What are these White Spots on Rear Appliqué Panels. (Resolved)

Hey guys,

First post on this forum, but I've been a lurker for while. Just got back from a trip to Colorado and New Mexico and after getting my car back from the detailers I noticed these marks on the rear appliques and the plastic for the OEM roof rails. I've never had marks like these on a Vehicle and am gonna take them back to the detailer tomorrow to get another look.

Any help from you guys would be appreciated if you've ever seen anything like this.

 

My first thought is it's probably just wax that slung off the buffing wheel.

 

That kind of looks like overspray from liquid wax or something.

 

I would think so too, but I can't seem to get it off at all. I don't have much understanding of vehicle detailing, but is there a way to remove without damaging the underlying plastic panels?

 

Tree sap?

 

Try to gently wipe off with Mothers Back to Black or 303. Looks like wax from buffer.

 

Did they use an orbital polisher? Could be polish splatter.

 

I'm hearing a lot of Wax. I'll try your suggestion tomorrow with the Back to Black and let ya'll know. Thanks.

 

Thing is I didn't have my vehicle polished. Just washed, so if they did it'd have to be spray from another vehicle.

 

Was it a shop that specialized in detailing? I’d tell them they missed a few details and have them make it right. I agree it looks like a wax/polish product of some sort got flung on the plastics.

 

If the shop is close, I'd probably take it back there and ask them before you do the back to black. That stuff wears off eventually, I don't know that that's the best solution.

 

In your place I’d first try scraping it off with a fingernail. If it can be removed by a fingernail next I’d try a sponge and a solution of dish soap and water. If that’s not doing a good job then I’d try a soft cloth with some alcohol.

 

As the others stated, it may just be wax residue. Hopefully it’s not some sort of chemical that bleached out the black plastic parts.

 

I would not use back to black yet. That’s for aged trim and I’m assuming your 4R is relatively new.

I think it’s some wax or polish from the detailer. I think some good old fashioned elbow grease with some car wash soap and water are the ticket.

I have found you have to be careful with detail products around black trim. Back to black works great on sun faded trim pieces but it needs constant reapplication.

Try some elbow grease with some decent Terry cloth towels with some warm water and car wash soap

 

Back to Black isn’t the right solution for this issue.

There are some pretty stout spray sealants now that are super difficult to remove from plastic if overspray droplets dry. Wouldn’t be surprised if a detailer sprayed it down with a gloss enhancer even after just a wash.

 

Please don’t use back to black on it you will be disappointed. It’s going to make it a glossy black and then you will have two different shades of black. Or if you must try it try on an area you won’t see like the inside of the roof rail.

 

warm soapy water and let it soak for a while

 

Looks like some type of chemical or wax reaction to the plastic, that is if it doesn't come off with your fingernail. I would take it back to the detailer and have them fix it. Make sure to watch what they're doing and not just try to put lipstick on a hog. Some chemicals and wax can permanently damage black trim and it may need to be replaced.

 

Hey OP

I have the same issue out of nowhere

it just started on my 16

haven’t waxed or anything special for a very long time

I use the green n blue I think it’s ONR? but has still been a considerable amount of time

Lemme know if you figure anything out n viceversa

 

Ya it does look similar to my truck after parking near trees. Curious to know if those spots are elsewhere on the truck, and perhaps show up best on the black plastic. Or did they buff all those spots off the paint but didn't buff the black plastic with anything?
It looks like tree sap, which would explain trouble removing it; or overspray from a different vehicle next to it

 

So just got back from the detailer who went through there products and were adamant that they didn’t have a product that could even do this. They tried some elbow grease and car wash soap and it made no impact. To clarify I had done some off-roading near Rocky Mountain NP and camped out near very dense vegetation a few times so tree sap could be possible, but I don’t have experience with it since I live in the city. Since my vehicle has PPF, I don’t think they would have sprayed it down with anything after the wash and it’s also particularly strange that it only shows up on select trim pieces, the densest being the rear passenger appliqué.

 

Something from the wax or polishing oils. It's not uncommon to have polishing oils even if you're just getting your car washed.
That plastic is very porous and will be tough to get out, especially if left cured over time by the sun.
You will need to hit it several times with a cleaner like white spirit and scrub with a tooth brush or something similar to penetrate those tiny pores

 

Overspray. Clay it off.

 

If it was overspray, why would it be limited to the black plastic? I think the clay bar suggestion is worth a try.

 

The surface finish of the plastic is super porus is mainly why

either chemical bath, glass bead, or possibly edm? Id like to take a closer look at my 4runner when I get home tbh but there’s little caves filled with oils that’ll be very tough to get out. By all means clay certainly worth a try, but for the effort on gettin it out might as well replace em!

 

Agree, clay bar can remove a lot of stuff.

 

Before I replaced them I’d resort to potentially destructive chemicals. Goo gone. Tar remover. Kerosene. Acetone-free nail polish remover. Etc. if the plastic parts become blemished, it would be no big deal because the next step would be to replace them anyway.

 

I still think it looks just like what I've experienced with tree "sap".

Good hack, might be safe on plastic:
https://andreadekker.com/how-to-remove-sticky-tree-sap/

Other remedies are wd40, isopropyl alcohol, and vinegar. This will prolly discolor the plastic.
BUT
If that's what it takes to make it clean again, you can make it look new again after with black spray paint (do it properly) just like I did when I blackout out my silver Trail roof rack.

 

Kudos sir. Skill with a spray can is not easily acquired by everyone. @KhanCzar if you end up attempting to paint the plastic, practice on some old patio furniture or something until you’re confident.