ElDiabloJoe

I need a quick and easy way to remove water spots. I don't care if it removes wax, I can re-wax at my leisure in the coming days, but I need to remove water spots from a seconday (non-luxury) car.

PS-I don't want to damage the clear coat though!

Thanks guys!

EDJ

awiner

Try a mixture of white vinegar and water (50/50)...

ElDiabloJoe

Bummer, even full strength distilled white vinegar did not do the trick.

Thanks anyway Adam!

EDJ

awiner

Then you have some damn hard water spots. Only way to effectivly remove them is to use a polish/compund.

Are you sure they are water spots and not acid rain etchings ?

lars

I wonder if they might be from a concrete garage area. I once put a car into a car park below-ground for the winter. A couple of friends and I rented one end of a commercial parking garage for the winter, put up a wooden partition with a chain-link door to keep out unwanted visitors, and put our cars to bed. After preparing it for storage, I put a simple cotton cover over my car and walked away. One of us would look in from time to time only to see that the partition was intact and the cars hadn't been stolen.

The concrete roof above was used for outdoor parking. Over the winter, water dripped from this level down through the seal for the expansion gaps in the concrete slabs, landing on my car (but not on any of the others). The water carried with it a mass of carbonate/sulfate salt and, when I took the cover off in the spring, the paint looked quite a mess in places. The only way I could get the marks off was to polish them out.

TOGWT

~One man’s opinion / observations

Removing water spots:
Alkaline watermarks (water spots) are calcium and magnesium salts that deposit on the surface after the water has evaporated, the minute crystals bond to the surface and are not re-dissolvable in water. These fall into one of two categories a) surface or b) below surface (etched) water spots. (See also Windscreen Protective Barrier)

Removing water spots from glass- rainwater sometimes contains alkaline minerals that alight on the paint film surface and as the water evaporates leave white `water spots' on glass surfaces. Mineral deposits can be caused by water from a light summer shower, or a lawn sprinkler system that that dries on the glass surface leaving a calcium / sodium deposit.

a) These can usually be removed by using detailer's clay to remove any hardened surface deposits, and then using a solvent type cleaner (Klasse All-In-One) For stubborn spots polish them using method (b)

Methodology:
·Use detailing clay to remove any `hard' surface granules
·To dissolve the alkaline-based, surface/etched mineral water deposits try one or more of the following;
a) 2:1 solution of distilled water/distilled white vinegar
b) Distilled water/Isopropyl Alcohol (adjust ratio as required)
c) Equal parts distilled water/distilled white vinegar/Isopropyl alcohol.
·Use a clean spray bottle and 100% cotton Microfiber cloth to apply the solution to the glass surface
·Wipe off any residue from glass and dry with a damp waffle weave towel
·If any `water spots' remain apply distilled white vinegar or Isopropyl alcohol un-diluted to 100% cotton Microfiber towel, using a medium/heavy pressure on glass surface.
·If this does not remove the `water spots' use Autoglym Car Glass PolishTM and #0000 or #000 steel wool, use straight-line motions only (circular motions cause swirl marks)

b) Removing etched (below surface) water spots from glass--- are caused by acid rain or industrial fallout causing a chemical reaction, if left for any length of time they will etch the paint film surface leaving a concave circular mark.

These can usually be removed using detailer's clay to remove any hardened surface deposits and then using Autoglym Car Glass PolishTM with #0000 synthetic steel wool or Iz Einzette Glas Polish, a random orbital buffer (speed # 4) and a cutting foam pad (LC orange or yellow) to level the surface.

Notes:
1.Do not use abrasive cleaner; glass polish or any grade synthetic steel wool on after market-tinted glass or you will probably scratch the surface.
2.For deeply etched water spots' in the glass surface, do not attempt to polish them out, consult an automotive glass vendor as glass used on later model cars is soft and thin (this may vary by manufacturer) due to weight / cost savings by vehicle manufactures and polishing could cause glass to crack.
3.Be cautious with polishes that contain abrasives like aluminium or cerium oxide as they have the potential to damage glass beyond repair.
4.Some windshields and mirrors have a tinted plastic coating or a blue tint that will scratch or be damaged, only polish or use synthetic wool on uncoated glass.

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted [each one / teach one]
justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ JonM

ElDiabloJoe

TOGWT,

Very helpful. I will clay it if I get the chance.

I'm certain they are water spots and not industrial fallout as they are on the side and left-front fender area and that is exactly where the sprinkler overspray hits the vehicle.

I'm selling it and was trying to remove the spots prior to the prosective buyer seeing it. However, they saw it, but did not seem to notice or care about the water spots. I will clay/attempt-to-remove them before this buyer takes delivery if I get an opportunity before they pick up the car tonight or tomorrow

Thanks y'all!

EDJ

The Godfather

ROTFL... so I'm reading this thread and I come up to this post and I see "TOGWT" and I'm like "what in the freaking hell is he saying now!?!" LOL Turns out it's the homie's screen name :P

Anyway, usually for me, cutting the clear coat with DACP from Meguiar's does the trick.

ElDiabloJoe

It stands for TOGether We Thrive.

Or Truck Over Gross Weight Threshold.

EDJ

TOGWT

~One man’s opinion / observations

Turns out it's the homie's screen name :P (I've been called many things in my time but never 'Homie')

When the Old Grey Whistle Test went on air (BBC Television, England) in 1971 it was unique. In a world accustomed to Top of the Pops, here was a show on which the bands performed album tracks and were interviewed after they had played. This was before the days of miming. The music was live and, since the idea was to air new sounds, many of the bands were making their first television appearance. Presenter Bob Harris recalls how the show's name was inspired by the doormen (in grey suits) who worked at the music publishing houses in London's Denmark Street, known as 'tin pan alley':

"It was a 'tin pan alley' phrase from years ago. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys. The ones they could remember and could whistle having heard it just once or twice had passed the old grey whistle test".

My adaptation:
The old grey whistle test (TOGWT) infers that the blokes with a little grey in their hair have tested these products or tools in real world situations, on many different car marques and various automotive paint systems, and have found they do what they were designed to do, usually more than adequately.

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted [each one / teach one]
justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ JonM

ElDiabloJoe

Very entertaining and enlightening insight, thanks for sharing. I would have never guessed in a million years!

Signed,

Don Cornelius:p

The Godfather

Thanks for the info