Clearcoat question (Experienced detailers inquire please) =]

[Ridiculous Wobble]

Hey, question. My 240SX has stellar paint all around, EXCEPT! the car sat for roughly 9 months under a tree.. all through the florida pollen season and THEN had the dried pollen crap cooked into the hood/roof/trunk all summer... when i got the car it had a nice yellowish-green moldy rough substance on the hood/roof/trunklid and so i started by pressure washing off the majority of it with the softest tip my PW had to offer then i hand washed it with soap and water twice. The hood and trunk are "Clean" but still have spotting in it from this moldy crap. its not colored spotting but more-so jus blotchy blurry spots from sitting. now my question is: Since the paint was stellar BEFORE the car sat, Should i go so far as to use rubbing compound or would just polishing compound get it out? i'm afraid to wax the car because im afraid the wax might seal the blotches into the clearcoat which i DO NOT want. Any help would be amazing, and i can provide pictures if absolutely necessary!

Thanks a bunch!

P.S. As u can see in the sig, that's the car PRE 9 months rest the paint is BANGIN' buuuut now... not so much!

[p1rat3]

Buffer should take it out with some compound. If not and it was actually a nice paint job you can just wet sand it lightly with like 2000 grit and then buff it

[Ridiculous Wobble]

i have polishing compound on hand, is that not recommended?

[p1rat3]

you can try, rubbing compound would just be a bit more aggressive, followed by the wet sanding approach. I'm not exactly sure the extent of the markings on your car but normally when you detail you do rubbing compound first followed by polishing. It can't hurt anything if you have it on hand to try on a spot though

[Ridiculous Wobble]

this might sound stupid but i dont know the first damn thing about wet sanding and im not trying to mess anything up. =/

[sbird1]

Pressure washer, dude. Don't rub. Spray.

[p1rat3]

Yeah just try rubbing compound and then polishing, then you can use glaze and wax if all the marks came out. Just remember if you do it by hand to swirl with the rag not just drag it straight.

If it doesn't work I can tell you more about wet sanding

[Ridiculous Wobble]

Pressure washer, dude. Don't rub. Spray.

i have no clue what you're trying to say...

As for you pirate, thanks for the help. it's been about 4 days since i washed it so tmrw ill wash it again and hit a small spot with the polishing compound an let ya know how it goes. thanks for the help!

anyone else who cares to, feel free to chime in!

[sbird1]

My Mustang sat under a tree for about the same period as yours. Then it came home and got covered in pollen. I pressure washed it and it came out beautifully. Took all pollen, sap, mold, whatever else right off.

[Ridiculous Wobble]

My Mustang sat under a tree for about the same period as yours. Then it came home and got covered in pollen. I pressure washed it and it came out beautifully. Took all pollen, sap, mold, whatever else right off.

as i stated before i tried pressure washing first and it didnt net the greatest results.. even hand washed it ontop of that, twice and still got blotches. jus gunna try a mild rubbing compound an see what happens...

[Dattebayo]

Yeah, but did you use an actual pressure washer or one of those stupid non-engine powered POS's?

[Ridiculous Wobble]

Yeah, but did you use an actual pressure washer or one of those stupid non-engine powered POS's?

i used a kohler combustion engine pressure washer. it's brand new, practically. It's a "good" one... mind you not a honda or anything...

[Dittoz7]

Trying the polishing compound first. If it works just the the whole car with that. If it not some rubbing compound should do the trick. If the rubbing does the trick just wax on top of it. If the polish does the trick just leave it like that, then just wax it the next time you wash it.

[sbird1]

Yeah but, as you stated, you used the lowest setting. Don't be afraid to hit it with some power. I used the "general use" nozzle and it worked like a charm.

[Ridiculous Wobble]

Yeah but, as you stated, you used the lowest setting. Don't be afraid to hit it with some power. I used the "general use" nozzle and it worked like a charm.

?? i am very afraid to hit my baby with "some power"

[C-Kwik]

You might try a clay bar as well. Its a lot less abrasive and pulls stuff out of the paint. This might reduce the amount of clear that might need to be removed to get all the gunk off. Depends on what the material is and how it is bonded to the paint. But if it works, you can still buff the finish to increase the shine.

[Ridiculous Wobble]

You might try a clay bar as well. Its a lot less abrasive and pulls stuff out of the paint. This might reduce the amount of clear that might need to be removed to get all the gunk off. Depends on what the material is and how it is bonded to the paint. But if it works, you can still buff the finish to increase the shine.

good to know, man. thanks.