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Black specks all over car wont come off! Done everything I can at home (NOOB)

5.3K views 16 replies 14 participants last post by  MnM33  
#1 ·
Hi all, this is my first time posting in the forums, so bear with me. Ok, so here goes! The whole mess started a few moths ago after returning from Europe studying abroad. My sister used the car in the meantime so it wouldnt just be sitting in the driveway. When I left it, it was perfectly clean, but now all of a sudden I see black specks all over the car, they wont come off no matter what I do and it is very upsetting, especially since I dont know what the stuff is. I have tried everything I can think of, aside from buffering (not comfortable just yet to do it) from tar/sap remover, rubbing compounds, and even clay bars! Nothing will get this stuff off? [:(!]
I'm looking to you guys for some advice, I have no idea what to do.[ffrocks]
I actually am making marks on the car trying to get the stuff off and all of it still isnt gone [:(]
Sorry for the long post, but being a broke college student, all I really have is my car and I love it, but the spots are driving me nuts [80?]
 
#7 ·
Pictures? Honestly, I'm surprised no one has mentioned rail dust yet. Do you see it mostly on the doors behind the wheels and the rear of the car? Though, they're usually rust-colored more so than black, but who knows what color they'd look on your car since it's not white.

Image
 
#10 · (Edited)
Try a very mild paint thinner on it.
I know so many people fear using it but with clear coat you can get away with using some harsher chemicals than you could with a single stage paint and it not cause any real damage to the paint.
Take a little bit of the thinner on a Soft shop towel and and gently wipe at the spots.
If it comes off then you can go pic up one of the cheap orbital buffers and buff the car out. BAM your good to go.
 
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#12 ·
xD 2014 thread revival ftw LOL this is why i like my dark cars xD
 
#16 ·
xD i can just think of this when i read that...

Neighbors cleaning their cars again... how do you know... smells like kerosene (Lights a smoke)
 
#15 ·
It's too bad I didn't see this thread back in 2014 when originally posted. I might have been able to help. My guess, what the OP has is called Artillery Mold Spores or Artillery Fungus Spores.

Most often they come from a nearby mulch bed, like along your driveway or from the landscaping at your workplace. There is no quick and easy fix. The safest way we remove them is to spray a degreaser on the car (not in the sun), I use Meguiar's Super Degreaser. Let it dwell for five minutes or so. Then while washing the car, pick off the top "scab" of the mold spore. The remaining portion of the mold spore can then be softened and eventually removed with your fingernail. Kind of feels like scraping your nails across a chalk board, if you're squeamish. An aggressive clay will also work, but you'll mar the surface and have to polish afterwards.
 

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#17 ·
Just wanted to throw my two cents in here as well...

I used to work at a Ford Dealership when I was in college and there was this stuff called BodySol, or at least that's what they called it. It's a clear chemical, very strong smelling; kind of what you would expect from a paint stripper but it never messed with any paint. It's intent is to clean or remove any type of adhesive, but after working there during my entire time in college I found that it had other uses such as easily removing tar, bugs, caked on brake dust. A lot of uses honestly.

I live two minutes away from that dealership now. I'll talk with one of the guys to see what it actually is and may end up taking a water bottle of it from them so have more at my house!