Walk around your average grocery shop parking lot, and I'd wager that y'all'd discover no less than 10% of all cars, trucks, and SUVs have fading car paint. Whether information technology'southward due to excessive exposure to UV sunlight, or inexpensive, unmarried-phase paint applied at the manufactory, vehicles today are more decumbent to having the exterior paint fade than in years past.

So how practice nosotros fix this growing problem?

Well, it all depends on the severity of the paint harm, the blazon of paint that has been practical, and several other factors. Information technology likewise depends on the type of damage done.

For instance, if the paint on your daily driver is peeling, you're pretty much screwed. Yet, if it'south just lost a flake of luster and shine, that can be adequately like shooting fish in a barrel to resolve with a rubbing compound like Meguiar products or other brands.

Your vehicle needs a new paint job if the paint on its surface is peeling
If your paint is peeling and looks like this – it's time for a new pigment job.

Let's swoop into addressing a few of the common sources of fading automotive pigment, how to determine the extent of the damage, and a few tips on how to bring your vehicles shine dorsum to life.

What Causes Car Pigment to Fade?

Cars are just not made the same as they were in the good erstwhile days – but neither are people. Now, stop rolling your eyes and hear me out.

Back in the 1950s and '60s, cars and trucks were manufactured with a focus on quality, and to hold up against being completely abused. Just machine owners were also more likely to spend time taking intendance of said daily drivers. It was commonplace to spend your Saturday's washing, waxing and detailing the machine.

The problem was those vehicle owners HAD to wax and protect their paint, to reduce the potential of faded paint.

Fast forward to 2022. Most consumer vehicles roll out of the manufacturing plant floor with single-stage paint beingness practical – with a articulate coat finish. In fact, it's about a 95% ratio of new cars feature clear coats. While it's pigment is applied with vii to ten individual coats, heat-treated and inspected by CAT scan equipment for imperfections – the paint quality actually sucks.

BMW 650i and 640i Pigment Process at BMW Plant

This brings us back to understanding what really causes the paint to fade.

More often than not, there are four sources…

Direct Sunlight – or UV Rays

Spending fourth dimension outdoors is relaxing, only stay too long under direct sunlight and what happens? Well, if you're similar me, that pain in the ass sunburn is the direct result.

Your car'due south paint is exposed to harmful UV rays produced by the sun. While it might have a clear coat of protectant (like an SPF fifteen sunblock) – ultraviolet rays are still stiff – and tin cause the paint to fade.

UV rays from the sun cause heat to build up on the surface which leads to the paint to fade

Most people assume that it's the rays themselves that crusade the fading. That's non entirely accurate. Information technology'due south the heat that builds upwardly on the surface that causes the paint to fade. The virtually mutual location of heat build-up is a flat surface, such as a hood or roof.

Corrosion

Oxidation occurs when salt or saltwater stays on the surface of vehicle which leads to fading of paint

Accept you lot e'er noticed rust or chipping paint on cars located on the declension or near an ocean? Well, this is because salt and corrosion are literally eating the clear coat off the vehicle.

The primary problem occurs when salt or saltwater stays on the paint surface. When this happens, oxidation is the result.

In nearly cases, the oxidation will crusade the pigment to peel or chip easily. If this happens, paint restoration is simply possible by removing the older paint and repainting the vehicle.

Abrasive Chemicals and Cleaners

Abrasive chemicals and cleaners are potential causes of paint fading

If yous've read our commodity on car detailing, yous'll remember how much we stressed using the right car detailing supplies. This begins with the soaps and cleaners used, follows with the right cleaning materials, and the correct supplies for drying.

We too talked about using the right methods for washing a vehicle (the two-bucket method), so that excessive droppings does non crusade scratching or damage to the articulate coat.

To reduce the potential of paint fading, never employ dishwashing soaps or other cleaning products with abrasive chemicals. It's as well important to use paint protection products that are not excessive with chemical agents. It's also not a good idea to visit automatic car wash facilities too often.

Pollution and Contaminants

Aye – acid rain is real. But and then is smog and other forms of pollution and contaminants. While y'all may not see it, smog and other contaminants in the air we exhale or touches your automobile can destroy the paint surface.

Items similar bird crap and bug splatters contain a lot of acids, which tin can eat away at articulate coats and paint.

Determining Your Fading Automobile Paint Repair Options

Single-stage paint job and paint plus clear coating are two types of paint jobs used for car, trucks, and SUVs

There are two types of paint jobs on cars, trucks, and SUVs sold today – a single-phase pigment job and pigment plus clear coating. If you have a low cease or entry-level vehicle, it'due south quite possible that y'all have the unmarried-stage pigment.

Virtually newer vehicles use urethane-based paints – lacquers and enamels are reserved for custom pigment jobs nowadays.

So – if you lot've determined that the paint on your vehicle is faded, yous'll have to identify the type of paint or if a clear glaze is on the surface. If you have a articulate coat, there are some steps below that you tin follow to improve the shine and depth of the pigment. If you lot don't have a clear coat – don't waste your fourth dimension – have the car repainted professionally or trade information technology in.

