How can I prevent paint oxidation?
 

I have a Guards Red 964 which turns ugly every year. I use a heavy cutting polish to remove the oxidation at least once a year. But it is very hard work and gets frustrating when I see the paint go to crap again in just a few months. So what can I do? I have no garage, so the car lives outside. Would a car cover help? Is there a coating I can apply? Woudl using a different wax help? I don't want to go through the headache of polishing it again if it is just going to look crappy again by September.

Wax the car more often is about all you can do. You have to keep oxygen away from the paint. Without a clear coat all you have is wax to seal the paint.

+1 for Kurt's reply and definitely invest in a car cover as not only does the air oxidize the paint, but the UV rays fade the pigments.

Would getting a layer of clear coat applied help? I must confess I don't even know what clear coat is or how I would have it applied.

It would definitely help. Unfortunately, clear coat is a paint, just clear paint, therefore cost prohibitive unless you were already going to repaint your car.

Janus, I highly recomend check out the forums at http://www.autopia.org and asking around there.
this board is full of auto detailers, and I've seen some amazing photos of a lot of those guy's work. Simply jaw dropping, what take can take a car from and turn it into.

Well, that raises an interesting point. The paint on my car is basically crap. Some PO apparently got one half sprayed a different shade of red from the rest of the car. And, I assume, nobody bothered to apply any clearcoat anywhere after the last spray.

So assuming the current paint job can be written off, can I apply some sort of clear coat or sealant that will help preserve the color? I can't afford a proper repaint. So I just want to make the crap paint look a bit better - I certainly can't make it look much WORSE.

I see various clearcoats and paint sealant products available on Eastwood and even POR15. Would it be unreasonable to buff down the paint until it reaches the proper red hue and then apply one of these products? Maybe even with a brush? Hell, I'm game to throw on a layer of 5 minute epoxy if that will save me from this annual chore!:eek:

You could wet sand it and clear coat it. I wouldn't suggest a brush, but you could buff it and wax it.

I have also seen a pretty good paint job using enamel paint and a roller. the secret is in wet sanding and polishing after the paint is dry.

I've got a guards red car, but doesn't sound like it is nearly as bad as yours as far as oxidation. A few points I have noticed:

Red is one of the worst for oxidizing. If left in the sunshine and parked outside, it gets even worse. Any kind of cover is a help. I'm not one for recommending car covers, but portable garage tents or the like would be better. Get is out of the sun.

Waxing a 911 isn't that bad. I recommend the Mequiars 2 step cleaners. One is a pre wax, non abasive cleaner that removes oxidation. Follow this up with a pure wax finish. I've got it down to taking 1-2 hours max.

You could clear coat your car, but it isn't that easy on a surface that is not perfect. Every chip, scratch, and dent will look many times worse with clearcoat over it. You would also have to pull all the window mouldings and trim to hide the clear coat edge. Your looking at a almost a full repaint cost.

Janus I would forget about trying to do any kind of painting or clearcoat with out proper prep for a paint job. Just resign yourself to using a good wax every couple of months and keeping a car cover on whenever possible.

I use a claybar on the paint once a year, followed by Klasse polish, then a final topcoat of Rejex and the car shines like the sun and the paint is protected for at least 6 months, but my car is garaged so your protection won't last as long...

Tephlon Coat
 

Some dauto detailers and dealers can apply a nice tephlon coat. My friend had it done on his car and he loves the stuff. It last long and water just wants to roll righ off it. He paind about 100.00 for the detail and tephlon coat at the detailer. He paid about 700 as a purchase option to do his other car. Now he knows that he can get it done much cheaper that the dealer.

Janus - sent you an email. But in addition - are you just doing an abrasive polish or are you following up with a sealant or carnuba? If you don't follow up with a wax you are leaving the surface of the paint exposed.

wax on...wax off.....put in garage....

The problem is you keep using wax- not going to protect your paint for more than a few weeks in the sun.

Switch to a good synthetic like http://www.zainobros.com and never look back.

I would also try and figure out a way to build at least a carport or something.

carnutzzz,
so zaino will last longer than any wax? May I ask how long? And which Zaino product line are you using to keep the polish layer on the paint?
Thanks.

Zaino recommends twice per year. If I were you I would get the Zaino 'all in one' and some Clear Seal spray. It's all you need and you can get fancy later. All of Zaino's product 'keep the polish layer'.

I would call Sal Zaino himself and talk to him about your needs, he will get you set-up with exactly what you need and he's a nice guy to talk to.