Orange stuff on my Camry won't come off! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

JackTheRipper87 · 08-09-2009, 06:01 PM

Hello everyone,

Long version:
I wasn't sure if I should post this in the Camry section, or the Off Topic section. I figured I'd post it here since it can happen to any car really. I always park my car in my gated apartment parking lot, and there are lots of pipes and stuff above all the cars. Recently, I noticed some orange stuff on my 08 Camry, so I went to a car wash.

Even after the wash, the stuff was just there. The only way it would come off is if I peeled it with my fingernails, and since it wasn't a lot, I just did. About a week later, more orange stuff showed up. I figured the pipes above the car were just leaking, and they will just continue to leak. This time it's much worse, and I can't get the stupid stuff off for the life of me. A friend of mine looked at it, and said it looked like rust, I'm starting to think he was right.

Short version:
What is this stuff, and how can I make it come off?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

knj27 · 08-09-2009, 06:18 PM

Is it rust?

Perhaps a clay bar? Polishing compound?

JackTheRipper87 · 08-09-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knj27

Is it rust?

Perhaps a clay bar? Polishing compound?

I'm not sure. I always thought plastic couldn't rust?

I could try polishing compound... didn't think of that...

knj27 · 08-09-2009, 06:22 PM

No I meant rusty drips from the pipes. Any luck with a clay bar?

JackTheRipper87 · 08-09-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knj27

No I meant rusty drips from the pipes. Any luck with a clay bar?

Oh, yeah that's what it looks like. I don't actually own a clay bar, infact, I'm just now finding out what a clay bar is. I feel silly.

I'm assuming I won't be able to use the clay bar on the glass tail lights though right?

I'm gonna check the nearest Pep Boys and pick one up in a few minutes...

***falnfenix*** · 08-09-2009, 06:30 PM

i thought the tails were plastic? did Toyota start using glass?

JackTheRipper87 · 08-09-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falnfenix

i thought the tails were plastic? did Toyota start using glass?

Oh, nevermind then. Sorry, I was just assuming cause they look like glass. It probably is plastic then.

Would a clay bar be safe to use on them?

***EKam*** · 08-09-2009, 06:51 PM

Clay bar.

eddie926 · 08-09-2009, 09:33 PM

Yep, looks like rust from the overhead pipes. I'd stop parking under those or else start putting a cover on your car.

Yeah, you can use clay on the tail lights. You can pretty much use it on anything. I'd try that first, and if that doesn't work I'd pick up a tube of Meguiars ScratchX from WalMart and give that a try. You can get a Mother's clay bar kit at Walmart too. Actually, if you don't have those, I'd just pick up both. They're both very good to have on hand.

knj27 · 08-09-2009, 09:43 PM

Clay bar is safe to use on any surface. If that works then you've found a quick and easy solution. If not, you'll have to go with something more aggressive.

JackTheRipper87 · 08-10-2009, 05:18 PM

Well, this officially sucks. I went to Pep Boys this morning and picked up Meguiars Clay Bar Kit. It didn't work. The clay removed a bunch of other blemishes here and there, but it made absolutely no difference when applied to the orange rust water stains.

Now what?

Also, thank you to the mod who moved this to the correct section!

EDIT:
I think I might just have a body shop repaint the car. I don't know what I'm gonna do about the tail light though.

knj27 · 08-10-2009, 06:01 PM

Still try polishing compound, and if that doesn't work maybe some more aggressive rubbing compound. Just be careful with it as it's basically like using fine sandpaper.

gameguru1360 · 08-10-2009, 06:45 PM

is that leaking only in your spot or is it in other parking spots too?? Looks like you'll have to get a car cover in the meantime. Tell your landlord about this recurring problem

JackTheRipper87 · 08-10-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knj27

Still try polishing compound, and if that doesn't work maybe some more aggressive rubbing compound. Just be careful with it as it's basically like using fine sandpaper.

Hmmm... I think I'm going to skip the polishing compound, and just go straight to the rubbing compound if it's more aggressive. How is it applied? Do I just put some on a cloth, and just rub it and wipe around the bumper area? Sorry for such silly questions, this is my first time dealing with this sort of thing. Thanks so much for the help.

@gameguru
I'm pretty sure it's leaking elsewhere too, it just looks like I have the worst of it. I'm gonna get a car cover, and either cover my trunk area, or my entire car. Yeah, I seriously will need to give my landlord a good talking to.

eddie926 · 08-10-2009, 08:27 PM

Rule #1 when it comes to detailing. Always start with the least aggressive method, then go more aggressive only if you have to.

Seriously, I'd start with some ScratchX from Meguiars. It will remove a lot of stuff, and you can't really hurt your paint with it. If that doesn't work, I'd try stepping up to Meguiars Ultimate Compound.

With regular rubbing compound, you could potentially do some damage. As Knj27 noted, it's basically like sandpaper only in paste form. Get aggressive enough and you could take off your clear coat and end up with a completely different problem.

ScratchX is only about $6 at Wal Mart, and it's good for all sorts of stuff. Ultimate Compound isn't much more in cost and also good for lots of applications.

Watch this training video from Meguiars about SwirlX, ScratchX and Ultimate Compound. These are all pretty highly regarded products, and very safe. And no, I'm not a Meguiars rep, these are just good products that are safe for your finish and readily available at local stores

You Tube