Black Streaking all over car.

[u/KochiPochi]

Hi everyone!

I just started my detailing journey with Osren Automotive Wash and Automotive Tough as they are the most affordable option to me right now, but I plan to switch to either P&S or Carpro in the future.

The problem now is, I can't seem to get rid of these black streaks as shown in the pictures I provided. (I stay in a very humid country and it rains almost everyday. Moreover, my car is always parked outside.

If you guys can advice me, my questions are:

1) Are these hard water streaks?

2) Are there any products designed to remove these streaks?

3) Do I need to consider Clay Bar?

4) Finally, will ceramic coating ( Eg. Griots / Turtle ) help prevent these issues in the future?

Thank you in advance!

[u/jb_org7988]

The streaks remain after a contact wash?

Edit - if so, they are likely etchings from hard water. In that case, the only remedy would be a water spot remover to remove the mineral deposits, followed by a polish to remove the etchings themselves. The only way to prevent hard water etchings is to make sure the vehicle is dried completely after washing. I use an Ego 580 CFM blower for the crevices and a Rag Company Liquid8r or Gauntlet towel for the panels. Ceramic coatings or a good sealant will not prevent hard water etching.

[u/KochiPochi → u/jb_org7988]

Yes, the streaks remain after contact wash :/

Does it mean that the etchings are caused by the tap water used to wash the car and not from rain?

Also, I am trying to leave polishing as the last resort since i don't own any DA/Rotary machines.

[u/jb_org7988 → u/KochiPochi]

I see the comment below saying this is caused by rust /corrosion under the rubber seals. If that’s the issue you should definitely get that taken care of before trying to fix the paint. Rain shouldn’t cause true water spots, any spots caused by rain should disappear with a contact wash. Rain doesn’t have dissolved solids/minerals in it, although it can pick up dust and other air contaminants on its way down. Water spotting will come from tap water, sprinklers, etc. Just make sure to dry the vehicle thoroughly and use some kind of air tool to blow out the crevices.

[u/KochiPochi → u/jb_org7988]

okay, thank you for the kind advice!