Can I polish this level of oxidation?

[jdgamble]

This is the hood of my nephew’s new pickup... 199x Ford Ranger. Any idea how this will respond to polishing? Can I get it looking better, or will I do more damage?

The paint and/or clearcoat is cracking in the corners as well.




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[acuRAS82]

Clear coat cracking is a no-go to polish (will only remove more paint). Oxidation would certainly get some correction from a polish, but in your situation it’s hard to tell how thin the paint is that is oxidized, and whether polishing will remove oxidation AND the remainder of the clear coat.

You could always give it a try if you have nothing else to lose, but it may make the failing clear coat fully disappear.

[Mike Phillips]

This is the hood of my nephew’s new pickup... 199x Ford Ranger.

Any idea how this will respond to polishing?

Can I get it looking better, or will I do more damage?

The paint and/or clearcoat is cracking in the corners as well.

Here's the full size version of your picture




If it were me? I'd use a great one-step cleaner/wax on it and squeeze whatever clarity, gloss and shine out of you can get.

THEN - take care of it. Or make sure the nephew takes care of it. Get him a bottle of this and tell him at a minimum - wipe down the hood, roof and tops of the truck bed.



Patented UV Protection - Optimum Car Wax - by Dr. Ghodoussi at Autogeek.com

[acuRAS82]

At the size Mike made the picture, it doesn’t look too bad as far as CC failure.

[jdgamble]

Thanks all. Yeah the cracking is only in the front corners where the oxidation isn’t too bad. I’ll explain the risks to my nephew and go from there.

Funny that you mention optimum car wax Mike. I got the same nephew a bottle of optimum for his last car which he proceeded to crash almost immediately.


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[Mike Phillips]

Funny that you mention optimum car wax Mike.

I got the same nephew a bottle of optimum for his last car which he proceeded to crash almost immediately.

Now you've done it...