Remove water spots without stripping sealant?

BryanH

BryanH

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I gave our 2006 MX-5 (very soft paint, it seems) a complete detail three months ago, finishing it off with Menzerna PowerLock. Looked great.

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Fast forward to today.

- Two weeks ago was probably the last time I washed the car.
- After about one week of being outside collecting dust on the car, we had a couple gentle rain storms pass through a day or two apart.
- I didn't get to washing the car until a week or so after the the rain. The combination of dust and rain made it look awful, but I was sure it would all come off easily especially as it was rainwater and not hard water from sprinklers or something.

But no. After a thorough washing there are outlines of water spots all over the car. I tried FK425 with my plushest microfiber (remember this paint is soft) and it made no difference, only made the paint slicker. See below:

original.jpg

[As a side note, you can see the pattern of the water spots is not as I would expect of a highly rated sealant that's only 3 months old. It's my first time using PL. I applied 2 coats.]

So, my fellow enthusiasts, what can I use to remove the water spots without removing what's left of the sealant on the car? I really don't want to start over! :)

Clay bar?
 
IMO, those water spots must be from acidic rain, meaning your sealant has been compromised.

The rain in my area is very acidic, lucky to get 2 weeks of no etching with wax, have yet to find a sealant to withstand it more than a month.

Those spots are LARGE, so I'd go as far to say your sealant degraded a while ago.
 
If you're near me, I'm in the Torrance area, i awoke to the same problem. I went ahead and clay bared the surface and followed up with BFWD. I'd much rather spend the extra time.
 
Yeah if the sealant was still there you'd think the spots would come off pretty easy.
 
So the lesson here is to wash away rain as soon as you can, yeah?

I didn't think our rain out here in the San Joaquin Valley was particularly acidic or harmful to finishes (our hard water from the tap is another story) so I've tended not to worry about it.

Thanks for the advice. I'll clay it and add some more protection. May have to look into a sealant that can hold up longer especially for the cars that don't get the garage. I have some KSG but am not a fan at all of how insanely difficult it is to remove.
 
Everyone in the neighborhood including family members thinks that I am crazy as I am out drying vehicles as soon as I can after a rain. Years ago I had a car that was painted midnight metallic blue and left the rain water on the vehicle. It was a total nightmare getting rid if the stains and have been paranoid ever since. I dried the Wife's van 3 times in one day as the storms rolled through here. No water spots but I was tired of drying that van, it may not have spotted but I was not taking any chances.

Dave
 
davidc said:
Everyone in the neighborhood including family members thinks that I am crazy as I am out drying vehicles as soon as I can after a rain. Years ago I had a car that was painted midnight metallic blue and left the rain water on the vehicle. It was a total nightmare getting rid if the stains and have been paranoid ever since. I dried the Wife's van 3 times in one day as the storms rolled through here. No water spots but I was tired of drying that van, it may not have spotted but I was not taking any chances.

Dave
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If the car is clean and well waxed/sealed, a leaf blower would be much faster than drying by hand.
 
Rsurfer said:
If the car is clean and well waxed/sealed, a leaf blower would be much faster than drying by hand.
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I agree but they already have the straight jacket hanging by the garage door. If they see me out there blow drying I am sure the patty wagon would come down the street :laughing:. I will try that next time tho.

Dave
 
davidc said:
I agree but they already have the straight jacket hanging by the garage door. If they see me out there blow drying I am sure the patty wagon would come down the street :laughing:. I will try that next time tho.

Dave
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I don't know Dave, if I ran outside with a towel after every brief shower we've had here lately my neighbors would get me a room at the funny farm.

But I have a similar problem. Everytime my kids stop by for a visit on weekends, the first thing I do is go outside and do a waterless wash on their cars. They are my old cars and I cannot stand to see them dirty. I think my son visits more often now because he knows he's going back to school with a clean car.
 
glfnaz said:
I don't know Dave, if I ran outside with a towel after every brief shower we've had here lately my neighbors would get me a room at the funny farm.

