clear coat dissolves =(

IVIystikal · 06-16-05, 04:57

I recently repainted my side mouldings using duplicolor primer, paint, and clear coat. Everything turned out good, but then I was filling up on gas and some of the gas leaked out and got all over the side moulding. The clear coat just dissolved and it looked horrible after that. Does anyone know the cause for this? is it because duplicolor makes low quality clear coat? What kind of clear coat should be used that will not dissolve when gasoline contacts it?

thanks

Tasty · 06-16-05, 06:12

Only thing I can think of is that it is such a thin coat, and perhaps is cheap and vulnerable to gasoline that it just ate it off. I really have no knowledge of why that would happen.

Joetabasco · 06-16-05, 06:20

Duplicolor paints have the solvents right in the paint and they only dry by evaporation.
The clear coat that is factory applied is catalyzed so even if it gets no air it dries ROCK HARD. It is also impervious to most chemicals... I have sprayed easy off oven cleaner on a test panel and it didnt make a dent on teh clear coat! I was using DuPonts 7000 line of clear. It is "fairly" neutral in that you may be able to apply it over your duplicolor although it would have to go on in thin coats to prevent "crazing" of the existing Duplicolor paint. I would also let the Duplicolor CURE for about a couple of weeks before clearing them as it seals in everything under it and you can get a "soft" paintjob.
If you want to make sure your car does not "run" if you get chemicals on it make sure to go to a body shop to have them apply the clear. they may not guarantee thier work if they do not apply the color but IMO its a cheap peace of mind to know that you will have a rock solid paint job.
DuPont makes an 8000 clear which is used for transport trucks and heavy wear vehicles and is a VERY high strength, High solids clear which is so hard you can sit there and throw rocks at your car all afternoon and not damage the clear... on the other hand it will be very hard to buff it out as well!

IVIystikal · 06-17-05, 05:59

hmmm a few weeks huh....well I guess i'll have to only go to self serve gas stations for the next few weeks so the gas attendants dont spill all over my mouldings. I almost want to put a plastic cover over where the gas would spill out.

Thanks for the advice joetabasco. Kingston huh? do you go to queens? man I wont forget the day the the temp dropped to like -40C and I still had to ride my bike to work. damn Kingston weather

Joetabasco · 06-22-05, 05:48

no i dont go to queens although I have lived here all my life... weather here is about as unpredictable as it gets!