Rust speckling on paint

[Chris Z]

So, ‘09 SSV. Guaranteed to have the cheapest paint job available, lol.

It’s white, and even on the plastic parts I’m some areas the paint has tiny bits of rust speckling. See the pics.

It’s February, at least here in Michigan, so not much to be done about it now. Come spring, I’ll hit it with a high cut compound and wax the ever loving Sheeet out of it. We’ll see if that helps.

Anyone experience similar issues with either an SSV/PPV or civilian model?

 

[Jason in DLH]

My truck is definitely rusty, but nothing like that. That’s crazy yo!

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@Chris Z That's very strange. I think this is probably some metal material that is embedded into the paint that is rusting and not the metal underneath rusting through to the surface. Has your Tahoe ever been in a sandy climate? I wonder if there was some iron rich sand that was embedded in the paint or something. Very interesting none the less.

 

[iamdub]

That's not rust from the metal of the body underneath, as proven by the same being on the plastic. That's metal specks from someone grinding near it and throwing sparks on it.

 

[Foggy]

RAILROAD DUST.... IT's made from iron and it "rusts" on your paint.
Only see it on white cars.
It can be polished out... Keep it really clean until the weather up there
is good enough that you can polish it.. Or have a detail shop polish it out.
The only way to prevent it is to keep really well waxed and clean all the time

I learned this from my body shop friend after I bought my first white car several
years ago

 

[ivin74]

That's not rust from the metal of the body underneath, as proven by the same being on the plastic. That's metal specks from someone grinding near it and throwing sparks on it.

Totally agree

It can be polished out... Keep it really clean until the weather up there is good enough that you can polish it.. Or have a detail shop polish it out.

X2

 

[Geoffsfas10]

You want something like this:

https://www.chemicalguys.com/decon-pro-iron-remover-and-wheel-cleaner/decon-pro-iron-remover.html

Its an iron remover, you spray it on and let it sit, it typically will turn purple letting you know ts removed the iron and then you wash. Should basically all be gone after that, buff and polish if needed.

 

[Chris Z]

RAILROAD DUST.... IT's made from iron and it "rusts" on your paint.
Only see it on white cars.
It can be polished out... Keep it really clean until the weather up there
is good enough that you can polish it.. Or have a detail shop polish it out.
The only way to prevent it is to keep really well waxed and clean all the time

I learned this from my body shop friend after I bought my first white car several
years ago

Thanks for the info! I was thinking it had to be something like that. I’ll definitely keep up on it until spring time when I can properly address it myself.

I think the remedy will Just be a whole lotta buffing and waxing the ever loving piss out of it.

You want something like this:

https://www.chemicalguys.com/decon-pro-iron-remover-and-wheel-cleaner/decon-pro-iron-remover.html

Its an iron remover, you spray it on and let it sit, it typically will turn purple letting you know ts removed the iron and then you wash. Should basically all be gone after that, buff and polish if needed.

Awesome! I’ve never heard of this, but curious to give it a try. Pre wash with that, then buff and wax till the cows come home.

 

[Drok]

RAILROAD DUST.... IT's made from iron and it "rusts" on your paint.
Only see it on white cars.
It can be polished out... Keep it really clean until the weather up there
is good enough that you can polish it.. Or have a detail shop polish it out.
The only way to prevent it is to keep really well waxed and clean all the time

I learned this from my body shop friend after I bought my first white car several
years ago

this plus metallic brake pad flakes/dust etc. we deal with it often and can get mostly all of it off with a clay bar, the stubborn spots the chemical an above poster works. Its a real pita haha.

 

[Geoffsfas10]

Awesome! I’ve never heard of this, but curious to give it a try. Pre wash with that, then buff and wax till the cows come home.

I'd do what @Drok said above, wash, clay, iron remover and then shine it up!! Make sure you use a wax or something after the iron remover, its some pretty hardcore stuff that will strip ANY remaining wax on the paint. Gotta make sure its protected afterwards

 

[Chris Z]

this plus metallic brake pad flakes/dust etc. we deal with it often and can get mostly all of it off with a clay bar, the stubborn spots the chemical an above poster works. Its a real pita haha.

Glad to hear it can be dealt with. I was wondering if a clay bar treatment would do the trick. What’s you preferred order of operations as far as wash>clay>chem>rewash>wax?

