will remove heavily oxidized paint.

[chaps70rt]

I believe that Clay bar is for removing tiny particles or dirt in the paint, not rough oxidation.