ORIGINAL EQUIPEMENT MANUFACTURERS

CLEAR COAT FAILURES

These photos are representative of a common concern vehicle owner may experience.

Clearcoat failure may be due to several issues.

1. An insufficient amount of film build of the clear by the manufacturer. In layman’s terms, they failed to apply enough clearcoat to the top surfaces of the vehicle. Normal film build requirements are 1.5 to 2 mil of clear on the top surfaces. (a mil is 1/1000^th of an inch)
2. The application bells, which apply the clearcoat material, were improperly adjusted and failed to apply the material evenly to the surface in certain areas.
3. The vehicle may have been washed with unapproved chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid, uninhibited oxalic acids or strong mixtures of sulfuric/phosphoric acids.
4. The improper use of a rotary buffer when polishing the vehicle.
5. Unrepaired surface scratches in the clear.
6. Lack of adequate Ultra Violet Ray blockers in the clearcoat.

It should be noted that all vehicle manufacturers specify in Technical Service Bulletins or Advisories to not remove in excess of .3 (3/10^th) mil of clearcoat when buffing or colorsanding of the clearcoat.

To experience what just is the thickness of the clearcoat on your vehicle, obtain the cellophane outer wrapper from a pack of cigarettes. Hold the wrapper together so that both sides touch each other. The thickness you are feeling is 1.5 mil. That is the same thickness as a factory-applied clearcoat.

This photo shows clearly the failure of the clearcoat. Notice the "white" areas. This is "dead" clearcoat. By the term "dead" we mean that the resin system which is the binder and film former of the clearcoat is coming apart. It is detaching from the base coat, which is the color of the vehicle.

HIGHLY MAGNIFIED PICTURES OF CLEARCOAT FAILURE AND MICRO CHECKING OF CLEARCOAT.

The photo on the left is a highly magnified picture of clearcoat failure. As you can see, the entire film is coming apart. No amount of buffing, polishing or waxing will repair this concern. The only concern resolution is to refinish the area.

The photo on the right is of "cracking" or "checking " of the clearcoat film. This may be due to improper application of the paint or as is usually the case, the paint has been wiped at one time or another with a solvent such as paint thinner, lacquer thinner or a cleaning solvent such as an over the counter Wax/Grease/Tar Remover which contained xylene in the formula.

The only concern resolution of this condition is refinishing of the affected areas.