What Those Spots on Your Car Really Are

Washing your car regularly is an important part of auto care. If you do it enough, it may be easy to get most of the dirt and other contaminants off the paint. If you go for a long trip or a long while between washings, however, you probably will notice a buildup of different materials that leave flecks all over your vehicle. What are these, and how can you get rid of them?

A Variety of Contaminants

There are several different causes of contaminant flecks that get stuck to your vehicle.

  • Brake Dust: This occurs when you step on the brake and the brake pad and rotor grind together. This natural part of operating your vehicle lets particles of metal, carbon and iron go airborne and can leave a residue even on custom coating services Portland OR drivers enjoy.
  • Industrial Fallout: If you drive through or near industrial areas very often, the airborne metal particles that rest on your vehicle could be industrial fallout. If you live near factories and railways, this is the likely culprit.
  • Rail Dust: Similar to the industrial fallout, rail dust is iron particles that may adhere to your vehicle’s paint, and it comes from railways. It can occur when vehicles are transported by train, but it’s also common to see on cars that drive near railroads.
  • Hard Water: Although it doesn’t leave a dark spot on your paint, hard water can eventually damage a paint’s coating, particularly if you leave in an area that sees hot summers.

Clean It Off Quick

The good news is that even stubborn iron particles can be removed from your vehicle. There are special sprays and tools that can be applied and used that loosen up metal that has adhered to paint, allowing you to wipe those unseemly spots away. It is important to detail your car soon so that the particles and hard water spots don’t permanently damage your paint coat. Wash your car often to prevent buildup of these potentially damaging spots.