Does clearcoat get thin over time, even if you don't polish?

[pman626]

my car is almost 14 years old. The clear on the roof has failed and is peeling. The flakes coming off are less than a fraction of paper thickness.

Is new clear coat as thick as several sheets of paper?

 

[Rsurfer]

my car is almost 14 years old. The clear on the roof has failed and is peeling. Not protecting (wax/sealant) will cause failure of the cc.The flakes coming off are less than a fraction of paper thickness.

Is new clear coat as thick as several sheets of paper?About the thickness of one sheet of Post It Note.

 

[LSNAutoDetailingLSNAutoDetailing is verified member.]

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ions/87410-clearcoats-thin-mike-phillips.html

 

[FUNX650]

Re: "Does clearcoat get thin over time, even if you don't polish"?

Due to the two "laws" of Physics
listed below...I will say: Yes.

•The Second Law of Thermodynamics
("the entropy principle")

•The Law of Maximum Entropy Production


Bob

 

[MarkD51]

Down here in this lazy land that I live in, 70-80% of people here do nothing to their vehicles. They think they are doing right by running through a swirl-o-matic wash.

Thus, thousands of vehicles here less than 6 years old have clear coat failure, and milky white headlight lenses due to ignorance, laziness, and cheapness.

 

[glfnaz]

Exactly what I see in Arizona.
Ignorance, laziness, etc.
It is SO INEXPENSIVE to prevent this damage.

 

[Legumes]

Exactly what I see in Arizona.
Ignorance, laziness, etc.
It is SO INEXPENSIVE to prevent this damage.

I would like to see a long term paint test of two identical cars subjected to the same conditions - simplest way would be to park them next to one another so they see as close to the same conditions as possible. Only wash one of them regularly , wash and wax or seal the other regularly. Then see how much longer the paint on the better cared for one actually holds up. It's unrealistic to do this with two actual cars for a lot of reasons, but using two hoods from the same color, make, and model cars could feasibly be done. Ideally, I would like to see this on OEM painted items. I may try to acquire two hoods off of fresh year model cars that have been totaled to try this with one day...I have a good idea of what will happen already, but it would still be an interesting project.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I would like to see a long term paint test of two identical cars subjected to the same conditions - simplest way would be to park them next to one another so they see as close to the same conditions as possible. Only wash one of them regularly , wash and wax or seal the other regularly. Then see how much longer the paint on the better cared for one actually holds up. It's unrealistic to do this with two actual cars for a lot of reasons, but using two hoods from the same color, make, and model cars could feasibly be done. Ideally, I would like to see this on OEM painted items. I may try to acquire two hoods off of fresh year model cars that have been totaled to try this with one day...I have a good idea of what will happen already, but it would still be an interesting project.

Yes, exactly. Better yet, have the vehicle on a 10 yr. journey as a real life, tape down the middle, living breathing 50/50. In a crazy world I could see a company like Meguiars having pulled this off in secret.
Can you imagine how cool it would be just to be around the vehicle through the time and seeing the actual results. There's also that slim chance that there will be no noticeable difference between the 2 sides, which would really turn some heads sideways.

 

[pman626]

.I have a good idea of what will happen already, but it would still be an interesting project.

you suggesting both will fail at about the same time?

my car is almost 14 years old. The clear on the roof has failed and is peeling. Not protecting (wax/sealant) will cause failure of the cc.The flakes coming off are less than a fraction of paper thickness.


Is new clear coat as thick as several sheets of paper?About the thickness of one sheet of Post It Note.

damn, i must have polished away most of the clear on my other car then

 

[oldmodman]

Yes. The clear is just a chemical that will "evaporate" Most of the damage is caused by it sacrificially giving up it's depth to protect the color coat below it.

In order of lifespan. A car will have it's finish last the longest when it is always garaged and only in the sun to be driven. Next is under a carport. Most damaging is to be parked outdoors in the sun.

This is assuming that all three methods have had the same surface care taken. No compounding, frequent no abrasive waxes to protect the surface when it is out in the sun. I can't make a guess about how long a coating will extend clear life since they have not been in common use long enough.

Anyone want to buy two identical cars and wax one, coat the other and leave them parked outdoors for twenty years?

 

[fightnews]

Down here in this lazy land that I live in, 70-80% of people here do nothing to their vehicles. They think they are doing right by running through a swirl-o-matic wash.

Thus, thousands of vehicles here less than 6 years old have clear coat failure, and milky white headlight lenses due to ignorance, laziness, and cheapness.

i dont know about that some people only look at thier cars as transportation doesnt mean they're lazy or ignorant

 

[Eldorado2k]

Anyone want to buy two identical cars and wax one, coat the other and leave them parked outdoors for twenty years?

No, but I'll gladly accept the donation of 2 brand new vehicles [Cadillacs, please, with Vogue package & trim] and promise to run the test and report back once a month without fail. You've got my Word. TIA

 

[Legumes]

you suggesting both will fail at about the same time?

I'm not suggesting they will fail at about the same time. I would pick the waxed vehicle to have better paint durability every time. We might have to add contamination removal as yet another variable to a test like this. I will say I have seen some clear coats make it 15-20 years before signs of failure on cars that were almost never waxed. I do not think you will see that as much with a lot of later model vehicles. The trend I've seen is that clear is failing quicker on a lot of them.


By the way, I'm pretty sure some car care or at least paint producers test panels subjected to ultraviolet light to simulate years spent in the sun. I seem to remember an article or at least mention of this being discussed on this board or the sister site at one time.

 

[FUNX650]

By the way, I'm pretty sure some car care or at least paint producers test panels subjected to ultraviolet light to simulate years spent in the sun. I seem to remember an article or at least mention of this being discussed on this board or the sister site at one time.

Here's a couple "testing procedures":

•Test Standards for Florida
Outdoor Exposure Testing

•Test Standards for Arizona
Outdoor Exposure Testing


Bob