Here is how you can tell if you have a articulate coat.

  • Cheque the paint code attached to the VIN plate. You'll detect on a vehicle ID tag that there are several numbers and messages. To find the paint code, look on the vehicle certification label or the service parts identification sticker.
  • Enquire the dealership. If you want to save time, merely contact a dealership and enquire the service department. They'll ask for your VIN number and tell you if you have a clear glaze – and the blazon of pigment also.
  • Test information technology with paint thinner or sandpaper: For those who are adventurous – y'all tin can test a clear with one of two means. Kickoff, put some paint thinner on a rag. Find a location on the vehicle that isn't too noticeable. If you lightly wipe the paint thinner soaked rag on the paint, and y'all run into the colour of your paint – the clear coat is non-existent. You tin also use 600 grit sandpaper and lightly sand a department. If the debris is clear, yous take a clear coat. If it's colored – well, you know.

Steps for Fixing Car Pigment that is Faded

Once you've adamant if your automobile has a practiced articulate glaze, you can consummate a paint restoration process. Now, at that place are two schools of thought when information technology comes to fixing faded machine paint.

DIY Pocket-sized Department Repair

Small pockets of faded paint on your car can be repaired using DIY small section repair method

Most of the time, at that place are small pockets of faded paint on your car. It's common for roofs and hoods to be the primary location of faded paint. Some DIY experts will but repair faded paint in the sections that have harm. And that's all practiced for some people.

DIY Complete Car Pigment Restoration

Faded paint on your car can be repaired using DIY complete car paint restoration method

If one section of your paint is faded, the rest is bound to follow sooner than later. And so, instead of just putting a small-scale repair, why not do it the right way – by completing a full car pigment restoration. We've got an awesome article on how to complete a DIY automobile paint restoration – so give it a read for step-past-step instructions.

If you're hell bound on doing the quick prepare – hither are some steps on how to repair small sections of faded paint.

Step ane – Gather the Supplies for Fixing Faded Car Pigment

To fix faded car paint correctly, you'll demand the following supplies:

  • Auto Washing Materials
  • Motorcar Buffing Compound
  • An Electric Automobile Buffer
  • Several Microfiber Buffing Pads & Polishing Pads
  • A Saucepan of Water
  • A Paint Protection Product (motorcar wax, motorcar smoothen, paint sealant or Nano-ceramic blanket) – carnauba wax along with some elbow grease is the best pick for pocket-sized sections. For the entire car, opt for a ceramic coating.

Step ii – Wash the Machine

Completely wash the areas you are attempting to fix using DIY complete car paint restoration

Once you've gathered the supplies, yous'll want to completely launder the areas you are going to attempt to fix.

E'er use the 2-bucket method for washing – as it will meliorate your chances of success in fixing faded pigment.

Stride three – Remove all Debris with a Clay Bar

You should remove all the debris with a clay bar after washing you car in DIY complete car paint restoration

After washing, you'll want to completely remove contaminants from the paint surface. To accomplish this, apply a loftier-quality dirt bar. This video will explain how this procedure is completed.

Step 4 – Begin the Buffing Chemical compound

How to Fix Faded Car Pigment

This quick video is actually quite accurate on how to complete the buffing process of restoring faded paint to a better status. Follow these general steps:

  • Wet your buffing pad with make clean water
  • Apply buffing compound to the soaked pad and the faded pigment surface area
  • Begin to buff the impacted area
  • Consummate this procedure a minimum of iii times
  • Audit the faded paint surface past cleaning information technology with fresh h2o
  • Once the paint appears 'fixed', apply i final buffing with compound

Step 5 – Apply Car Wax, Pigment Sealant, or a Ceramic Coating

Now that you've fixed the damaged paint, you'll want to protect information technology. Car owners basically take three options here:

Motorcar Wax

Yous tin apply car wax on the treated surface area, which will go out a small layer of protection that volition require monthly service in social club to protect.

Paint Sealant

A second option is to apply a paint sealant product. This is applied in a similar fashion as car wax and smooth but volition last up to six months in most cases.

Ceramic Coating

If you lot intend on keeping your vehicle for more than two years and would similar to employ a single product that can last for this time, consider a DIY nano-ceramic blanket like Armor Shield IX (read our Ultimate guide to ceramic coating for cars). If you're going to apply a ceramic coating like Armor Shield IX, it's all-time to do so on the entire car – not merely a pocket-sized section.

Why a Ceramic Coating is the Best Pigment Protection Option for Faded Paint

If y'all've fixed the faded paint correctly, it'south likely that you've removed a piffling of the clear glaze at the same fourth dimension. This will leave the paint surface exposed to the elements more than than earlier. Applying a product like Armor Shield IX on the recently repaired faded paint, you're actually providing an incredibly hard layer of protection.

A nano-ceramic blanket like Armor Shield IX leaves a microscopic layer of protection that has exceptional hydrophobic properties, is highly heat resistant, and is harder than any other paint protection product. It besides helps to enhance the shine and luster of paint and reduces the time required for washing the vehicle.

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