While detailing my wife's DD, and general abused family vehicle, I encountered small rust colored dots in the paint. These are the size of the mark a pen or pencil would make on paper, if you were dotting an i.

The paint is Acura's Pearl White color. Not sure if that is important, but this is the first time in my limited experience, I've encountered this.

The dots are very smooth after a wash, and confined mostly to the lower half of the MDX. Almost imperceptible to the touch. I'm not a picture expert, but here is my best attempt at capturing an example



The good news is, I was able to remove about half of these with clay, the other half came out with Menzerna IP, and edge green pad.

Any ideas what these might be, and how to keep them from returning?

 

Those are indeed rust spots from industrial fallout that has embedded itself in your paint. It's not uncommon at all, and usually clay will take care of it (as you've found out).

 

I had some of those on my dad's truck. Some came out with clay some wouldn't. So i just wet sand the areas...well i spot wet sand and buffed it with compound then went back over with a polish and glaze(i just like shiny so I used glaze also). Then go back over with 2-3 coats of high quality wax and nothing sticks to the paint no more!

 

Thanks a lot for the fast reply. I'll have to find out where the H my wife has been driving to pick this stuff up. Don't want it on my S.

Any ideas on prevention other than more frequent cleaning, more sealing/waxing. The thing had a pretty good coating of sealant and wax.

Also, I'll post up the full detail pics probably tomorrow

 

A lot of cars come that way from the factory, since they are transported by train to the dealerships and the dust from the railroad tracks settles/embeds itself into the paint. Does she park the car outside often? If she does, then a car cover would definitely help..

 

Hmph I can't really give any other easy suggestions, I can just give you my waxing tips, Meguiars M21/NXT last really long and durable. Only thing is when applying, it has to be a VERY thin layer. I mean very thin to where you cant really see it unless you're at an angle. 2-3 Coats of that Then it should be very durable. I get soda spills, oil n grease stains on my car. Dried and hard but nothing a lil water and a quick wipe won't take off!

 

Car is only parked outside at work, and when shopping, etc. Our house is far away from anything industrial. Given that most all of these spots are on the lower half of the vehicle, is it possible it's being picked up somewhere along her route to work and transferred to the paint? Maybe when the road is wet, and splashed up onto the sides of the vehicle. I seem to recall that there were not any of these on the nose of the truck.