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  1. #1
    Just One More Coat Beemerboy's Avatar
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    Clear Coat Failure

    I don`t know if the rest of the members see this as much as I do. Seems like I see a lot of newer cars with clear coat failure.

    I wonder if this is from a lack of maintenance or factory fault.

    I have a 16 year old Camry that stands up to new cars for shine.

    Granted I have paint experience but anyone can wax a car.

    So that makes me think that these clear coats are failing because of protection.
    Old Enough To Know Better, Too Stupid To Care....

    Dave`s Detailing
    Sonoma County, CA

  2. #2
    Auto Detail & Restoration Concours.John's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Beemerboy View Post
    I don`t know if the rest of the members see this as much as I do. Seems like I see a lot of newer cars with clear coat failure.

    I wonder if this is from a lack of maintenance or factory fault.

    I have a 16 year old Camry that stands up to new cars for shine.

    Granted I have paint experience but anyone can wax a car.

    So that makes me think that these clear coats are failing because of protection.
    I think your right. It is ever so important now to maintain a finish. Manufacturers are putting less and less clear on vehicles. Induced marring thins this already thin barrier more.
    There is not the thickness there used to be for repeat corrections on many makes.
    Even in the refinish market they are only putting two coats of clear. Depending on how it is sprayed it could be very thin after finished at the shop.
    This was a good point to bring up.
    One day I`ll get to do my own car.
    Concours.John Facebook

  3. #3
    Just One More Coat Beemerboy's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    Quote Originally Posted by Concours.John View Post
    I think your right. It is ever so important now to maintain a finish. Manufacturers are putting less and less clear on vehicles. Induced marring thins this already thin barrier more.
    There is not the thickness there used to be for repeat corrections on many makes.
    Even in the refinish market they are only putting two coats of clear. Depending on how it is sprayed it could be very thin after finished at the shop.
    This was a good point to bring up.
    Thanks, just makes me wonder at times.
    Old Enough To Know Better, Too Stupid To Care....

    Dave`s Detailing
    Sonoma County, CA

  4. #4
    AMG Classic Car Detailing Old Pirate's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    Yes Dave they are failing like crazy these days because the super thin coats and the newer water based type`s of product`s that are out because of the EPA laws now. One has to take care of them when they move off a lot to a home quick.
    AutopiaForums is the place to be.
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  5. #5
    Opti Coat Pro Certified Orinda Auto Detail's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    I see a lot of this too... Never really thought anything of it till reading this but I see a ton of 2000+ cars with failed clear coats. I always just think its people who don`t wax their cars. Mostly see it on japanese cars ill start documenting because I see it a couple times a week

  6. #6
    Retired Geezer
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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    There is no substitute for keeping the UV to a minimum, just like our skin.....
    Glen
    21 X2 M35i
    18 300 Xmax

  7. #7

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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    THe UV is the biggest factor. If you are in a state with high levels of sunshine like California or Florida, you will see a lot of clear coat failures on even newer cars.

    Optimum Spray wax has some UV inhibitors in its wax. I am sure that there are others products out there with UV protection.

  8. #8

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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    my wifes car has been repaired and i see clear coat failure on it.

  9. #9
    Auto Detail & Restoration Concours.John's Avatar
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    I`m getting ready to do a full correction on an all original 93 RX-7.
    It has been washed through the years but not really babied. We`ll see.

    It is the color flop from Green-Blue-Purple. It also is similar to the Ford that is no longer available or able to be matched the same. At the time this paint was 1k per gallon.

    Saving as much clear and Opti coat sounds like the best route.
    One day I`ll get to do my own car.
    Concours.John Facebook

  10. #10
    ca.detailchick's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    Quote Originally Posted by Concours.John View Post
    I think your right. It is ever so important now to maintain a finish. Manufacturers are putting less and less clear on vehicles. Induced marring thins this already thin barrier more.
    There is not the thickness there used to be for repeat corrections on many makes.
    Even in the refinish market they are only putting two coats of clear. Depending on how it is sprayed it could be very thin after finished at the shop.
    This was a good point to bring up.
    This is a serious mistake some detailers can overlook!

  11. #11
    Just a regular guy Todd@RUPES's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    I don`t know if I agree that it is more common now a days then it ever has been. I remember a lot (as in most) of the cars I saw growing up had massive amounts of clear coat failure. If anything, my experience has been, that paint systems seems to have gotten better.

    Just about any mass produced car I can remember from the 80s: Taurases, Celebrities, Regals, Camaros, Mustangs, etc all failed and fairly quickly. This is with out even getting into the popular imports of the time like Civics.

    In the mid 90`s it seemed like the quality of clear coats/paint systems improved drastically. I still see a lot of 93-96 F-body`s with good paint (minus the rear bumper) for example.

    What cars are you guys seeing that seem most prone to failure?

  12. #12
    AMG Classic Car Detailing Old Pirate's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    I seen it on a lot of car`s. It`s up to the owner to take care of it and if they don`t that is what we all see out there. Only a few are due to a product failure.
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  13. #13

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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    I think there`s less clear coat failure now than 10 or 20 years ago. If you look at a 10 or 20 year old car with failure, I think that it somewhat normal, especially being driven on a normal basis.

    Clear coats are supposed to have built in UV protection, aren`t they? Even if the car isn`t waxed/sealed, it should still last a long time, depending on where you live of course.

  14. #14
    ca.detailchick's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    Here in California any ungaraged car that 12 or more years old has pretty much seen its last days of healthy clearcoat .

    I see it most in Hondas.

  15. #15
    Just One More Coat Beemerboy's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Coat Failure

    I really think that most all the failure that I see today is based on lack of any protection being applied. Again my 16 year old Camry has zero signs of failure.

    People think that the clear coat is the protection so there is no need to protect that. You couldn`t be farther from the truth, clear coat is a paint just not colored.
    Old Enough To Know Better, Too Stupid To Care....

    Dave`s Detailing
    Sonoma County, CA

 

 
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