Paint parasite?

[powers1]

Originally Posted by giodog2000

So many questions, so little answers!

The guys are asking questions but also giving you probable answers!!
It can be any number of things!I do professional spraying myself and to me it looks like the grey primer has reacted under the blue paint because not enough drying time for the primer!This is very common in rush jobs!!!!
But if your car hasnt been in a workshop or for servicing in the last few weeks ,then it must something else that some of the guys already mentioned..
Do answer some of their questions and I am sure ,they will be even more helpfulGood luck and keep us posted

[powers1]

Originally Posted by epdarks

Here is another example, could be a different problem.

Paint peeling from my E53 X5 - is yours peeling too?

This is clearly bad preparation of undercoat...Not sanded or degreased properly!
Paint hasnt adhered to it and flakes off..YOu see a lot this on the top clear coat ,where sprayers leave it too long (1 hour plus ) between spraying the paint and top clear coat!

[TiAgX5]

Lame bodyshop work, the "parasite" you refer to is the guy getting paid to do this sub-par work. Time and/or prep work between colorcoat and clearcoat was not done correctly. This is very common, I see a few cars every week with their clearcoats peeling off. The inescapable truth when buying a used vehicle is, it's ONLY as good as the lamest person who has EVER worked on it!

[bcredliner]

It does look like the fender is not aligned properly though I am not sure that is the case or the angle of the pictures were taken.

All this input and no response from Clutch. One of us might be a happenstance diagnostic wizard but a per Powers1, we are shooting in the dark without some questions answered. Where are you Clutch????

[Clutch]

Thanks so much for all the responses – very much appreciated - and sorry for the “delay” – but I’m lucky to get to the home computer once day about this time. The boss runs me ragged at work and a 14-month old at home. Never enough time.

So let’s see – no, the hood is aligned very well – apparent gap is an artifact of the angle. Clean Carfax and clean title. I am second owner – had it just over 2 years now. No indicators of previous accident or body work that I can see. No service, cleaners, automated carwash or odd chemicals getting on there that I know of. No pest control sprays. We do have yard fertilizer put down but the car is at work when that happens and the stuff is granular, not a spray. And yes, surface still smooth to the touch. The open hood concept sounds kind of logical. It would explain why there is nothing on the hood as opposed to a splatter, but I can’t think of anytime recently that anyone has been under there at all, much less on that side.

If there was bad prep work before painting – could it take two years to develop? From the factory – 7 years? And this came out of nowhere real fast and grew like crazy. Again, I appreciate the feedback and your ideas. I was hoping someone could nail it exactly. I hope to get her into a paint and body shop the week of 5/28. I will keep you posted.

[powers1]

Originally Posted by Clutch

Thanks so much for all the responses – very much appreciated - and sorry for the “delay” – but I’m lucky to get to the home computer once day about this time. The boss runs me ragged at work and a 14-month old at home. Never enough time.

So let’s see – no, the hood is aligned very well – apparent gap is an artifact of the angle. Clean Carfax and clean title. I am second owner – had it just over 2 years now. No indicators of previous accident or body work that I can see. No service, cleaners, automated carwash or odd chemicals getting on there that I know of. No pest control sprays. We do have yard fertilizer put down but the car is at work when that happens and the stuff is granular, not a spray. And yes, surface still smooth to the touch. The open hood concept sounds kind of logical. It would explain why there is nothing on the hood as opposed to a splatter, but I can’t think of anytime recently that anyone has been under there at all, much less on that side.


If there was bad prep work before painting – could it take two years to develop? From the factory – 7 years? And this came out of nowhere real fast and grew like crazy. Again, I appreciate the feedback and your ideas. I was hoping someone could nail it exactly. I hope to get her into a paint and body shop the week of 5/28. I will keep you posted.

If the hood was opened ,you would also get splatter in the engine compartment!
No,its highly unlikely that it would come up now,had it been a bad workshop preparation ,2 years ago!
Its very weird,specially as you say its smooth to the touch ,yet we can clearly see excessive "orange peel"!!!!If it was a chemical ,I would expect it to be peeling off and rough!
One more question for you and a simple test for you to do!Using a 1500 to 2000 wet sandpaper and water,(dont worry ,it wont damage the paint or scratch it and will polish out)test to see what colour the water is on surface ??If water is grey is a greyish colour,then you know it was something splattered!If the water colour is white (this is the top clear paint) ,then its obviously a paint reaction from bad spray job!
If you can ,take a pic of the complete fender ,so we can compare the orange peel on it!

[bcredliner]

Has the problem continued to get worse? If so, can you post an updated closeup?

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by powers1

......No,its highly unlikely that it would come up now,had it been a bad workshop preparation ,2 years ago!.........

??? Search "colorcoat/clearcoat separation" and you will find dozens of site on automotive refinishing that all read along the lines of this.......


"exceeding the paint product's recommended recoat time, or in the case of clearcoat colors spraying the colorcoat too dry, using an incompatible clearcoat, or incorrect colorcoat reduction.
You can prevent peeling by, again, reading the damn instructions for the products you're using, properly cleaning and sanding your substrate, using the correct undercoats (primers) for your substrate, and making sure you topcoat is within the recommended flash times for the material you're using."

Just getting something as simple as flash times or reduction of products wrong can cause limited adhesion between color and clear coats.


Read more: Help With Troubleshooting Paint Problems - Street Rodder Magazine


It can take a few yrs for the colorcoat and clearcoat to seperate.

[bcredliner]

It does look like the clearcoat is separating. Trouble I am having is that it happened so fast seemingly without a contributing event. It doesn't look like anything you can polish out but I would try that first. If that doesn't work it doesn't matter what the cause is--it will have to be striped and repainted. Before repainting go to shop that can measure the paint. If it has been repainted the paint will be thicker than the original paint.

[powers1]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

??? Search "colorcoat/clearcoat separation" and you will find dozens of site on automotive refinishing that all read along the lines of this.......


"exceeding the paint product's recommended recoat time, or in the case of clearcoat colors spraying the colorcoat too dry, using an incompatible clearcoat, or incorrect colorcoat reduction.
You can prevent peeling by, again, reading the damn instructions for the products you're using, properly cleaning and sanding your substrate, using the correct undercoats (primers) for your substrate, and making sure you topcoat is within the recommended flash times for the material you're using."

Just getting something as simple as flash times or reduction of products wrong can cause limited adhesion between color and clear coats.

Hope the OP asnwers the last questions I put to him ,as that will tell a lot about the his problem.


Read more: Help With Troubleshooting Paint Problems - Street Rodder Magazine


It can take a few yrs for the colorcoat and clearcoat to seperate.

Listen!Why dont you contribute to the thread ,instead of being sarcastic!!
I been spraying for 20+ years and quite good at it,so my posts are based on hard working experience,probably unlike you who probably just did a simple search on paint troubleshooting!!!!Dont belittle me please,with your elementary and basic (that every ones knows) paint tips!!!!!
Are you 100% sure that that is colourcoat and clearcoat separation?Pics show a grey bottom colour,not matt blue!
If the flash time hadnt been adhered to ,the top coat would have peeled off after hosing off the car a few times ...wouldnt take a few months ,let alone 2 years!

Dont get your tip for avoiding peeling,if you read OP posts ,you will learn that he says that paint is smooth,NOT PEELING!!!!!!
Hope the OP answers the last questions I put to him ,as that will tell a lot about his problem.