Odd Scratch On Hood

[blues]

Hey guys...I don't expect to never have scratches on my new T4R but I have an odd meandering scratch on the hood a couple inches to the right of the hood scoop, (looking from the front of the vehicle), which is about 4 or 5 inches long.

I can't ever remember anything bouncing off the hood while driving locally and was wondering if this could either be a paint issue or possibly the result of a cat's claw if one was laying on the hood one day when I was out and about?

(We do live on gravel roads in a heavily forested area but the vehicle is garaged at night and we don't have a cat. However, my neighbor does and I have left my vehicle parked at his house for a couple hours at a time when we go shooting on his property.)

Not looking to assign blame or give it more concern than it deserves but I'm trying to figure out if it's something I actually need to address. You can feel the scratch with a nail but it doesn't quite get caught...more like you feel it and then can ride over it. (Due to living in a forested area on gravel roads I don't really wash the vehicle much. It gets a hose down every now and again and put away.)

Your thoughts appreciated. Even though I don't do much for cosmetics on the vehicle I don't want to turn a blind eye to something requiring attention.

This is about as good as I could get with my iPhone camera. The picture makes the scratch appear more dramatic than it actually is as your eye is really only drawn to it if you know it's there or in a certain light.

This second picture was from my attempt to zoom in on a section...I don't know if it's useful or not other than it shows that the scratch is not completely continuous.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

[Mistaken]

Looks like its a mark, not a scratch from the pics. Try using a clay bar on it to see if whatever it is comes up.

 

[blues]

Looks like its a mark, not a scratch from the pics. Try using a clay bar on it to see if whatever it is comes up.

Thanks, Mistaken, appreciate the input.

Would a "mark" have the same kind of characteristic where your fingernail can feel the edge along most all of the length?

(My last vehicle was a 2002 Explorer which had a fiberglass hood so minor scratches didn't cause oxidation concerns.)

 

[1engineer]

Looks like a mark to me too instead of a scratch. If you can't find a clay bar then try some cleaner wax from any auto parts store.

 

[Mistaken]

Thanks, Mistaken, appreciate the input.

Would a "mark" have the same kind of characteristic where your fingernail can feel the edge along most all of the length?

(My last vehicle was a 2002 Explorer which had a fiberglass hood so minor scratches didn't cause oxidation concerns.)

I suppose it could, depending on what caused it. The thing that makes me think mark over scratch is that its dark. Just my thought.

 

[Sleeter]

If you have brake cleaner handy you can spray some on a rag and see if that will take it off. Just make sure to re-wax the area and let the rag dry out outside.

Mod edit: DO THIS AT YOUR OWN PERIL. IT COULD DAMAGE YOUR PAINT!

 

[Crazysnowbdr]

It almost looks like tar or tree sap to me. I say clay bar also, should take that right out

 

[blues]

Looks like a mark to me too instead of a scratch. If you can't find a clay bar then try some cleaner wax from any auto parts store.

Thanks, Greg. I don't have a clay bar at present but I'm sure I can pick one up locally or on amazon.

Sleeter, I'm a little leery of brake cleaner. I do have some Formula 88 and also an old bottle of Meguiar's Quik Detailer which is about a dozen years old. (That's how long I've lived in the mountains and thus gave up on the concept of a clean vehicle. :beer

Appreciate the input, gents. I have no idea how long it's been there so I can't figure where or when. For all I know, (since it was snowy when I picked up the vehicle at the dealer, and monsoon like oftentimes afterward), it could have been like that since day one.

It was just one of those moments when I happened to notice it for the first time and went all:

 

[Antman]

If you have break cleaner handy you can spray some on a rag and see if that will take it off. Just make sure to relax the area and let the rag dry out outside.

Don't do this- worst advice ever.

Use claybar or cleaner wax.

PS- Looks like road tar to me...

 

[1engineer]

Don't do this- worst advice ever.

Claybar or cleaner wax.

PS- Looks like road tar to me...

I would have said something but he said break cleaner. To me that means you want a cleaner break and that's ok.

Now if he meant brake cleaner then that's a real bad idea around paint.

 

[blues]

Don't do this- worst advice ever.

Use claybar or cleaner wax.

PS- Looks like road tar to me...

Yeah, I've seen what brake cleaner does to remove carbon from rifle bolts and carriers. I think I'll pass....maybe Sleeter was just having a laugh. :caked:

 

[Boardmember]

Scratch Out. Yellow bottle. Walmart. Auto section. $3-4 max. Works well.

 

[Sleeter]

Don't do this- worst advice ever.

Use claybar or cleaner wax.

PS- Looks like road tar to me...

Hey that's what we used in the body shop to remove paint transfers and other contaminants. It works. DO NOT SPRAY DIRECT ON FINISHED SURFACE. Clay bar is good advise also.

 

[renau001]

Another vote for clay bar. Honestly the $15 or $20 meguiars clay bar kit from Wal-mart works great. Comes with a quick detailer that is used as lubrication for the clay. Just in case you've never used clay before, make sure you've washed the car first so there are no loose contaminants. And remember that after you've clayed, any protective coating that was once there is now gone. So a sealant or wax after claying would be appropriate if you're interested in that.

 

[blues]

Thanks, guys. I'll report back once I have either addressed this myself or have had it looked at by someone more competent.

 

[blues]

Happy Ending

Well, you guys are sure a lot smarter than I am! :tea:

On the way into town I stopped by a local "detail" shop and asked the proprietor if he had a chance to give a quick look at the hood.

He scraped the mark with a thumb nail, (which I had been too cowardly to attempt), and guessed that it was probably gum.

I ended up removing the mark with spit and a microfiber and then hit it with some Meguiar's Quik Detailer and a microfiber when I got home. Gone! :wow2:

Sure appreciate all the replies and good advice. :bravo:

 

[e60ral]

hey [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION], can we maybe remove the brake cleaner post or add a caution statement into it or something? no need for anyone to damage their paint going to town with some brake cleaner because they didn't know better

 

[rennur]

WD-40! Works great for these little issues.

 

[1engineer]

hey [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION], can we maybe remove the brake cleaner post or add a caution statement into it or something? no need for anyone to damage their paint going to town with some brake cleaner because they didn't know better

Added caution to that post.

 

[Mistaken]

Well, you guys are sure a lot smarter than I am! :tea:

On the way into town I stopped by a local "detail" shop and asked the proprietor if he had a chance to give a quick look at the hood.

He scraped the mark with a thumb nail, (which I had been too cowardly to attempt), and guessed that it was probably gum.

I ended up removing the mark with spit and a microfiber and then hit it with some Meguiar's Quik Detailer and a microfiber when I got home. Gone! :wow2:

Sure appreciate all the replies and good advice. :bravo:

That's great news.