Paint Rust Question

Supercharged111 · Apr 20, 2025

My plow truck is exhibiting this phenomenon. I can clean it up pretty easily, not surprising to see it in the door jam after a winter of 250" snowfall.

Strange, but not entirely out of the question.

OK come on now, this is a plastic fender flare.

Pretty sure this is a Maaco paint job, single stage plopped on top of factory white. Does anyone know why the paint itself is rusting?

Rktpwrd · Apr 20, 2025

I would say it’s because of metal particles from the plow wearing getting onto the paint. Time for a power polish and a coat of wax.

CopperNick · Apr 20, 2025

Some kind of metallic contaminant that was on the existing finish and which didn't get thoroughly removed before the fresh finish was applied? Or maybe some kind of contaminant in the paint itself, something in the chemical soup of the formula, maybe, that reacts badly to salt brine or calcium wash, both of which get applied to roads in the winter?

Nick

Supercharged111 · Apr 20, 2025

I like Donovan's answer better.

Sounds like the only way to further characterize it is to get it good and clean, polished, maybe clay barred? And see where it goes from there?

Ribbedroof · Apr 20, 2025

Rktpwrd said:
I would say it’s because of metal particles from the plow wearing getting onto the paint. Time for a power polish and a coat of wax.

AKA Rail dust

melloelky · Apr 20, 2025

I've seen this w/metallic pads and a hung up caliper,it burns into the panels.you can try clay bar'ing/buffing out but it can come back after it rains.

Supercharged111 · Apr 20, 2025

I'm not sure what compound was up front when I got this, but the friction was pretty underwhelming. If it is some sort of metal shavings from God knows where that became embedded, I wonder if that's a trait inherent to whatever type of paint this is that allows those particles to become embedded in the first place?

Rktpwrd · Apr 20, 2025

Supercharged111 said:
I'm not sure what compound was up front when I got this, but the friction was pretty underwhelming. If it is some sort of metal shavings from God knows where that became embedded, I wonder if that's a trait inherent to whatever type of paint this is that allows those particles to become embedded in the first place?

Not really, no. It can happen with any kind of paint. As Ribbedroof alluded to earlier, it’s also commonly referred to as rail dust. Because new cars shipped to dealerships on the train used to get it quite often. Not as much nowadays as they’re now usually plastic wrapped, but it is still occasionally an issue.

Regardless of where it came from, a good clay barring, power polishing and waxing should fix it right up. Worst case scenario you might have to wet sand some of the deeper imbedded particles out, but be extremely careful with that as factory paint is extremely thin.

Sweet_Johnny · Apr 20, 2025

Rktpwrd said:
be extremely careful with that as factory paint is extremely thin.

That's no lie!

Clone TIE Pilot · Monday at 9:27 AM

Rktpwrd said:
Not really, no. It can happen with any kind of paint. As Ribbedroof alluded to earlier, it’s also commonly referred to as rail dust. Because new cars shipped to dealerships on the train used to get it quite often. Not as much nowadays as they’re now usually plastic wrapped, but it is still occasionally an issue.

Regardless of where it came from, a good clay barring, power polishing and waxing should fix it right up. Worst case scenario you might have to wet sand some of the deeper imbedded particles out, but be extremely careful with that as factory paint is extremely thin.

Modern autorack rail cars are enclosed, old time auto racks were open air and basically just two level flat cars.

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