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The colour of a car plays a very important role in our decision whether to buy it or not. After all it’s a reflection of our personality. Yet, a few years down the line, the paint on the car usually loses its sheen and begins to look dull and dead.
A blazing summer sun, salt in the air, the juices of insects crushed on the bumper and even small tones flicked up by the tyres of the cars ahead could have been the reason for all those marks and cratches on the paint.
But hang on, for there is good news yet. You can turn back the clock and get the shine back. All you need is a little knowledge about proper care of the car’s paint job.
Follow AUTO BILD INDIA’s simple four-stage procedures to turn a dull looking car into a real showpiece.
Before the car goes for a fresh coat of paint all the dirt must be removed.Wash away the muck, especially from the areas like behind the moulding, inside the wheel-arches, under the bumpers, etc, with a high pressure wash. Caution:Maintain enough distance to avoid damage to sheet metal and plastics caused by the force of the water. Avoid using hot wax at this stage as it damages the subsequent polish effect. Clean the door frames and door sills by hand. Also watch out for fungus on the floor; fungus can cause scratches on the paint.
After washing away the dirt and the grime from the surface of the car, it’s time to remove the problematic muck. Tree gum or sap, bird droppings and insects that get splattered over the front bumper and the bonnet attack the paint and leave marks on it. The real problem though is that these can be corrosive too. When they begin to dry up they also contract and stretch the paint's top surface making it crack. Over time water seepage into the paint layers can swell them.
If they are not removed immediately, it can damage the paint permanently.It makes the paint dull and cracked. There are specific chemical agents available in the market for removing such filth from the car's body. After applying such chemical agents, wash the remains and the dirt with clean water. Wash the treated area with a car shampoo and then let it dry naturally. Do not use the cleaning agent in bright sunlight or on hot paint, because the agent starts drying quickly and it becomes difficult to remove.
The next step is a visual inspection to see if there is any damage to the car’s paint. Chances are you will find lots of small dents and scratches. Reason? Flicked stones and keys leave marks on the paint. Most scratches can be removed with different tools and technical skills but if one does not react immediately there is a risk of high costs later since the scratches are on the bare metal, there is a threat of rusting of the car's body.
The last step is the finishing. Before starting with polishing and waxing, the plastic parts must be protected with care to avoid patches later. Then apply paint cleaner and polish together. If no combination-product is available, apply hard wax. Whether manually or with a polishing machine, never polish under a blazing sun or in extreme heat. After polishing seal in the paint. Remove the lubricants used in the polish.
15X magnification shows how a fly's footprint damages paint. A polish may not resolve the issue
If tree sap on the paint is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time it can crack the paint's surface
Bird droppings (at 50X zoom), if not cleaned immediately with plenty of water, can damage paint
To maintain the sheen of the paint on a new car, take it for a regular wash. Wax polish is recommended every six months.
After three years, a visibly smooth surface, actually becomes uneven. Light lacquer cleaning and paint polish are recommended.
On an old car the paint surface becomes very uneven. A simple wash won't be enough. It requires a paint cleaner, polish and sealant.
A regular wash would go a long way in protecting the paint job. It is equally important that you dry the car surface after cleaning. Use a soft cotton rag to wipe the surface of ater. This will prevent the formation of water marks on the paint surface, caused by mineral eposits in water that trace the outline of a drop of water.
Small damages, for example scratches in the cavity of the door handle, can be polished off with a polishing paste. In most cases, unless the original coat of paint is too thin, a simple polish job will be enough to remove the scratch.
In case of a deep scratch an emergency solution is to retouch the scratch with a wax crayon the wax helps by acting as a protective layer. However after a few washes the wax will be washed off.
Deep scratches expose bare metal, which can be prone to rusting. To avoid rust setting in get a touchup job done on the scratched bit.
If the damage to the paint is over a large area then a simple touchup will not be enough. Get the top coat sprayed in several thin layers. Once dry, polish the transition.
