Light to moderate water spots/stains - which polish compound and pad?

[TeaLeaf]

I have an 08 Mustang that has water spot build-up pretty much all over. I don't have a garage or use a cover, so the vehicle is exposed to the elements all the time. Not only that, but every morning the car is drenched in dew and you can literally see the water run "stains" down the side of the car.

I have a Porter Cable 7424XP and I used Turtle Wax "Premium Grade" polishing compound along with the Orange CCS pads. It did a decent job but the paint still doesn't look super smooth...especially on the hood when the sun is hitting it.

I am wondering if I should be using a different polishing compound and/or pad? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Dew doesn't cause waterspots, and usually rain doesn't either (depending where you live). It's usually from sprinklers or washing with hard water.

Whatever Turtle Wax has, whether it's "Premium Grade" or not, isn't going to compare with polishes like that from Meguiar's, Optimum, Menzerna, etc. If your water spots are etched really deep, there may not be any fixing them, Mike Phillips has a good article on this, I'm sure he'll chime in shortly.

 

[tuscarora dave]

If it's water spot buildup, I'd suggest Poorboy's World Pro Polish to chemically remove them. If it's light water spot etching, then I'd suggest Meguiars M-105 to level the paint to remove the etchings. If it's deep water spot etching, as stated above by Setec, you might not be able to safely remove them without removing too much clear coat.

One thing I can say with certainty is that Poorboy's World Pro Polish will remove hard water mineral deposits faster and safer than M-105 will.

 

[TeaLeaf]

Dew doesn't cause waterspots, and usually rain doesn't either (depending where you live). It's usually from sprinklers or washing with hard water.

You wouldn't think dew would cause what I'm seeing, but it is the only explanation (we have no sprinklers). There is definitely something weird with the water in the air here it seems. We live on the top of a hill out in the country and there's a pond down below us. I'm wondering if water is evaporating off of it and later condensing at the top of the hill and thus my vehicle. Maybe this pond water has a lot of minerals in it? Like I said, you can literally see where water ran down the side of the car as well as spots on the hood and roof. I look at vehicles at work whose employees definitely do not take care of their vehicle as well as I and they don't have anywhere close to the amount of water spots on their paint and windows as I.

I admit I could do a better job of keeping the car waxed, but I do wash and dry it every week weather permitting.

If it's water spot buildup, I'd suggest Poorboy's World Pro Polish to chemically remove them.

Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[umi000]

You wouldn't think dew would cause what I'm seeing, but it is the only explanation (we have no sprinklers). There is definitely something weird with the water in the air here it seems. We live on the top of a hill out in the country and there's a pond down below us. I'm wondering if water is evaporating off of it and later condensing at the top of the hill and thus my vehicle. Maybe this pond water has a lot of minerals in it? Like I said, you can literally see where water ran down the side of the car as well as spots on the hood and roof. I look at vehicles at work whose employees definitely do not take care of their vehicle as well as I and they don't have anywhere close to the amount of water spots on their paint and windows as I.

I admit I could do a better job of keeping the car waxed, but I do wash and dry it every week weather permitting.



Thanks for the recommendation!

The evaporated water will not be carrying any minerals - evaporation purifies water of any dissolved impurities (in fact, that's exactly what distilled water is - evaporated and then condensed water). Any minerals in the water will have come from the environment, mixing with the water after it condenses. Perhaps the car is usually dusty, and the condensed water (dew) mixes with the dust on the car?