Paint oxidation on vehicles refers to the chemical process that breaks down the paint and ruins its shine and color. This process occurs over long periods. Exposure to oxygen, heat, and ultraviolet rays from the sun all contribute to oxidation.
Unfortunately, this means no paint job lasts forever, and oxidation is impossible to prevent unless you clean and wax your vehicle regularly.
Is Oxidizing Paint on a Car Bad?
Yes, oxidation is bad for your car. Though oxidizing paint doesn’t affect your vehicle’s performance, it does make it look significantly uglier. This also lowers its resale value.
Oxidation makes a vehicle look poorly maintained by dulling the color of the paint and making bits flake and fall off. This can expose the metal underneath, making it vulnerable to rusting.
What Causes Car Paint to Oxidize
Common causes for car paint oxidation include exposure to sunlight, contamination via pollution and other environmental factors, road salt, and poor maintenance.
Exposure to Sunlight
Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun damages paint by breaking down its chemical bonds. This doesn’t just lead to oxidation, it also makes the paint fade and lose both its shine and its color.
Contamination
When substances such as tree sap, bird droppings, and airborne pollutants make contact with your vehicle’s paint job, they can potentially damage it. This makes the paint significantly more likely to oxidize, ruining its color and sheen. High humidity and rain can also rust your vehicle and oxidize the paint.
Road Salt
Roads are often salted when snow falls. Though salt helps melt ice and snow, it is incredibly corrosive and damaging to car paint. If road salt makes contact with your vehicle and it isn’t cleaned off as soon as possible, you run the risk of oxidizing the paint.
Salt is also a problem in cities and towns close to the ocean. Take care when you drive near the sea because the air is saltier, which means your car’s paint job is more likely to oxidize if it’s unprotected.
Poor Maintenance
Neglecting to take care of your vehicle by forgetting to clean it and wax it increases the likelihood of car paint oxidation. The key to protecting your car paint and making it shiny and colorful for as long as possible is to have your car washed twice a month and waxed at least twice a year.
How to Remove Oxidation from Paint on Your Car
One of the simplest ways to remove oxidation from a vehicle is to use either a polishing compound or a rubbing compound.
The latter is ideal for light oxidation whereas more severe cases will require a rubbing compound to remove. To get started, make sure to have each of these items on hand before performing the following steps.
Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.
Pro Tip: The worse the oxidation is, the less likely you’ll be able to fix it without having the car, or at least the oxidized panel, repainted.
What You’ll Need
Before attempting to remove the oxidation from the paint of your vehicle, make sure you have these items.
- Bucket of water
- Car shampoo or other cleaning solutions
- Sponge
- Microfiber cloth
- Polishing compound
- Rubbing compound (optional)
- Polisher and foam pads
- Car wax
What to Do
If you want to remove any oxidation from your vehicle’s paint, follow these steps carefully.
- Wash Your Vehicle
Start by washing your vehicle with car shampoo or another cleaning solution of your choice to get rid of any dirt and debris stuck on the body. Work from the top of the vehicle down to the bottom and rinse it as you go. Once you’ve finished washing the body of the car, use a microfiber cloth to dry it without leaving any scratches.
- Use a Clay Bar
After washing the vehicle, use a clay bar to remove any remaining contaminants on the body. Clay bars are also used to get rid of light oxidation on the surface of your vehicle’s paint job. This is done to prevent it from looking dull, faded, or chalky. It’s important to remove all contaminants and existing oxidation to prevent the paint from getting oxidized further.
- Apply the Polishing Compound
Once the vehicle is clean and free of contaminants, it’s strongly recommended to use a polishing compound to restore the paint’s color and shine. To do this, apply some polishing compound to a foam pad and use your polisher to work on any oxidized areas. Don’t use too much force—apply light pressure to avoid scratching your vehicle and concentrate on one section at a time.
- Apply Rubbing Compound (Optional)
If the polishing compound isn’t strong enough to remove the oxidation, use a rubbing compound instead. This is because the rubbing compound is more abrasive and therefore more effective at removing heavy oxidation.
- Wax Your Vehicle
After cleaning the vehicle and applying the polishing compound, wax the car or apply a paint sealant. This applies a protective layer to your car’s paint, preventing it from getting oxidized again for a few months.
It’s strongly recommended to wax your vehicle at least once every three months to protect the paint and reduce the risk of oxidation.
How to Prevent Oxidation on Car Paint
Some of the best ways to prevent oxidation on car paint are to wash and wax your vehicle regularly, park in shaded areas or under a roof, and get a ceramic coating.
Wash and Wax Your Vehicle Regularly
Washing your vehicle regularly prevents contaminants such as leaves, bird droppings, bug splatters, and other debris from drying and settling on your car. It’s strongly recommended to wash your vehicle at least once every two to three weeks. Similarly, you should wax your vehicle once a month to provide your vehicle with an additional layer of protection.
Park in Shaded Areas
Because prolonged exposure to sunlight causes car paint to oxidize, it’s important to park in shaded areas with roofs. Not only does this prevent sunlight from damaging the paint, but there’s also a good chance parking underneath a roof will protect your vehicle and keep the rain away.
Get Ceramic Paint Coating
Unlike other types of car paint, ceramic car paint coats offer heavy-duty protection and are specially designed to resist damage from UV rays, chemicals, and oxidation. Ceramic paint coats are durable and long-lasting because they chemically bond with your vehicle’s factory paint, giving it a protective and glossy finish.
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