Gasoline fixed my paint?

[glenncarpenter]

Older CR-V, white. Very nice condition, my daily mule. Never been happy with the paint, it has a variety of defects that appear to be under the surface, or at least underneath whatever treatments the paint has had, polishes, waxes, silicone-based sealants, newer ceramic-type sealants, etc; the main defect being that it's simply dirty-looking even when cleaned and polished, slightly off-white rather than white. It's okay, just not great, and I've never been able to get it to look better with buffing or polishing, even tried a little very amateur machine buffing.

Well last week getting gas I had a little overflow and the next day the overflow area was a pristine white, in clear contrast to the rest of the panel and other panels. The contrast is somewhat striking when you look closely because it appears almost like a shadow/direct light shade difference right where the spill affected the paint.

I don't think the paint is damaged, just cleaned. I'm familiar with the damage gasoline can do to older automotive paints from many decades ago, but modern paint seems relatively impervious to normal contact. I think it just managed to clean off whatever was making the paint look less than factory white. Question is how can I duplicate this on the rest of the car without dipping it in a vat of gasoline? Everything else I've tried is failed.

 

[slo town]

I've used this stuff for years. Fantastic cleaning power.

Scott

https://www.p21s.com/portfolio/high-performance-total-auto-wash/

 

[Gyro Gearloose]

My wife drove through an area where a road paving project got interrupted by a thunderstorm and when she got home her white car was freckled with brown/black spots all over. Soap wouldn't touch it, but Goo Gone took it off fairly easily, so after washing, I wiped down an entire Yukon with goo gone. When I was done I was stunned at how much whiter the car was than before. Try Goo Gone adjacent to the area where the gas spilled and see if you can get a paint match.

 

[dubber09]

I've seen people use diesel to 'restore' paint before they sell cars. Paint looked much better, actually. Don't know what happens long term.

 

[eljefino]

I use gasoline to remove bumper stickers. Gas has a little oil in it so I pour it on the razor blade (eek) that I carefully stick under a corner of the obstinate sticker. It works great for the sticker residue and the paint looks great too! But I finish off with hand wash dish detergent and water, then a water rinse, because gas can't be great long-term.

Any wax that was on there was surely stripped when I was done!

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Have you ever used an aggressive clay on it before?

 

[glenncarpenter]

Forgot I posted this! Appreciate the replies. I've used clay on it, yes, but just a standard clay, I guess it's not surprising there are different grades of clays.

I'll try the goo gone, I have some around.

The weird thing is I actually tried some gasoline from a can on an adjacent area and it didn't touch it. Gasoline mostly evaporates right away, but not completely, so whatever stayed on the paint must have done it, over time. Also the car wasn't clean, so maybe small contaminants on the surface actually held more of the spill in place longer, surface tension or whatever. I think it was the next day I noticed it.

I'm slightly at a loss, but it seems like an interesting thing and it ought to be possible to learn something from it, and the observable effect is still very clear even now a week or so later.

It's not a beater but I don't mind experimenting with it a bit if anybody has further suggestions.

 

[glenncarpenter]

I've used this stuff for years. Fantastic cleaning power.

Scott

https://www.p21s.com/portfolio/high-performance-total-auto-wash/

P21S triggered a memory, I have some S100 cycle cleaner around from years ago, and I think they're either the same or similar. I remember a lawsuit from a LONG time ago over S100 damaging parts on motorcycles because it was too aggressive. Maybe I'll try the remains of my old bottle of S100, I've been looking for a use for it anyway, it also makes me consider how detailing folks are always talking about pH, and I wonder if this is a base/acid chemistry issue. I really don't want to have to become a car detailing chemistry expert, this car's paint is not so valuable to me to make perfect, but I am curious and maybe it's worth a bit of time to try to figure it out.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Forgot I posted this! Appreciate the replies. I've used clay on it, yes, but just a standard clay, I guess it's not surprising there are different grades of clays.

I'll try the goo gone, I have some around.

The weird thing is I actually tried some gasoline from a can on an adjacent area and it didn't touch it. Gasoline mostly evaporates right away, but not completely, so whatever stayed on the paint must have done it, over time. Also the car wasn't clean, so maybe small contaminants on the surface actually held more of the spill in place longer, surface tension or whatever. I think it was the next day I noticed it.

I'm slightly at a loss, but it seems like an interesting thing and it ought to be possible to learn something from it, and the observable effect is still very clear even now a week or so later.

It's not a beater but I don't mind experimenting with it a bit if anybody has further suggestions.

I'd try something like this:
https://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-agressive-clay.html

Use any quick detailer to lube - I make own with ONR diluted.

I haven't tried any of these fall out removers, but I've used iron removers before and they work. Use it before you wash if you're planning to detail after.
https://www.autogeek.net/gtechniq-w6-iron-500.html

 

[f355spider]

The only solvent I use on car paint is 3M Adhesive Remover. Works great on tar, bugs, grease adhesives and other crap. Safe for all paint finishes. https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b40070712/

You can find it at auto body paint supply stores, and some auto parts stores. Kinda expensive...around $25 to $28 per can, but indispensible to have around.

I have no ideal if it would work like the gasoline did on your paint.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I've used gas to get tar off.

It's also my go-to paint thinner when painting trailers. It's cheaper than mineral spirits and works great with the tractor and implement paint!

 

[chuck wood]

Hose it down with the Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions iron remover and then clay bar it.