But I have a similar problem. Everytime my kids stop by for a visit on weekends, the first thing I do is go outside and do a waterless wash on their cars. They are my old cars and I cannot stand to see them dirty. I think my son visits more often now because he knows he's going back to school with a clean car.
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The Daughter sure misses the Daddy cleanings now that she has been at Minot ND for over a year. Her car had the drying's also when she was here. I would probably have cataclysmic fits if I saw that car now.

Dave
 
I hope you can take care of that with claying. IMO you might need to polish it. It appears based on the photo; claying will not remove the water spots. I hope I am wrong. But Menzerna PL is an excellent sealant. You mentioned that you detailed the car 3 months ago. IMO it was probably due for another coat of sealant anyways.

I love Miata's I had the 1st gen and it was a hoot! IMO maybe 2 coats of sealant in the future or a sealant and wax. I put on 2 coats (a sealant topped off with a wax) and I just see more protection from the water spots. Your car is small enough for a 2nd coat without wasting too much energy.

Please tell us what you did and post pics. I hope I am wrong!! BTW, beautiful ride too!!
 
Thanks for the feedback. I'm learning all the time.

I think you're right, Kamakaz, I'll have to polish them out. Even my more aggressive clay isn't taking care of the water spots. They're maybe 20% less visible after a good claying.

I did apply 2 coats of PL (waiting sufficient time after the first coat) back when I detailed the car. It has spent most of its time outdoors but has had the garage some of the time. The problem is we have a 2 car garage and need a 4 car garage. And 4 car garages usually come attached to huge expensive houses. But I digress. :)

The plan for now is to continue claying the car to prepare for a polish, then finish it off with sealant and wax. Or just a couple coats of wax maybe - we plan to sell the car soon. I'm awfully tempted to try a glaze followed by some carnauba wax. I have some P21S sitting here I haven't used in a while and I bet it'll make this dark paint look extra deep. :xyxthumbs:

I'll have to make another thread about the long lasting protection on one of our other cars. Going on 9 years and it still beads. The trick is I didn't detail that car, and I have no idea who did. Seems like the more I learn about detailing and the better I get, the harder it is to keep cars clean and protected. Years ago when I had my car professionally detailed once every couple years and I washed it with a sponge and one bucket, and dried it with a water blade, it seemed to always look good. :)
 
Simple answer ,throw powerlock in garbage detail again using iron x and use a more durable product for the lsp or maybe a coating so this won't happen again.
 
GSKR said:
Simple answer ,throw powerlock in garbage detail again using iron x and use a more durable product for the lsp or maybe a coating so this won't happen again.
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Lolz. The durability of the product has nothing to do with how susceptible it is to water spotting. Some of the most durable (LIFETIME) coatings are the most prone to water spots.

Water spots are a function of the environment. Not a specific product on the paint.

The rain is bad where the OP lives. Water spots will need to be polished off.
 
So why do millions of people wax there car if paint sealant or a wax doesn't provide any protection.I gotta tell you don't take it personal but that is a ridiculous answer I'm sorry.
 
swanicyouth said:
Lolz. The durability of the product has nothing to do with how susceptible it is to water spotting. Some of the most durable (LIFETIME) coatings are the most prone to water spots.

Water spots are a function of the environment. Not a specific product on the paint.

The rain is bad where the OP lives. Water spots will need to be polished off.
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:iagree: It does not matter if it is a coating, wax or sealant. If the acidic nature of the environment or bird bomb (either or) is strong enough (in this case the OP's) it will go through a sealant, wax or coating. Having used all 3 I prefer the sealant/wax. That is a simple redo. With a coating you have to go through a bigger process.
 
I have to disagree,if you are using top quality durable products bird #### and water spots should not etch.Your saying car care is useless so autogeek should be out of business and other major brands.I never seen a car properly protected and etch like that.I have so many customers who live on the ocean and get salt spray and if they take care of there car like they do cause they call me,they don't have issues of rim pitting and rust.They also use a well water spray on the property to neutralize the salt in between waxing,so in essence that doesn't make sense I've been detailing for 23 years and never heard of that .At the end of the day he used a inferior product to protect his paint from the harsh elements where he resides.
 
You've been telling us how long you've been detailing in just about all your posts but have yet to provide us any of your work. Just sayin....
 
To the OP.... I've had water spots similar to those and Carpro water spot remover took care of it.
 
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