Water spots

[headrush]

Ok, everytime I wash my car, whether I dry it or not, by hand or automatic, or do the "Spot-free" rinse I still have these ugly water spots on my hood. Nowhere else on my car, just my hood. I've tried waxing it, but it really doesn't seem to help. Does anybody have any other suggestions or am I just outta luck here? There's gotta be some way to do it, hopefully rather than having to go through all the trouble of buffing it. Thanks in advance.

 

[Flounder]

If they can't be cleaned off/removed when drying, they're probably etched into the clearcoat. The only option is to have them buffed out / buff them out yourself.

Another shameless plug for the Porter Cable 7XXX series buffers.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Another shameless plug for the Porter Cable 7XXX series buffers.

LOL, I was thinking the same thing. They have a special polish to help with the removal of those water spots. 90% of them are etched into the paint job and will never come out without working them out with a good polish. It's like a stain.

 

[jnealg]

They have a special polish to help with the removal of those water spots.

ok I have the same annoying problem... so what is this special polish?

Is it easy to burn the paint with the Port Cable polisher? I've always been afraid to machine polish myself.

 

[Mike 92 XLT]

There's no real "special" polish needed. Just a good, medium abrasive and a random orbital polisher (i.e. Porter Cable) will do. If you don't want to spring for the polisher, there are polishes that will work well by hand. I would recommend Einszett Paint Polish if you're working by hand. If you're working with the PC, either the Einszett PP or Menzerna Intensive Polish. Something that you could pick up locally would be 3M Perfect-It III Machine Glaze (not a glaze but actually a polish - don't read too much into what 3M decided to name it). What I like about the 3M and Menzerna polishes is that they use no fillers. That said though, I'm also a big fan of the Einszett polish, and if you're doing it by hand, that's a great way to go. Einszett and Menzerna can be bought at www.autopia-carcare.com.

Don't worry about burning your paint with a PC. It is literally impossible to do (not enough heat generated). They are very "novice friendly."


Mike

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Well when I was doing my explorer for the first time using the Porter cable Polisher, when on the roof, I tried to burn a spot. I could not get it to burn for nothing and that was using an abrasive polish.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Any good polish that removes swirl marks should also remove those pesty water marks with or without a buffer. But if you have them on your hood, you have them on the roof too, they are just harder to see.

 

[Flounder]

Any good polish that removes swirl marks should also remove those pesty water marks with or without a buffer. But if you have them on your hood, you have them on the roof too, they are just harder to see.

And I thought I was the only one who does the roof with polish and wax! This is another reason why I loathe detail shops. Good ones do the roof, but are few are far between. Most skip the roof with the 'who checks it?' assumption. Ronnie, thou art a true autopian.

 

[UtahX]

Hey, I do the roof and by hand.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

And I thought I was the only one who does the roof with polish and wax! This is another reason why I loathe detail shops. Good ones do the roof, but are few are far between. Most skip the roof with the 'who checks it?' assumption. Ronnie, thou art a true autopian.

More detail shops will simply wash and dry the top than anything I have ever seen. That is the exact reason I do it myself. If you want things done right, you have to do them yourself.

 

[skinz]

I don't know if any of you have seen the Mr. clean car wash thing that you hook onto th end of your hose. You see that crap on tv all the time where they say it will leave no water spots, well for some reason my g/f's dad bought it, and i swear it works amazing. I have a black X, and i wash my car with this every week, and it leaves no water spots. The last step is to spray this fine mist all over the car even the windows, then u let it sit and in about 5 mintues car is dry and no water spots, don't even have to use a towel, which we all know scratchs the crap out of your car. I swear this thing works, i'll never use anythign else again

 

[UtahX]

"which we all know scratchs the crap out of your car"

Get a Waffle Weave Micro Fiber Towel, you'll be amazing what it will do.

 

[Flounder]

MFs scratch, but not nearly as much as other materials (cotton, etc.).

 

[thewishkah]

I bought the meguires(spelling?) 3 step system a little bit expensive but well worth it after finishing the job on my 94 ex i put a roll of paper towels on the hood and no joke they didnt roll off they slid off no rolling involved it was like glass i love it ill have to take some pics and find someone to put them up for me

 

[Rob Slade]

You can remove the spots with White Vinegar. After you use the vinegar, if you still see an indention then the water has etched your paint. Then you will need to polish it out, most likely with a powered buffer and a good polish. Try Meguiars #83, followed by meguiars #80, and then some NXT Wax.