Paint Oxidation Removal

[NZAE92]

Hey,

My AE92 corolla has been hit fairly badly with paint oxidation over the few years i have had it. It's been parked out in all sorts of weather and nothing that i do will get rid of the oxidation,
I gave it a really good polish today and it did do a little good, but didn't get rid of it.

So my question is: How do i get rid of the oxidation and what with? and also has anybody had this problem before and how did you repair it?.

Cheers
Greg
P.S i don't have the money for a respray so no talk about respraying lol.

[90 GP]

Using rubbing compound with an orbital buffer would help followed by a coat of wax and polished with orbital buffer. Have to be careful with rubbing compound to not get down to primer(especially on curved surfaces). Could also try polishing compound which is less abrasive than rubbing compound. You have to be cautious as some of the paint had a clear coat on top and you don't want to get past that layer. Some colors such as red didn't have the clear coat on top.Unfortunately whatever you do will only cause a very temporary improvement as it will oxidize once again. The only permanent solution is the respray. You don't state what color but red ,black and white are the worst for oxidation.

[Bitter]

Is it red?

[Flashmn]

Farecla G3 works fine

[eage8]

my light blue is oxidizing pretty badly too...

[NZAE92]

i don't know the colour exactly but it's sort of like a aqua teal colour (Greenish Blue). I've done some research and people are using a clay bar and wax and polish etc, that was for a volvo with no clear coat and it got ridof the oxidation perfectly but i thought i would post something up here and see what i would get.

[SCT]

I found this. http://www.ehow.com/how_4890677_buff...int-cents.html

But for me, I sanded my oxidized hood, now it's primered black. I need to get to my roof next. I guess it would depend on how long it has been left oxidized. Minor oxidation is simple to get rid of, buffing out. But something like for me, the clear coat is actual flaking off like flakes of dead skin.

[Donald]

The best way to head off paint oxidation is to only use a "cotton" cloth to wash.
If you use synthetic materials, they do not remove the early oxidation and it gradually builds up.

I have brought paint back from a terrible fade with just an old cotton "T" shirt. It takes a lot of elbow grease, you need to apply a lot of pressure and might not happen in just one wash.
If you can make a mark in the oxidation by just rubbing your finger in a small spot, the cotton cloth will help. If not, the oxidation is probably pretty deep into the paint.

If the oxidation is real bad, do a polish job, but from then on, use a cotton cloth. No synthetics.

The cotton actually does a light polish job if you apply pressure, and not just rub off the dirt you can see.

[blb]

Your car was most likely painted from the factory with a base coat with a clear coat over it. What you most likely see see not really oxidation, but rather the degradation of the clear coat. The only way to permanently remedy the situation is to sand down the panel with 400 wet/dry sandpaper (using it wet) and reapply the base and then the clear coat.

[NZAE92]

when it's wet the oxidation disappears and then when it dries out it returns.

I will try and post some pictures but i don't know how to post them.

[Bitter]

I've brought back paint with rubbing compound and a buffer and then some lighter compounds with a buffer and a good coat of wax.

[NZAE92]

I'm a bit conscious that im going to damage the paint further if i don't know how to use the more abrasive compounds, i know the instructions would be on the back or the packet but they can still be miss interpreted.

[Pancho_Vanilla]

A good polish and wax should do the trick... for a little while depending on how bad it is. I polished and waxed my Corolla a couple of weeks back and it came out very nice but their painter told me because of how much oxidation and how thin my paint was, the only permanent solution would be to do a full respray on the car.

Here's a couple of pics of the roof when I polished it, sorry for the crappy pics but I only had my phone with me at the time.

[Bitter]

I don't think you can see well here, but I polished the headlight cover by hand with just rubbing compound real quick.


And here's the whole car when done with a 3 step process


Hood


It was nearly pink when I started and the paint was flat with NO gloss at all.

[kimandbrad21]

if your just a starter on doing things to improve the look of your paint, head over to your local wally world and pick up meguairs ultimate compound. its going to be one of the toughest things to go head to head with the problem you have. thing is...... you need to work small areas 3ft by 3 ft sections... if you have a DA or a rotory you can do it faster. but if by hand work small areas with something like a cotton terry cloth (they sell them too) or by micro fibers to work it in and to take it off.... if you want to get deep into it check out www.autogeek.net and hit the fourms there. it also maybe clear coat, they have a detailing 101 area on the fourms you want expert advice on it take a picture and post on there. you will get responses from all over the board..... understand they detail 100,000 dollar cars for a living. so check it out... my 91 rolla is flawless and slick as glass because i joined that fourm. there store is also amazing...good luck