Removing brownish film on rear panel | FerrariChat
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Removing brownish film on rear panel

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by pentastar, Aug 27, 2004.

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  1. pentastar

    pentastar Rookie

    Jul 19, 2003
    37
    Westchester County,
    Full Name:
    Michael G. Stanton
    #1 pentastar, Aug 27, 2004
    After a while the rear panel of my 1975 308GT4 develops a brownish film on the paint, from the exhaust system byproducts, and it looks awful. To remove it, I usually would use fine rubbing compound and a lot of muscle, finishing with a new coat of wax.
    However in speaking to the previous owner, he recommended a product called Spot Shot which is much easier. I figured I would give it a try, and after spraying the product on a rag and applying it, the gunk came off immediately like magic. It's amazing. The only thing that made me a bit nervous was that this product is designed for carpet stains! Apparently it has no harmful effect on the paint surface though. Washed the car immediately after using it, and the rear panel looks like new again.

    Mike
     
  2. 911Fan

    911Fan Formula 3

    Apr 15, 2004
    1,294
    Southern California
    #2 911Fan, Aug 27, 2004
    Have you ever tried a clay bar?
     
  3. pentastar

    pentastar Rookie

    Jul 19, 2003
    37
    Westchester County,
    Full Name:
    Michael G. Stanton
    #3 pentastar, Aug 27, 2004
    No, I have heard of them, reading FerrariChat posts, but never had any experience with them.
     
  4. Steve King

    Steve King F1 Rookie

    Feb 15, 2001
    4,367
    NY
    #4 Steve King, Aug 27, 2004
    SIMPLE GREEN and a foam paint brush for the tight spaces around tail lights. Works great. Rinse with water and then wax the area. My GTB had 4 years of the stuff on it and it came right off. On the flat panel i used to use car soap and a lot of elbow grease but once I went to the green stuff it was simple and quick.
     
  5. Shamile

    Shamile F1 Veteran

    Dec 31, 2002
    6,712
    Lakeland FL
    Full Name:
    Shamile
    #5 Shamile, Aug 27, 2004
    Dear Ferraristi,

    Don't use the Simple-Green Straight ( not queer eye ) Cut it down and wipe or wash immediately. It will streak the paint. I do use it myself as it is a good product. Just take care.
     
  6. maurice70

    maurice70 F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
    4,334
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    maurice T
    #6 maurice70, Aug 28, 2004
    I use engine degreaser on the back of my gt4 and leave it for about a minute then wash of with waterand a rag.Doesnt damage the paint at all.
     
  7. 1975gt4don

    1975gt4don Formula Junior

    Nov 5, 2003
    665
    Peoples Rep of CA
    Full Name:
    Smog Exempt
    #7 1975gt4don, Aug 30, 2004
    Simple green of that stuff called "Zoom" from Amway. Yes I know, but that zoom stuff worked like no other. something like 409 should work pretty good I would imagine, haven't tried it though. Zoom worked in less than 10 seconds, then just hose right off and wax later.
     
  8. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #8 BigTex, Aug 30, 2004
    3M Micro Fine Polish
     
  9. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,045
    USA
    #9 f355spider, Aug 30, 2004
    A couple other products that work well, Griot's Garage, "Engine Cleaner" and their "Wheel Cleaner" both will clean the mess off with minimal mechanical effort of sponge or cloth...but, cleaning this stuff off, either by mechanical means (polish) or chemical (sprays), will typically remove any wax or protective coating.....

    Dave
     
  10. 208 GT4

    208 GT4 Formula 3

    Dec 27, 2003
    1,769
    Brighton (UK)
    Full Name:
    Dan
    #10 208 GT4, Aug 30, 2004
    I aslo have a '75 GT4 with the same deposits. I use a degreaser for bicycles. It removes the oil & soot without requiring any abrasion, or hard work. I apply it by putting a small amount on a wet sponge, using the sponge to work into corners and wipe away the grease. Then rinse with water.

    The normal problem with removing oily deposits is that oil and water don't mix. Degreasers work by coating the oily deposits with a layer of molecules that the water can latch onto (surfactants). So when you rinse, it washes away the oil that would normally not be removed. It's kinder to the paintwork than something that mechanically scrapes the oil off.
     
  11. ham308

    ham308 Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2003
    358
    NE Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Richard Ham
    #11 ham308, Aug 31, 2004
    My 77 GTB used to have this problem quite badly. The exhaust smelt oily and the rear panel used to get a sooty film very quickly.

    Changing to hotter spark plugs and adjusting the idle mixtures to be closer to spec has more or less cured the problem. Not perfect but a lot better.

    just my 2c.......
     
  12. gerritv

    gerritv Formula 3

    Jun 18, 2001
    1,400
    St Catharines
    Full Name:
    Gerrit
    #12 gerritv, Aug 31, 2004
    Hi Mike
    whatever you do, don't stop driving the car :)

    I use a wash mit with regular car wash soap. This removes most of it with some rubbing. The rest goes away with McGuiar's (sp?) Quick Detailer. It really means that the carbs are running somewhat rich. I find it is worse when I have done a lot of city driving, the highway seems to be much better.

    Gerrit
     
  13. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,045
    USA
    #13 f355spider, Aug 31, 2004
    I only started getting it on my 78 308 GTS after I removed the cats....
     

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