I'd do what @Drok said above, wash, clay, iron remover and then shine it up!! Make sure you use a wax or something after the iron remover, its some pretty hardcore stuff that will strip ANY remaining wax on the paint. Gotta make sure its protected afterwards

Thanks for the advice! Yeah I’m going to give this thing a bullet proof coating of wax from top to toe.

 

[Drok]

Glad to hear it can be dealt with. I was wondering if a clay bar treatment would do the trick. What’s you preferred order of operations as far as wash>clay>chem>rewash>wax?

yeah that order is fine. Since its white you can probably get away without a buff before the wax lol.

 

[Geoffsfas10]

Glad to hear it can be dealt with. I was wondering if a clay bar treatment would do the trick. What’s you preferred order of operations as far as wash>clay>chem>rewash>wax?


Thanks for the advice! Yeah I’m going to give this thing a bullet proof coating of wax from top to toe.

your order is correct there. As far as a wax or sealnt, this stuff has been working kickass for me!!

https://adamspolishes.com/collections/new-just-in/products/graphene-ceramic-spray-coating™

applied it october 2nd and all the salt and road grim came off with basically my garden hose

 

[FrankU]

Clay bar will get that right off.

 

[johnh]

Railroad dust? I have 2011 Yukon that looks like that, and I don't live/work anywhere near a railroad. It might be stuff in the paint, or like 3 spots I have rust coming THROUGH the paint (lower panels behind the back doors, and on back quarters where body meets fascia).

 

[Beagleman]

I live in Canada where we get snow, and we have that on our vehicles too, what we determined it is, is steel filings from the snow plows, all the highway plows have steel or carbide cutting edges, and that get ground off during slushing ops, and leaves bits of very fine steel bits on the highway, where your wheels pick them up and embed them in your paint, and a good spring wash, and a real good clay bar job on your paint will take that stuff off and leave your paint smooth and shiny... I have done that on ALL my vehicle for many years, and YES, I was one of those guys on the highway plow trucks for 38 years... it is an easy fix with a good quality clay bar and I would suggest you do it every spring.... the reason your plastic is rusty is because of those steel filings.... that is my experience anyway... hope it helps explain...
Jeff

 

[aducknut]

Iron fallout. Lots of products on the market that will remove it. It’s most noticeable on white

 

[vcode]

Railroad dust? I have 2011 Yukon that looks like that, and I don't live/work anywhere near a railroad. It might be stuff in the paint, or like 3 spots I have rust coming THROUGH the paint (lower panels behind the back doors, and on back quarters where body meets fascia).

You are seeing the typical rusting spots on that era. It is far worse than the rust on the surface of the paint.

 

[vcode]

I get those spots on my Old Man Gold 2010 Tahoe as well. It is particulate fallout coming from somewhere. Mine comes off with a clay bar.

 

[Millennium Falcon]

RAILROAD DUST.... IT's made from iron and it "rusts" on your paint.
Only see it on white cars.
It can be polished out... Keep it really clean until the weather up there
is good enough that you can polish it.. Or have a detail shop polish it out.
The only way to prevent it is to keep really well waxed and clean all the time

I learned this from my body shop friend after I bought my first white car several
years ago

I live in Canada where we get snow, and we have that on our vehicles too, what we determined it is, is steel filings from the snow plows, all the highway plows have steel or carbide cutting edges, and that get ground off during slushing ops, and leaves bits of very fine steel bits on the highway, where your wheels pick them up and embed them in your paint, and a good spring wash, and a real good clay bar job on your paint will take that stuff off and leave your paint smooth and shiny... I have done that on ALL my vehicle for many years, and YES, I was one of those guys on the highway plow trucks for 38 years... it is an easy fix with a good quality clay bar and I would suggest you do it every spring.... the reason your plastic is rusty is because of those steel filings.... that is my experience anyway... hope it helps explain...
Jeff

This. Many moons ago, I mixed paint for several body shops, and the paint manufacturers put out bulletins about this. At the time, the term "industrial fallout" was used to describe the cause of that surface rust in paint. Basically, it occurs anywhere you can get iron introduced into the atmosphere as mentioned already. Your vehicle could have been transported by train at some point, as well.