Natural White Paint Restoring Recommendation

[luke87gt]

Hi guys,

Overall, my 2006 4Runner looks good but I do notice that some parts of the paint have gotten a little dull over the last decade.

The car gets washed from time to time, but I have yet to apply any wax, clay bars, or any other restorers since I've owned it.

I'm wondering what you guys recommend. I was thinking about giving it a good wash, then using a clay bar to remove any oxidation, and then giving it a good coat of wax. However, I know some of you guys have done this and may be able to steer me in the right direction. I don't know if it makes a difference, but my understanding is that Natural White is a single stage paint with no clear coat applied.

Please note that I am just looking to restore the shine so certainly not looking to do any crazy 10 stage detailing here. And certainly nothing too abrasive.

Please let me know what you use to restore the paint on your trusty 4Runner.

Thank you guys!

 

[ZebRuaj]

Claybar will be a start, but that won't fix the discolorations. You can try M205 or D300 if you just want a mild paint correction ... or over the counter Ultimate Compound. They work best with a DA polisher, rotary if you're skilled. Not worth the wrist pain if you're doing it by hand.

Not sure how Toyota paints hold up in general, but some of the cars I have detailed would fade/discolor on the plastics and not the metal panels due to the different effects of the sun on the panel in question. Just inevitable.

 

[Inv4drZm]

To permanently restore the shine you will need to cut into the paint. When I bought mine it was very dull like you mentioned yours is, also with the single stage white paint. Page 1 of my build thread I detailed it with a DA and a bunch of products and had great results. Super shiny and so smooth if you leaned against it you would fall to the ground. Turned out great.

Before I detailed it I spent a weekend watching youtube videos gathering technique tips and recommended best practices before I felt confident in correcting my paint. Loads of videos on youtube about this stuff; you can learn a lot.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

To permanently restore the shine you will need to cut into the paint. When I bought mine it was very dull like you mentioned yours is, also with the single stage white paint. Page 1 of my build thread I detailed it with a DA and a bunch of products and had great results. Super shiny and so smooth if you leaned against it you would fall to the ground. Turned out great.

Before I detailed it I spent a weekend watching youtube videos gathering technique tips and recommended best practices before I felt confident in correcting my paint. Loads of videos on youtube about this stuff; you can learn a lot.

i need to do something about mine, its gotten bad especially on the hood. its so full of crap and dull its like someone ran an orbital sander across it. i need to just go read through your thread again for the paint correction and that rear tire carrier. but ive been to busy with the first gen to work on the 4th gen recently

 

[Timberland]

Wash, claybar, Meguiar's M205 (or any other finishing polish from a quality company) with a mild cut polishing pad on a DA buffer will make it look like brand new. Make sure you've got good lighting, a stack of microfiber towels, and at least a day to spend on it to do it right. Take your time and enjoy the process, it can be very relaxing.

 

[CXS]

i need to do something about mine, its gotten bad especially on the hood. its so full of crap and dull its like someone ran an orbital sander across it. i need to just go read through your thread again for the paint correction and that rear tire carrier. but ive been to busy with the first gen to work on the 4th gen recently

Bah! Put on a hood blackout!

 

[vanion2]

Wash, claybar, Meguiar's M205 (or any other finishing polish from a quality company) with a mild cut polishing pad on a DA buffer will make it look like brand new. Make sure you've got good lighting, a stack of microfiber towels, and at least a day to spend on it to do it right. Take your time and enjoy the process, it can be very relaxing.

I used this exact technique on my 93 MR2 and it really brought out the shine. Chemical Guys made a medium and light duty clay bar as well. Use the medium duty after a good wash since it's been a while and then use the light duty to maintain it.

If you got lots of swirl marks use a medium cutting pad with the Maguire's M205 with a DA buffer and a light touch. Then use a light polish pad with the M205 to restore the shine. This will take the longest amount of time but you will be very happy with the results. Finish it with a sealant since you don't wash your truck that often. Lasts about a year and is great for protecting your finish. You can even put wax on it after it cures if it gives you piece of mind but a good wash is all you really need.

Best part of this is you can do just a section at a time so you don't end up spending an entire weekend with a DA polisher in your hands. Just make sure you remember where you left off.

And yes, you can clay and wax your windows so water just slides right off. [emoji41]

You can also spray Raail clear over your hood to act as a peelable clear bra instead of a sealant but that's a little more pricey and you have to have a paint gun and compressor. Lasts 2-3 years and is glossy (not like plastidip).

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