Fallout and Oxidation

What is fallout?

Fallout is any airborne contaminants that land on your vehicle’s paint and bake into the clear coat. This includes brake dust, industrial pollutants, exhaust from other vehicles, jet streams from aircrafts, railroad dust and other metals.

How do you remove fallout?

Fallout can be removed with a clay bar, clay towel or clay mitt. When using clay, it should only be done during the wash when the vehicle is wet. Using clay on a dry vehicle will scratch the paint.

What is oxidation?

‍Oxidation occurs when contaminants on the vehicle’s paint are exposed to oxygen and UV rays from the sun, which causes a chemical reaction in the clear coat. This chemical reaction can cause the paint to look faded or cloudy.

How do you fix oxidation?

Oxidation can be fixed with correcting compounds and a polisher. A cutting compound should be used first to remove the cloudy appearance on the clear coat. Next, a fine polish should be used to restore the vehicle’s glossy shine. To prevent oxidation from occurring in the future, a wax or paint sealant should be applied as the last step.

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