Black paint

[jmdsurf45]

I've read all the post on washing and detailing but I've almost giving up on taking care of the finish on my 2007 Black Tundra. Could someone help me with a basic regiment on washing and waxing with a list of products. I use this truck for everything, we pull a large trailer to the mx tracks, pull my 24' Kenner to the bay every chance I can get and have 2 kids. Seems like every time we get back from somewhere there are scratches everywhere, if you rub up against it or lean against to get something out of the bed it scratches. How do you avoid this?

[mudfuel07]

Good luck, I have the same problem with mine. I just leave a nice coat of mud and dirt on it to hide the scratches and rock dings.

[jmdsurf45]

Its sad on Toyota's part, I don't stress out as bad with it when its dirty, which it stays that way more these days, because I don't see all the scratches. There's got to be a way to protect it with out never driving it or leaving it in the garage.

[RudyDep]

I still let the Wash Tub do mine. I put a Major coat of Meguiars on it but other than that, as long as the washes are free...ill keep going to Wash Tub !

[Wbarrett07]

I have the same problems, has anyone used touch up paint?

[RudyDep]

I can tell you that Toyota paint SUCKS!!! I keep it clean and waxed and live with it !

[Coal Dragger]

To the original poster:

Black paint, or any really dark paint color will show more scratches and swirl marks than any other paint color. Therefore, they are harder to take care of as far as keeping them looking their best.

This is not just a Toyota paint phenomenon, but one you will experience on any dark colored vehicle. Look around a parking lot sometime on a really sunny day and you will see the swirl marks and scratches on all the black and dark blue cars. The darker colors absorb more visible light and reflect less that your eye can see. Any scratches or swirl marks in the clear coat will refract light away from the vehicle's surface, now when that surface is a dark color absorbing more of the visible spectrum of light the contrasting swirl/scratch reflections are much more noticeable.

All cars will have these flaws in the finish, that is the mature of paint and clear coats. Some just show it more than others. White and Silver vehicles are very easy in this regard, as they reflect off so much light that the swirls and scratches are "hidden" in the rest of the visible light being reflected. That is one reason I own a white Tundra.

[RudyDep]

Toyota went with an ECO FRIENDLY water based paint and it scratches easier than I can scratch THERE !!! Its no secret...use the search and check the other posts about the Toyota Paint.

[jmdsurf45]

Your right about light reflection, my previous trucks have been white and silver. Most of my scratches are just in the clear coat. Without endorsing a certain brand what is the best wax to use for protection or should I get one of these over priced detail shops to give it a good wax job?

[Coal Dragger]

Toyota went with an ECO FRIENDLY water based paint and it scratches easier than I can scratch THERE !!! Its no secret...use the search and check the other posts about the Toyota Paint.

Toyota and pretty much every other auto maker went with this set up because they were forced to. I have owned cars in dark colors well before the new paint/clear coats came out. They still scratched and they still showed everything due to the dark color, no matter how much effort you put into them. That is one other reason I went with white, I am an anal retentive bastard and having swirl marks all over the car aggravates the hell out of me. If I can't see them they must not exist right?

I will say the water based type takes longer to cure and harden than the older formula paint and clear coats did.

[ardave]

You mean black paint shows scratches

Thanks for the warning!!

[RudyDep]

You mean black paint shows scratches

Thanks for the warning!!

The problem lies in how EASILY the paint scratches down to the PRIMER. You cannot touch the paint without it scratching. Im not kidding...the slighest lean or glance and you have a scratch. I gave up on worrying about it.

[Coal Dragger]

Your right about light reflection, my previous trucks have been white and silver. Most of my scratches are just in the clear coat. Without endorsing a certain brand what is the best wax to use for protection or should I get one of these over priced detail shops to give it a good wax job?

Any good quality carnauba type wax will do well. Mother's, Meguiars etc. Some people really like Zymol (I don't think this is a carnauba wax though). I have heard good things about PS121 too. Another safe bet is Harley Davidson branded motorcycle wax.

I used to know a few detailers that worked for the dealership I used to work for (Toyota, Lexus, BMW) and they would use a sealer like Wolfgang over the wax. It looked amazing when applied properly.

[SR5NEWBIE]

Black is beautiful, but a PITA to take care of. That is why I buy nothing but white trucks here in Texas. (cooler). You will never get rid of the swirl marks. But the best advice I can give you is don't buff the truck for nothing. (atleast wait as long as possible) Don't touch the paint with dust on it. You can hand apply 3M fill and glaze (O'rielly's behind the counter 20-30.-00 bucks/bottle) and wax afterwards. This is about the best stuff for hiding those pesky swirl marks.

[SR5NEWBIE]

I still let the Wash Tub do mine. I put a Major coat of Meguiars on it but other than that, as long as the washes are free...ill keep going to Wash Tub !

Now I think you guys with black 4 x 4's are crazy as they come. Black shows the slightest scratch, just does not seem logical to buy black when off roading.