Taking care of paint

[4x4mike]

My 4runner is dark green (imperial jade mica) and I've noticed some blemishes on the hood and want to take care of them. What I don't want to happen is for them to spread. You know the look where it looks as if the paint is dry and resembles a scab. I've had the vehicle for about a year and a half and have done a full clay bar/cleaner wax at least twice. In between those I have done little touch ups here and there just so it stays looking nice.

Anyone have any recommendation on what to do with this?

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/4Runner%20Paint/DSC07176.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/4Runner%20Paint/DSC07177.jpg

It's a little hard to see but this was the best I could do with the reflection and dark color.

[CJM]

If its thru there isnt much you can do as anything to abrasive will scratch the bejesus out of the rest of the paint (dont ask how I know this). If I were you a little touch up might be the trick.

[paddlenbike]

It looks like something ate the clearcoat. The paintless dent removal guys are pros at touch up paint--you might want to check and see if they can repair the clearcoat using clearcoat touch up to keep it from getting worse.

[4x4mike]

I've covered it up with factory touch up paint for now. I also threw a layer of wax over it for a little piece of mind. I guess for now I'll just watch it and see how it lasts. I had 3 spots on the hood like this.

[slosurfer]

Have you seen this stuff? TR-3 (http://bluemagicusa.com/index.php/blue_magic/products/91)

I first heard about it on ttora (can't find the thread) and some guy took a ton of scratches out with it. I'll see if I can find the thread

[slosurfer]

Found the thread: How well does yer junk clean up? (http://ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133049&highlight=blue+magic)

Has some decent before and after pics

[4x4mike]

I'll have to look into that stuff.

[Bob98SR5]

mike,

looks to me like a bird s##t ring which is usually etched thru the clearcoat. you'd need someone to buff that down w/ a high speed wool cutting pad all around the area to smooth it down and build it back up w/ a combination of glaze, polish, wax, etc or wahtever crazy order they think up

[4x4mike]

It might be bird poop but who knows. I clean up poop when I see it but maybe it's older. I don't really want to have it fixed more than I want to stop it from getting worse. I guess if it got really bad I'd get the hood re painted one day but I'm not there yet.

[fustercluck]

I've actually seen tree sap cut through the clear coat before. When left on there long enough, it compromises the integrity of the clear film. What I see from you pictures is an isolated blemish; meaning that it's not a complete failure of the clear coat due to a poor initial application or quality of materials. That would appear on the hood as longitudinal streaks of flaking to the base coat. I think your runner had a sustance left on ther long enough to damage the clear in those spots.

For what to do....well how much do you want to spend or how handy are you? If the clear has only been pitted, it's possible to cut and buff it out, though you can't go so far that the film of clear is too thin or the weather will ruin it. I would prolly re,ove the hood, scuff it down and shoot it with a couple more coats of clear...course I do everything the hard way.