Acid Rain

[DaBoo1]

The finish on my electron blue 02 vette has what looks like water spots that were not wiped off, and left in the sun to bake. Someone told me it looks like acid rain. Got any ideas? Thanks to all responders

 

[6 Shooter]

Does Acid Rain Hurt your Car?

http://www.consumeralert.org/issues/enviro/acidrain.htm

 

[DDLS3]

A former employer had trucks that were constantly in use around lime kilns and cement plants. The trucks often had a lime/calcium coating that would not wash off. When this happened we washed the trucks with a vinegar solution to remove the lime. The vinegar is quite acid and never damaged the finish on the trucks, so I have my doubts that acid rain has much if any affect as it is far less concentrated than vinegar. Now soot from higher sulfur fuels like coal or heavy oil are quite another story. The soot will mix with water to cause a localized sulfuric acid concentration that will etch paint overnight!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

One of the most hazardous places to have car is around any electronics manufacturing facilities engaged in making integrated circuit chips. The manufacure of silicon devices involves using etchants that are largely combinations of Sulfuric, Nitric, Phosphoric, and Hydroflouric acids. All of which are used in vented benchtop installations that are exhausted to the outside air. Some states require scrubbers and neutrallizing filters before atmospheric discharge, but a lot of them do not.
A still, drizzly day on the downwind side of one of these facilities will permanantly damage the paint job on any car unless protected by a good wax. Especially if the sun comes out and evaporates the water out of the solutions leaving only puddles of concentrated acid mixtures. It etches puddles into the surface of the paint job and they won't rub out because they are too deep.
Ask me how I know.ad
A few of my friends and I worked for several years to develop a good acid resistant car wax mixture to foil just such days at work.

 

[atmmac]

if you use some wax it will come right off. (usually)

 

[mqqn]

if you use some wax it will come right off. (usually)

I agree with atmmac - Try Meguires cleaner wax first - if that doesn't work, then you could get more agressive - 3M Finesse or some mild polishing agent to get the blemishes off of the clearcoat.

best regards -

mqqn

 

[cvette1981]

I had the same problem on my glass T-Top's. I went to a glass store and they suggested, "Clean-X Glass Strip" manufactured by Unelko Corp. It's a water spot remover and is the only thing I have found that does work.

 

[DaBoo1]

Meguiar's Scratch X-Tube

Thanks for the great replies....gave me the courage to go try meguiar's Scratch X, which I found for $8.49 at AutoZone. It removed all surface contamination, and now the finish looks like new.

DaBoo1

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Now put some good wax on so it will repell any further attacks. Collinite insulator wax is real good protection from acid rain.