How to Repair Faded and Oxidized Car Paint?
3 Answers
Car paint that has faded and oxidized due to sun exposure can be effectively repaired through a full-body polishing treatment. Below are the relevant details: 1. Principle: Oil smoke and pollutants in the atmosphere are the main causes of car paint fading and discoloration, especially in industrial areas and large cities. Fading and discoloration usually occur on the front hood, roof, and rear trunk lid of the car. This type of fading is different from oxidation: during oxidation, the entire body of the car appears dull or whitish, whereas fading results in uneven color differences in the paint. The fading of metallic paint is caused by the corrosion of aluminum foil in the metallic paint by acids and alkalis present in dust and rainwater. For colored paint, the change in color is due to chemical reactions between the pigments in the paint and the aforementioned pollutants, sometimes leading to etching marks. 2. Repair: Mild to moderate fading can be treated with grinding and polishing. In severe cases, repainting with new car paint is necessary.
I recently dealt with the paint oxidation issue on my old car. First, I took it to a car detailing shop for a deep polishing treatment. The technician used professional abrasive compounds to remove the oxidized surface layer, which instantly made the paint much brighter. However, after polishing, the paint became thinner, so the shop recommended applying a ceramic coating to form a transparent protective layer on the paint surface. I now try to park in underground garages whenever possible, and when parking outdoors, I use a car cover. During weekly car washes, I spray a UV-protectant spray, and after two years, there's been no recurrence of whitening or fading. Actually, car paint is just like human skin – sun exposure is the fastest way to accelerate aging.
As an enthusiast who frequently tinkers with classic cars, I usually follow a three-step approach when dealing with paint oxidation: For mild oxidation, I directly use scratch wax with a polishing machine; for moderate cases, I purchase repair paste containing abrasive particles for manual sanding; and for severe oxidation where the primer is exposed, a touch-up pen can only serve as an emergency solution. Last time I renovated, I surprisingly got good results using a clear coat spray can meant for helmets. After repairs, be sure to apply car wax or coating, as UV rays are the biggest enemy of paint. In summer, windshield reflections can accelerate dashboard fading, so the hood requires special protection.
