Bleached bodywork

[glojo]

Our stretched limo (Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ) is parked outside in the scorching sun and sadly the paintwork is strating to 'bleach'. The vehicle is rarely used and is left for weeks on end facing one direction.

Has anyone any suggestions about any type of application we can apply to help prevent this. The vehicle is a 'solid' red colour so might not have hte protective clear lacquer top coat. This is our second Sprinter and I must confess, the previous one suffered the same fate. A vehicle cover is not a practical option. Size and difficulty in putting it on etc.

Thanks for any help,
John

 

[Satch]

Some form of Paint Sealant with UV protection I would think. No shortage of possibles:

http://www.clean-image.co.uk/paintsealant/index.htm

But once red paint has started to fade too late to bring it back unless it is just a surface layer that can be cut back & sealed.

How about a nice robust Silver finish!

 

[GrahamC230K]

Not much help, but next time don't get a red one!

 

[Vips]

Mer do a tough polish that also protects against sun light as well as bird droppings.

 

[Pietre]

If some bird crapped on my car, I wouldnt take her out again ................. old ones are the best.

Sorry John, not really helpful but funny none the less (well i thought so).

 

[Vips]

If some bird crapped on my car, I wouldnt take her out again ................. old ones are the best.

Sorry John, not really helpful but funny none the less (well i thought so).

Why, do they come with their own incontinence pads

 

[Pietre]

Only if travelling from Continent to Continent! :bannana:

 

[pammy]

You could always move "up north" we don't have this problem here

 

[Pietre]

Is that because there is no sunshine or no birds?

 

[Flash]

John, next time go for "Artic White" and it also repells the heat better than any other colour!!!

 

[Pietre]

Richard Hammond did a test on Brianiac with a dark car and a light coloured car to see if the dark car got hotter and if I recall correctly there wasnt a lot in it, but they said nothing about the paints reaction to sunlight as regards bleaching. I do recall one the ads for the polymer based polishes resisting the attacks of UVA and UVB on the paintwork.

 

[SG CL500]

John

If you are interested in getting the paintwork back up to the original finish there are some excellent results that can be achieved by 'professional' valeters - whitening is normally caused by oxidation of the top surface so any wax products help.

 

[BTB 500]

Richard Hammond did a test on Brianiac with a dark car and a light coloured car to see if the dark car got hotter and if I recall correctly there wasnt a lot in it

In any car park on a sunny day, touch the roof of a black car then touch a silver or white one and you will definitely feel a difference in surface temperature. With the 'greenhouse effect' of the windows and variations in insulation thickness etc. the interior temperature may not vary so much.

Composite / moulded sailplanes (gliders) are predominantly white to avoid heat absorbtion softening (weakening) the structure on sunny days.

 

[BonzoDog]

This company sell US products that claim UV protection.
http://www.thepolishingcompany.com/

 

[glojo]

Brilliant replies thanks very much indeed. Being stuck indoors I had no idea there were any products that dealt with this problem.

Thanks very much indeed.

Hi Flash,
White is indeed the perfect practical colour, but it is just not a colour we like. It's nearly as bad as silver

Regarding the white vs dark. You can have as many experiments as you want, but in bright sunshine plonk a bare bottom on a white coloured car and folks will stare!! Plonk a bare bottom on a dark coloured car and you will soon lift off

Police Dog vans used to be dark green, but an animal once died of heat exhaustion. Since then all dog vans have been white.

Thanks again,
John

 

[Ian B Walker]

but it is just not a colour we like. It's nearly as bad as silver


Thanks again,
John

:bannana: :bannana:

 

[Flash]

Hi Flash,
White is indeed the perfect practical colour, but it is just not a colour we like. It's nearly as bad as silver

LOL - I have a Brilliant Silver car and a Artic White Sprinter...

 

[glojo]

LOL - I have a Brilliant Silver car and a Artic White Sprinter...

Jackpot I'm sure they look very nice.


SG CL500,
I think your spot on with your diagnosis :bannana: :bannana:

I sent an e-mail to the link supplied by BonzoDog and have received a very nice response confirming your suggestion

Thanks Bonzo :bannana: :bannana:

Poor 'old' wife is going to be busy,

Thanks again everyone,
John

 

[Dieselman]

John, you have a Porta-potty..err Porta-cable, don't you.

Just cut the paint back with a regular liquid polish then seal the paint and wax with a UV protected wax.
You, well SWMBO, will have to wax the paint fairly regularly to avoid oxidisation due to the colour being flat red. Red and blue are the worst colours for oxidising.

Alternatively aren't you having a GTG soon, maybe this could be a party game.

 

[glojo]

Alternatively aren't you having a GTG soon, maybe this could be a party game.

Sort of pass the 'porty'

The boss has had a go with the polisher and it looks much, much better. I have ordered some of the polish you have suggested, so hopefully all will soon be well.

I feel sorry for the van, it just sits outside week, after week, it is certainly not the ideal arrangement. I reckon it makes the paint go 'off' just to get some attention

Thanks again,
John