anyone else having this discoloration?

mcphelps · 09-07-2009, 10:46 AM

Where/how do you wash your car? My guess would be car wash chemical reaction.

Attaboy · 09-07-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcphelps

Where/how do you wash your car? My guess would be car wash chemical reaction.

i wash the car at home by hand. i only use soap if she's really dirty. this car will NEVER go to a carwash unless i can find one who will wash by hand and who is as OCD about their car as i am.

most of the time i just use a damp synthetic chamois to wipe off the dust. if i do have to use soap, i use as little as possible, and only where needed (usually front bumer and for getting soot off the exhaust tips). i assume we all know how questionable the paint quality is on our Z's and what soap can do to a car's finish when you're trying to keep it showroom sparkly.

i had originally thought washing may have something to do with it, but when washing, the water does not get into the area where the discoloraiton occurs.

NeedforZ · 09-07-2009, 12:29 PM

Very strange indeed. Mine sits outside during the work week in the boiling sun and I don't have anything like that. I wash weekly with Maguires gold but no water gets up into the hood. Maybe something was left over from manufacturing that you can't see and it melted then dripped out? It could be cosmoline.

I have a VW that leaked an oily gunk out of the back fender well onto my driveway. I figured it was a blown shock that was leaking. Took it to the dealership and they said VW still used cosmoline as a rust preventative on some parts of the chassis. Yep that same yellow-brown waxy goop they used in WWII for firearm preservative is still used in the automotive industry. BTW, it melts between 130-150F. Not sure if its in the new Z's. I've found references of cosmoline being used on older Nissans and Datsuns.

09-07-2009, 10:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
mcphelps Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Age: 66 Posts: 113 Drives: 09 Sprt/Tr/Nav PG M6 Rep Power: 17	Where/how do you wash your car? My guess would be car wash chemical reaction.

09-07-2009, 12:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
NeedforZ Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 163 Drives: 370z Touring 7AT Rep Power: 17	Very strange indeed. Mine sits outside during the work week in the boiling sun and I don't have anything like that. I wash weekly with Maguires gold but no water gets up into the hood. Maybe something was left over from manufacturing that you can't see and it melted then dripped out? It could be cosmoline. I have a VW that leaked an oily gunk out of the back fender well onto my driveway. I figured it was a blown shock that was leaking. Took it to the dealership and they said VW still used cosmoline as a rust preventative on some parts of the chassis. Yep that same yellow-brown waxy goop they used in WWII for firearm preservative is still used in the automotive industry. BTW, it melts between 130-150F. Not sure if its in the new Z's. I've found references of cosmoline being used on older Nissans and Datsuns.