Question about my paint finish

[pointillistic_practitioner]

Okay so I've been using Poorboy's Line of swirl removers (ssr 3, 2.5, 2, 1, & polish w/ sealant). I also have Megs UC, and will soon have some carpro fixer coming in. The dilemna I'm facing with my 1997 Honda accord in green is that no matter how great the correction results I achieve are, the horizontal surfaces (roof, hood & trunk lid) always seem to be more dull than the rest of the car. They still get shiny but lack the depth of shine that the rest of the car has if you know what I mean...my question (which I'm afraid to ask) is...do you think this is the beginning of CC failure? Or just maybe oxidation? But idk why it'd be oxidation...I've used ssr3 on the car before and that should knock any oxidation out. Maybe its just sun damage or something from not being waxed/protected for a good 9 years before I had it? Opinions? Anyone with an older Honda know what I'm talking about?

[rider9195]

It's possible the sun faded your paint to a point where it isn't as glossy and it could be. That's my guess.

Hopefully some other members can voice their opinions.

[swanicyouth]

It could be all surfaces look the same but it's an optical illusion that the horizontal surfaces look worse. Horizontal surfaces direct light right back st you and IMHO show defects a lot more, especially dark colors. I your just saying its lack of depth your seeing, this could be it

[Mike Phillips]

the horizontal surfaces (roof, hood & trunk lid) always seem to be more dull than the rest of the car. They still get shiny but lack the depth of shine that the rest of the car





A few years ago someone posted this picture of beginning clear coat failure to an article I wrote for Meguiar's on clear coat failure. To me, it's been a very hard picture to get, find or take because


A. You need a black car

B. You need the paint in-between good and bad condition. Usually you only get one or the other.


I created an article just for this problem using this picture and of course I always give credit to the website that owns the permissions for the picture.


It sounds like you have beginning clear coat failure, mostly because the panels affects are the horizontal panels and the appearance description sounds like what I've seen in my life.

Here's the link to the article and the picture, I recommend reading the entire article.


Beginning Clearcoat Failure (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/29197-beginning-clearcoat-failure.html)

Here is the best example I've been able to find that shows beginning clear coat failure, it's from a thread I created on MeguiarsOnline called the The Clearcoat Failure Photo Archive (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20411)


Photos Courtesy of MeguiarsOnline
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_8_30_06OG003.JPG




The above picture was taken back in around 2005 or 2006 and by now I'm confident the above car fits this article I just wrote and this picture I just took at the local pool parking lot.


This is just an excerpt, I recommend clicking the link and reading the entire article,

There are some cars you cannot fix (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/52226-there-some-cars-you-cannot-fix.html)




Extreme Clearcoat Failure - This cannot be fixed
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/722/ClearcoatFailureonFord.jpg




:dunno:

[pointillistic_practitioner]

It's possible the sun faded your paint to a point where it isn't as glossy and it could be. That's my guess. Hopefully some other members can voice their opinions.

Yes I did think of that because it was left outside and not waxed for the first 9 or so years of its life.


It could be all surfaces look the same but it's an optical illusion that the horizontal surfaces look worse. Horizontal surfaces direct light right back st you and IMHO show defects a lot more, especially dark colors. I your just saying its lack of depth your seeing, this could be it


Yeah I thought this too. Could be true. I don't know, it seems as if the paint is thinner too on the roof, but again, it could just be the lack of depth I'm seeing, and the actual metal of the roof being less thick & more "bendable" making me think it has thinner paint. I don't know!

PS I'll try to post pics but I've been trying to update another thread w/ pics, and even update my avatar and I can't! It keeps saying file upload failed. ugh! lol.

[pointillistic_practitioner]

A few years ago someone posted this picture of beginning clear coat failure to an article I wrote for Meguiar's on clear coat failure. To me, it's been a very hard picture to get, find or take because


A. You need a black car

B. You need the paint in-between good and bad condition. Usually you only get one or the other.


I created an article just for this problem using this picture and of course I always give credit to the website that owns the permissions for the picture.


It sounds like you have beginning clear coat failure, mostly because the panels affects are the horizontal panels and the appearance description sounds like what I've seen in my life.

Here's the link to the article and the picture, I recommend reading the entire article.


Beginning Clearcoat Failure (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/29197-beginning-clearcoat-failure.html)

Here is the best example I've been able to find that shows beginning clear coat failure, it's from a thread I created on MeguiarsOnline called the The Clearcoat Failure Photo Archive (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20411)


Photos Courtesy of MeguiarsOnline
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_8_30_06OG003.JPG




The above picture was taken back in around 2005 or 2006 and by now I'm confident the above car fits this article I just wrote and this picture I just took at the local pool parking lot.


This is just an excerpt, I recommend clicking the link and reading the entire article,

There are some cars you cannot fix (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/52226-there-some-cars-you-cannot-fix.html)




Extreme Clearcoat Failure - This cannot be fixed
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/722/ClearcoatFailureonFord.jpg




:dunno:


Yeah...from what I can tell it doesn't look at all like the first picture on the black car (and DEFINITELY not the second haha) I just thought maybe the paint is starting to wear thin & maybe this is the stage before the CC failure in the first picture you put up. I know it's not uncommon for older hondas like mine. maybe it is just sun damage or an optical illusion. I don't know! Thanks for the answers though mike!! I will definitely read the articles.

[Mike Phillips]

One question...

Does this car now, or has it in the past, spent most of its life parked outdoors exposed to the sun?


The car is now 15 years old, that's old for a clear coat finish unless it has always been either garage-kept or meticulously taken care of and usually you need both.

Dr. Ghodoussi told me the UV inhibitors that come in the factory clear have a half life of 5 years.

That means if you bought a car in the year 2000, by the year 2005 half of the original effectiveness of the UV Inhibitors is now gone and it only gets worse with more time, not better.


:)

[Mike Phillips]

I just thought maybe the paint is starting to wear thin & maybe this is the stage before the CC failure in the first picture you put up.





If you decide that what you're seeing is the beginning of clear coat failure, then tread lightly. By this I mean use a fine polish and then apply a UV resistant product and take as best care of the finish as you can.

:)

[pointillistic_practitioner]

One question...

Does this car now, or has it in the past, spent most of its life parked outdoors exposed to the sun?


The car is now 15 years old, that's old for a clear coat finish unless it has always been either garage-kept or meticulously taken care of and usually you need both.

Dr. Ghodoussi told me the UV inhibitors that come in the factory clear have a half life of 5 years.

That means if you bought a car in the year 2000, by the year 2005 half of the original effectiveness of the UV Inhibitors is now gone and it only gets worse with more time, not better.


:)

It was, is, and always has been kept outside, unfortunately. My parents purchased it new, and it was given to me last year. I've been doing my best to take care of it, but there are some things you can't change. There is cracking on the hood & roof as well (maybe a 9"x9" section on the hood & 4"x4" section on the roof) Wow 5 years that's it? That surprises me!


If you decide that what you're seeing is the beginning of clear coat failure, then tread lightly. By this I mean use a fine polish and then apply a UV resistant product and take as best care of the finish as you can.

:)

Thank you for the advice, I definitely will just to be safe. Do you have any UVRP suggestions? I've been thinking about getting OptiCoat 2.0 for awhile now. Would that do the trick? If not what about a decent alternative at a reasonable price? (I can't afford Menz, MF DA, & OC atm lol so I'll have to pick & choose for my next purchase... there are too many great products to choose from on this site, I have to start charging more per detail & stop giving deals lol :doh:)