Clear Coat

[Black T]

I have a question...I have a 2007 4Runner Sports Edition in White and I have about 5-6 softball size dull spots on my paint job obviously from the Clear Coat wearing off. We are expanding our family and are in need of a larger vehicle and I know I'm gonna get beat up on a trade in because its gonna need a new paint job. To me 6 years seems way to short for a clear coat and paint job to be fading out...anyone else have this issue. Paint stores are telling me its because Toyota didn't Bake the car for long enough....anyone?.

My guess is that those softball size spots were repairs made at the factory when your truck was built. The repair was more than likely done correctly, but the repair Paint broke down over time with exposure to UV. This is a common problem on many White Toyota vehicles with monocoat paint jobs.

 

[berns00]

clear coat or not

I know this is an old thread but was referred here from another thread so i thought i would respond. just a little FYI

Every make and model of cars from probably the early 90's has been painted with base coat clear coat. and for the last 10 years most big manufacturers have been using water based paint systems which is a water based base coat with a urethane clear coat.

The only variation of paint is 3 stage paint jobs (pearls and some metallics) which are called 3 stage because they have a solid base coat a translucent pearl coat and the clear coat.

Also clear coat can be polished many times without burning through. however i wouldn't do a heavy polish more than once every couple of years or ever if not necessary. there are many new systems that are very gentile to get rid of swirls which should be fine for most surface imperfections.

The only times i see people burn through the clear coat is when they concentrate on a small spot and keep buffing thinking that eventually if they go deep enough the scratch will disappear. also people burn the body lines and edges because they get more exposure and pressure to the buffing pad.

I own an auto body shop so i have a little experience with this.

 

[toyota4life]

Every make and model of cars from probably the early 90's has been painted with base coat clear coat. and for the last 10 years most big manufacturers have been using water based paint systems which is a water based base coat with a urethane clear coat.
.

Can you clarify this statement? Are you implying that the non-metallics (black, super white) on the 4runners are clear-coated? If that's the case, I think that statement is inaccurate. A lot of us got confirmation from Toyota that these colors are single stage with no clear coat and I also know of other makes (BMW etc.) that use single stage paint, so a clarification of this statement would help.

 

[berns00]

Can you clarify this statement? Are you implying that the non-metallics (black, super white) on the 4runners are clear-coated? If that's the case, I think that statement is inaccurate. A lot of us got confirmation from Toyota that these colors are single stage with no clear coat and I also know of other makes (BMW etc.) that use single stage paint, so a clarification of this statement would help.

I have been in the collision repair industry for the last 15 years and have not seen a factory painted single stage car from within the last two decades.
I think the last company that i have seen use single stage is porsche on early 964 911s (early 90s)

It is possible that there are non standard options or alternate colors used in grey market cars or cars intended for different markets like south america.

I recently repaired a white 86 e30 bmw and restored an black 89 e30 and both were base coat clear coat from the factory. Also repairing toyotas is about 25% of my business and have not seen an oem single stage from the last 20 years.

Most paint codes have the option of mixing the paint for either single stage or 2 stage. there are shops that still use single stage like Earl Sheib, Maco or companies that do commercial truck or industrial painting (substandard paint jobs) The paint companies have different level paint lines and usually single stage is for cheap paint jobs but you can still get a close match on the color.

If you still have doubt you can give me you paint code and i can confirm for you.

 

[toyota4life]

I'm sure this is probably just different interpretation of what "single stage" means on my part. Below is the response from Toyota regarding super white paint. I'm interpreting "no clear coat" as "single stage"

----------------------------------------
Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We appreciate the opportunity to address your inquiry on paint.

The 2014 4Runner with Super White does not have a clear coat. It is only with pearl or metallic paint has clear coat on it.

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Toyota Customer Experience

 

[berns00]

That is strange and haven't come across that.
And what makes it even more strange is that I own a 2013 sienna in super white and it has clear coat.

I would bet $50 dollars that the guy from Toyota doesn't know what he is talking about.

I find it hard to believe that a company like Toyota would change their paint procedures for one color for one model.

 

[snobinge]

I just picked up a 14 Limited in the Dark Blue and it seems as if I look at it too long it scratches!