How do I get rid of this oxidation?

1997GT4.6 · May 15, 2011

Hi, I have some oxidation on the back bumper of my 97 GT. Of course it's the infamous red paint dilemma. It's rio red. There is some oxidation and paint fade on the rear bumper. It's faded a lot as you can see in the pictures compared to the trunk, and there is oxidation in that depression line that runs along the top part of the rear bumper. I have waxed it before and it looks super shiny with the polish using some Mguiars stuff that includes the polish and wax in one solution. It makes it shine like no other but now that rear bumper is going on me

I'm sorry if the pictures come out HUGE! I have no idea how to resize them (tiny pic website).

I have no clue as to how to get rid of this! It's urgent as I need to sell this car soon and I'm afraid that will devalue the price of the car.

this one shows the oxidation on the rear bumper

this one shows the difference in color of the rear bumper and trunk

this one shows the oxidation up close

1997GT4.6 · May 15, 2011

Oh and I'd rather not have to order any online products (as I want to put it up for sale on thursday!), if you guys can suggest stuff that is carried at local stores like autozone, oreilys (checkers), and walmart! Thanks a bunch guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Black Ice · May 16, 2011

3M Perfect it rubbing compound. I used it when i first got my car that had sat in a impound yard for 3 years and was in pretty bad shape and then put on some megs nxt wax

1997GT4.6 · May 16, 2011

Do you think that would get rid of that oxidation in the depression? I don't want it to eat the paint, I used that wax/polish in one and on the buffer it left some red stains :/ and dayemmm if that's what it did for your car I must try it! Looks really sharp all glossy.

SRT Handz · May 16, 2011

You can try some rubbing compound but it Looks to
Me like the clearcoat has begun to fail.

WhiteStallion94 · May 16, 2011

SRT Handz said:
You can try some rubbing compound but it Looks to
Me like the clearcoat has begun to fail.

Yeah, that's definitely clearcoat failure.

1997GT4.6 · May 16, 2011

Yah I believe it is clear coat failure. Shucks, it wasn't this way till it had to sit out in the open Arizona sun for a month due to fixing a rear main seal leak on a drive way lol. And it was filthy so I couldn't put the cover on it.

Do you guys think it can be reverted or made to look good for at least a month? with local products that I can go and buy. I'm thinking about doing a clay bar (or maybe not to me it seems that the clay bar destroyed some of the clear coat the first time I clay barred it). but that and a rubbing compound, polish, than wax. Idk I'm not detailer

SRT Handz · May 16, 2011

1997GT4.6 said:
Yah I believe it is clear coat failure. Shucks, it wasn't this way till it had to sit out in the open Arizona sun for a month due to fixing a rear main seal leak on a drive way lol. And it was filthy so I couldn't put the cover on it.

This is what happens when you paint isnt wax and protect, it can fail due to sun and UV rays.

The only way to fix clear coat failure is to Repaint.

1997GT4.6 · May 16, 2011

SRT Handz said:
1997GT4.6 said:

Yah I believe it is clear coat failure. Shucks, it wasn't this way till it had to sit out in the open Arizona sun for a month due to fixing a rear main seal leak on a drive way lol. And it was filthy so I couldn't put the cover on it.

Click to expand...

This is what happens when you paint isnt wax and protect, it can fail due to sun and UV rays.

The only way to fix clear coat failure is to Repaint.

Well it was waxed but I'd say the last time was 5 months ago :/ Yah makes sense hmm it was always garaged but spent lots of time in the AZ sun since I go to school full time and work. yikesss I'm gonna try a rubbing compound and wax and polish.

repainting isn't an option though since I'm getting rid of it.

1997GT4.6 · May 16, 2011

So I used some Meguiars ultimate compound and meguiars cleaner wax as I was getting desperate!! lol. Just couldn't stand that faded look, than look over at my other car and see near perfect paint. So I went at it on the bumper. All by hand (wish I had a porter cable) and it looks stunning! The red does not look faded anymore at all the oxidation in that depression is still there but not as visible and it is actually not white anymore its blended into the red. Also on the application pads I was getting red paint on it which means my clear coat is definitely toast :/

but looks much better. I'm gonna do the whole car tomorrow as well as switch out the mid pipe on it