orange dots on my vehicle

**rtbrick** · 09-14-2004, 06:34 PM

Just relocated to Georgia. With the move and all, truck washing has taken a back seat. Though, I have noticed a great many tiny raised orange dots on my truck. I have to use my fingernail to remove them as I wash. What is the cause of this? Bugs?

**DAC17** · 09-14-2004, 06:43 PM

Believe it or not, it could be a fungus that gets "thrown" off of woody areas (do you park near a mulched area?) I get it in CT every summer, especially when the ground is damp.

**Woob** · 09-14-2004, 06:49 PM

I`m gonna say fall out, basically rust! It sucks, new cars get it easily since the clears are softer. I wanna try out Fall Out Remover by 4Star when I get a chance.

**Poorboy** · 09-14-2004, 06:59 PM

Originally posted by rtbrick
Just relocated to Georgia. With the move and all, truck washing has taken a back seat. Though, I have noticed a great many tiny raised orange dots on my truck. I have to use my fingernail to remove them as I wash. What is the cause of this? Bugs?

is that why we haven`t seen you around for a while..the move I mean..lol

I get them too on my white Equinox and they were a pain to get off...they came from the trees as this was the only place my vehicle was parked...awd330 helped me remove them when we washed the vehicle and many were extremely stubborn...I scrubbed them and used a little polish to get the ones that left their mark

**mtodde** · 09-14-2004, 07:30 PM

What part of GA did you move to?

If you can remove them with your fingernail it is probably tree sap. Tree sap is a really bad problem in the south. Hickory trees are particulary bad and the parking lot where I work has them all the way around. Removing it regularly is good now that the dust has settled from your move; sap can be pretty damaging to your finish...there is always the possibility that it is something worse too.

**rtbrick** · 09-14-2004, 07:34 PM

Actually, I have been a little inactive due the move and from writing my thesis for my graduate program. I had to complete the thesis and prepare to move at the same time. Now, I am a first time homeowner in a rather large house and am very busy with moving in, painting, learning a new job, you name it.

I now park near a few trees and I do have mulch around my driveway. I need to polish out some of those orange spots, particularly the hood. Detailing work is never done....

**Jngrbrdman** · 09-14-2004, 07:52 PM

Nobody has suggested clay yet. I`m surprised.

Its how I would probably try to get them off first. Of course, that is considering you don`t have some fallout remover or something like that. I would probably try a sap remover first and then clay. I guess it depends on what I thought they were upon inspection. :dunno

**rollman** · 09-14-2004, 07:59 PM

I get them to on my white car . I don`t have any tree`s around where I park my car. Not even close , so I don`t really know what they are. Usually they just wipe right off with a damp MF . The ones that don`t come so easy I just clay them away . You gotta love clay

**tom4444** · 09-14-2004, 09:17 PM

This might get blasted, but what about paint thinner?

**Bob** · 09-15-2004, 07:01 AM

Sounds like rail dust / fall out to me. Clay is the best way to get rid of it. We had a white Regal come in (this one: http://www.danase.com/gallery/album09 ) and had to use some clay and elbow grease to get rid of it all.

**JimS** · 09-15-2004, 07:55 AM

Clay is what I`d try first.

**mtodde** · 09-15-2004, 08:12 AM

Good catch! Clay is a good suggestion, whether it tree sap that is dried on or something else...clay is much friendlier to paint than fingernails.

**zymolKK** · 09-15-2004, 02:05 PM

yeah, I get that here often in NC on my white acura - just washing and claying should do the trick

**obbop** · 09-15-2004, 08:31 PM

bug turds

**Poorboy** · 09-15-2004, 08:34 PM

Originally posted by obbop
bug turds

never considered that as a reason, but since I just got my Equinox back from the dealer today and it has a lot of those little orange dots, and the fact that I practically live in the woods and there are so many bugs everywhere..it`s definitely a possibilty..

another great thing about DC...you can learn something new no matter how much experience you have