what IS this and how do I take care of it?

[hawkman71]

Hi all,

This is the first time I've forayed into this part of the forum. I've never had a 'newer' car, and while I've always washed my cars, and sometimes waxed them. I probably never really knew what I was doing.

I have a 96 Corolla in some sort of blue (you'll see my sig I think). Midnight Blue? Anyway, it looks decent from a distance when washed. It's actually scratched up a fair bit, especially on the trunk.

However, when you look carefully at the finish, it appears stained underneath the clearcoat. It just looks stained. I don't know how to describe it. Not cloudy (white grey) but brownish really. I guess it's oxidation. If so, is it repairable?

I guess I have a lot to learn about fixing scratches. What can be buffed out, what require more serious work.

But I also didn't know there was "more" to washing and waxing a car than just that.

[filter]

FWIW, we have an 09 Camry that (they say) came with the ToyoGuard sealant (whatever that is). Included with the car was a bottle of ToyoGuard Sealant Cleaner. This stuff: http://imageshack.us/f/843/60056060.jpg/

On the back it says "contains chemicals that remove detergent films and other luster attacking elements that build up over the ToyoGuard sealed vehicle." You can read it here: http://imageshack.us/f/546/tgback.jpg/

If your car has ToyoGuard this might help. I don't know why, but I'm a little reluctant to use it. I think I'm a little nervous, since it says it contains petroleum distillates and is flammable, that it'll affect the clear coat.

Maybe you could try seeing if the stuff you're talking about will show in a picture, and post it.

[CTB727]

Chances are, your car will need to be wash, clayed, polished, then waxed.

I don't know exactly what the staining is, but polishing should be able to take care of it. This thread has everything you need to know about detailing: Detailing your vehicle (Exterior)

You'll be amazed as to how your car can look after a detail. Especially blue.

[MothersPolish]

A close-up photo may be helpful, and identifying the texture would be, too.

It may be rust under the paint.

[hawkman71]

I'm embarrassed to say but all this may not be under the clearcoat. It may be oxidation or something like that. I will try to get a photo of it this weekend. Apart from the large scratches on it, there are the 'swirls' in the finish, too, which sound like they can be removed with some of the techniques I've been reading about here. Thanks, evreyone. I'll post pics soon.