After Rain - Prevent Water Spots

[fightnews]

Hi,

I have a black car, detailed flawless with PBL sealant and Souveran Paste Wax. I wash it with CR Spotless Wash, and works great to prevent water spots.

Car was dusty and it rained while I was out, and haven't had a chance to wash it after for 2 weeks. Just washed and the entire hood is covered in the water spots, especially where the dust pooled.

I know how to correct the paint, but asking for best way to prevent after rain without having to wash the entire car after each rain.

Thanks and welcome any advice!

waterless wash for me

 

[fightnews]

Black paint is a nightmare, you really want to try and find a LSP that sheets instead of beading. Beading looks sexy but results in very bad water spots, as Desertnate noticed nice tall great looking beads dry extremely slowly and just catch more airborne contaminants and they settle right on the outside edge of the water droplet and form hideous rings. Beading is for light colored cars.

souveran sheets well the first week lol

 

[richy]

I am an authorized installer for Optimum. Spotless and MDR do little by themselves to help severe spotting. We have had recent success with bad water spotting using wheel acid that contains Ammonium Bi-Flouride...Yes one's first reaction would be, I WOULD NEVER SPRAY WHEEL ACID on my paint. Rest assured, its totally safe and Opti-Coat Pro and Gloss Coat safe.

Process for removal:
Ferrex, allow to dwell for a minute
Hose off
Spray MDR, gently spread with a foam applicator one section at a time, allow 5-10 minutes to dwell (disregard the 30 seconds the label says) and hose off
Spray wheel acid, spread gently with foam applicator one section at a time, allow 1 minute to dwell without allowing acid to dry, hose off
Spotless finish guaranteed!

The Valuguard ABC decontamination system which is a very thorough system, has acid as one of its stages. The other thing I always suggest and is my first go-to is white vingegar, which is a mild acid itself.

 

[kevincwelch]

CarPro Spotless as others have mentioned and Gyeon Water Spot. Both are OK if the spots are recent - before etching.

Gyeon will degrade some of the LSP in my experience, but not the coating. So, if you have a sealant or wax on top of your coating, you may want to reapply. Hard to tell sometimes unless your coating is "grabby" as to whether the sealant or wax is degraded.

On the other hand, someone recently posted that it really takes a good polish to remove a LSP, so consider that as well.

 

[Crispy]

Hi,

I have a black car, detailed flawless with PBL sealant and Souveran Paste Wax. I wash it with CR Spotless Wash, and works great to prevent water spots.

Car was dusty and it rained while I was out, and haven't had a chance to wash it after for 2 weeks. Just washed and the entire hood is covered in the water spots, especially where the dust pooled.

I know how to correct the paint, but asking for best way to prevent after rain without having to wash the entire car after each rain.

Thanks and welcome any advice!

Rain water is free of minerals (may have acid rain particles) so what you have is surface contamination.

Best way to prevent is wash often and seal or coat.

I usually can just water spray and dry and no spots.

 

[BMWNoob]

Spotless will kill or substantially degrade normal waxes and most sealants. It is just barely within the tolerable chemical pH range for CQuartz coatings so that it will not harm the coating (when used as directed).

Hi Nicholas, can you elaborate on this?

 

[nilli]

Hi, I'm new to this having just got a black car. My neighbour is having a new extension and brick dust is everywhere. Last week it rained on my freshly covered brick dusted car and it sat for three days without moving. I've just washed it and circular marks are all over the bonnet and roof, presumably from the dust and rain. It's not that serious, no one would notice them but me, but will these disappear after time or should I tackle them somehow? Many thanks.

 

[Rsurfer]

Hi, I'm new to this having just got a black car. My neighbour is having a new extension and brick dust is everywhere. Last week it rained on my freshly covered brick dusted car and it sat for three days without moving. I've just washed it and circular marks are all over the bonnet and roof, presumably from the dust and rain. It's not that serious, no one would notice them but me, but will these disappear after time or should I tackle them somehow? Many thanks.

Cement has lime and other minerals in it. I would not let it sit, use the least aggressive method to remove the spots.

 

[fightnews]

Hi,

I have a black car, detailed flawless with PBL sealant and Souveran Paste Wax. I wash it with CR Spotless Wash, and works great to prevent water spots.

Car was dusty and it rained while I was out, and haven't had a chance to wash it after for 2 weeks. Just washed and the entire hood is covered in the water spots, especially where the dust pooled.

I know how to correct the paint, but asking for best way to prevent after rain without having to wash the entire car after each rain.

Thanks and welcome any advice!

You don't have to wash the car after each rain but you can't wait 2 weeks either. I wash mine 1x a week, I never do anything after it rains I dont get water spots because i dont leave it long enough I guess. You should at least be able to do a waterless wash before 2 weeks?

 

[nilli]

Cement has lime and other minerals in it. I would not let it sit, use the least aggressive method to remove the spots.

Nothing is "sitting" as such, it's very light rain drop marks after I've washed it. After a read through several forums I'm thinking of trying some vinegar. Just a spray and wipe to see if it works. But this building work is going to last 4 months...so I've just got to hope for a dry or wet summer, but not both.

 

[Rsurfer]

Nothing is "sitting" as such, it's very light rain drop marks after I've washed it. After a read through several forums I'm thinking of trying some vinegar. Just a spray and wipe to see if it works. But this building work is going to last 4 months...so I've just got to hope for a dry or wet summer, but not both.

I don't think I could live with the construction dust for four months. Look into one of those light weight car covers. Call some painters in your area..the larger companies that spray commercial buildings will use them.

 

[Route246]

Water spots are a result of mineral deposits left on the surface after the water has evaporated. These minerals can come from within the water (hard water) or from particles already on the surface of your vehicle if dirty (ie pollen, dust, etc). Most rain water, aside from acid rain, will not leave spots on its own... at least that has been my experience. The exception is when you have particles already on your paint, as I already mentioned, that will stick to the water droplets forming as it rains and remain after the water evaporates. Municipal water sources... tap water from hoses, sprinklers, etc. is typically quite hard and therefore will certainly leave spots and should never be allowed to dry on your vehicle.

Regardless of the LSP that is applied to your vehicle, if these mineral deposits are left on the surface, you will have stubborn water spots. If left for too long, you may experience water spot etchings.

Long story short - if you're concerned about water spots, wash your car after it rains.


If your spots have not etched, a good wash with some warm water may be all it takes to remove them. Otherwise you will need to use a water spot remover like CarPro Spotless. If they have etched, then break out the abrasives. Polish, Compound, or in the most severe cases, wet sanding will remove water spot etchings.

Rainwater may be soft but it can pickup a lot of very small, microscopic impurities as it falls which can result in spots, albeit these are technically not "hard water" spots.

 

[nilli]

I don't think I could live with the construction dust for four months. Look into one of those light weight car covers. Call some painters in your area..the larger companies that spray commercial buildings will use them.

i looked into getting a cover before but was put off by the risk of scratches, but I think you're right, I don't see an alternative other than move house! I've just ordered one. ( a cover, not a house!)