How to get rid of these spots

[vaeevictiss]

So it's not my mustang but my work vehicle I'm just trying to make look nice lol. Tried posting on the detailing subreddit and they get insta removed so figured I'd ask here.

Not sure if these are hard water spots or etching but the whole hood has it. Hit it with car soap, high ph car soap, dish soap, vinegar, alcohol, APC, IronX, I even used my DA with some meguiars 105 and 205 and nothing is even touching the shit. Guessing I'm going to need to use something far more abrasive to really cut into the clear. Any ideas?

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[Unbridled5.0]

Hard water spots that etched, probably from a sprinkler or from washing it in the sun. Nasty acid rain is another possibility..

What type of pad were you using the 105/205 with? Polishing should cut that out no issue. I would steer away from using ipa on clearcoat. It's been discovered in recent years to make clearcoat 'swell'. If you need something to use as a paint prep, try wax&grease remover.

 

[vaeevictiss]

Hard water spots that etched, probably from a sprinkler or from washing it in the sun. Nasty acid rain is another possibility..

What type of pad were you using the 105/205 with? Polishing should cut that out no issue. I would steer away from using ipa on clearcoat. It's been discovered in recent years to make clearcoat 'swell'. If you need something to use as a paint prep, try wax&grease remover.

I probably could use a better cutting pad. The one i have is more for polishing but i just had it laying around so gave it a try.

 

[skinnyb]

Those water spots need to be neutralized with a good acidic water spot remover. CARPRO Spotless comes to mind. You have already cleaned thoroughly, hit with the water spot remover and let sit for a while and then clean again to remove the residue. Polishing spots like that, they will keep coming back until they are neutralized. Might require wet sanding sadly... Depending on how much clear coat you have to work with, that might not be possible...

Good video for reference.

 

[DFB5.0]

As @skinnyb has mentioned, you need to approach this from two angles. First, you need to chemically neutralize the minerals that caused the water spots, think Carpro Spotless or Gyeon Water Spot Remover. You may get lucky and the water spots will be removed at the first step, but you may need to follow with polishing to remove the visible damage. The KEY to success is to use that water spot remover chemical, otherwise they will return over and over again.

Check out post 20 below for more -
The Decontamination Thread | Page 2 | 2015+ S550 Mustang Forum (GT, EcoBoost, GT350, GT500, Bullitt, Mach 1) - Mustang6G.com

 

[m2016v6]

I have a black Mustang that has similar issues. I don't have any pictures now, I'll post some later. Mine looks a bit like it was parked underneath a pine tree for a few years.

I'm the second owner, and it's also covered in scratches. The former owner clearly didn't give a damn about the finish. It's likely that I'm going to have to have it repainted anyway. Note: I am the one person on earth who restored a Pontiac G6 convertible. Repainted and everything.

Edit: I just got imgur to work... I am prepared to be wrong, but.. those are not water spots.

 

[MiamiGT350]

Adam's Water Spot Remover will help clean up the water spots.

 

[jcm3]

Those water spots need to be neutralized with a good acidic water spot remover. CARPRO Spotless comes to mind. You have already cleaned thoroughly, hit with the water spot remover and let sit for a while and then clean again to remove the residue. Polishing spots like that, they will keep coming back until they are neutralized. Might require wet sanding sadly... Depending on how much clear coat you have to work with, that might not be possible...

Good video for reference.

Late reply, but great vid. Thank you!

 

[ralph7]

Think I would try some polishing compound on a small area, just to see...

 

[S550HPP]

I have a black Mustang that has similar issues. I don't have any pictures now, I'll post some later. Mine looks a bit like it was parked underneath a pine tree for a few years.

I'm the second owner, and it's also covered in scratches. The former owner clearly didn't give a damn about the finish. It's likely that I'm going to have to have it repainted anyway. Note: I am the one person on earth who restored a Pontiac G6 convertible. Repainted and everything.

Edit: I just got imgur to work... I am prepared to be wrong, but.. those are not water spots.

If it's just clear scratches just fine sand and cut polish with wool pad otherwise clear it only.

For all the spots do 1000, 1500 and cut polish with wool pad on a rotary....be very careful of edges (mask them) and remove or mask hood vents.

May even be able to remove spots with wool and cut worth trying first.

Hard water and bird crap is brutal. I had to sand and polish one hood had sprinkler spots and my current hood PPF etched by bird crap I cleaned off while still soft.....

 

[kilobravo]

Then there's always CarPro Spotless. But from the OP said, it sounds like polishing may be the only answer.

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