What are water spots on car paint?

Also calledAcid marks, Acid rain, Light Water Spots, Medium Water Spots, Phantom Water Spots, Rain Spotting, Severe Water Spots, Water Marking, Water Spotting

White or chalky circles are minerals left when water dried on the paint. Hard water, including bore water, leaves them. If they will not wash off, the minerals have stuck to the clear coat, or eaten into it.

What kind of repair does it need?

A water spot remover first, then a machine polish if that does not shift them. Stuck deposits come off with the chemical. Etched ones are polished out. Where the water has eaten deeper than the clear coat can be polished, that panel is painted.

Class of work Machine polishing, or a refinish where it has etched deep.

How long it sat decides it. Caught early, it is a polish on one area. Left long enough to bite past what the clear coat can give, the panel is painted instead.

What to do next

Book a detailer. The bigger fix is where the car is parked. If it sits near sprinklers, moving it a couple of metres is worth more than any repair.

Sources

  1. PPG GBpaint makerDewax the affected area, flat lightly, compound and polish, repeating if necessary
  2. OCD Car Careproduct sellerMineral deposits left behind by evaporated water.
  3. Sherwin-Williams Automotivepaint makerSand and featheredge damaged areas to remove chips, then refinish
  4. Standoxpaint makerMicro/Spot repair or complete refinishing is necessary for true rectification

Not sure what your car damage is?

Point your phone at it, or describe it. The answer in seconds, $8 AUD.

Check it

Related

What is bird dropping etching on car paint? Bird waste is acidic and eats into clear coat when left on hot paint. Learn how to identify etching and how it is repaired. What is insect etching on car paint? Squashed insects can etch clear coat if they bake in the sun. Learn how fast to remove them and how etching is repaired. What does concrete do to car paint? Concrete and render splashes are alkaline and burn into clear coat as they cure. Learn how to remove them before they etch.
← All damage types
Check it