Stubborn Stain

jez_anderson · Feb 5, 2006

Take a look at the picture. You can see the mark on the body work. I have only just got the car and so dont know what it is but from where it is I assume its petrol related.

I have spent a lot of effort and elbow grease to get it to this stage with a lot of T-cut.

Anyone seen anything like it before? Any suggestions how I might remove it a bit quicker?

Diver944 · Feb 5, 2006

That's your filler cap. You swing it open outwards to put petrol in [

]

But seriously, from the photo that looks to me like you have found the edge of an extra coat of clear lacquer. When paint is applied to a repair, the lacquer is often sprayed past the point where the fresh paint finished so as to 'blend' it in. If you keep T-cutting you will gradually move the line of lacquer towards where the paint is, and as you uncover that it will all go a bit horrid [&o]

I could be wrong, but that's what the photo looks like

jez_anderson · Feb 6, 2006

Assuming that is what it is should I leave well alone?

944cabby · Feb 6, 2006

I had a section on the passenger side rear which looked similar to that.It was about the size on an egg initially.
I think it must have been there when i bought the car but i really didn't notice it as the car looked like it had be polished using one of those "colour match" polishes.
I used the red colour t-cut but all it did was make it larger and i ended up having the panel resprayed last august.

Diver944 · Feb 6, 2006

T-cut is an abrasive (as are all true polishes).

When you shine a panel up using these products you are actually making the layer of clearcoat thinner. Repeated use over the years (maybe by successive owners) will eventually go through the lacquer and expose the coloured paint beneath [

]

Bare paint without lacquer will always show as a different colour to the lacquered bits, it also leaves the paint exposed to the elements.

Guest · Feb 6, 2006

First off, throw that bottle of T-cut away. IIRC, it contains a high proportion of ammonia which is harmful to 2-pack and older paints (such as ours!) Lay your hands on some 3M rubbing compound instead. It comes in 3 different grades (heavy, medium and fine).

Try some heavy rubbing compound on a small area to see if it brings the shine back. If not, it's time to get nasty. you'll need a bucket of water and some 3000 grit sandpaper. wetsand the area back until it has a very flat look and matches the flat look you'll get on the previously shiny surrounding area. wash it down, dry, and then clay bar it to make sure all the larger particles are out. Then use some 3M fine compound and a lot of elbow grease to restore the shine. Once done, seal with a high quality polish (or preferably HD cleanse and wax with Zymol). I did this to get my badly oxidised bonnet back to a colour that actually resembles red,but I must admit, there were a few times when I thought I'd gone too far.

It's a drastic process, and there is a chance that the paint is already very thin in this area, so you may actually end up going through it. If you're in any way unsure, a good local bodyshop will probably be able to take a look and get it sorted in a few hours for a few quid.
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