I was cleaning my car today (just bought it about a month ago), and there are very small "rust" spots randomly over the entire car. There's a cumulation of it on the back bumper near the Nissan emblem. The spots are the size of the end of a needle. I'm assuming they're rust because they do not wash off, however, I haven't tried clay bar, polish, glaze, seal, wax, yet either. My car is a 2005, also. I will try to take pictures of it (if they'll show up) tomorrow, because it has already turned dark. Anyway, if anyone has experienced this before, or knows what can fix it, etc, let me know!

 

Well if it's on the bumper then it's not rust. Enough said

 

That's what I thought, because obviously, it's not metal. Maybe its some kind of tree sapp.

 

Its rail dust.You must live or work near railroad tracks.It comes off but takes some elbow grease.

 

What the hell is rail dust? I'm pretty sure everyone in the Country lives by railroad tracks.

 

I believe I commented on this in another of your threads.

The rear bumper cannot rust its plastic. White will show spicks of road tar on the rear. Its next to impossible to remove.

 

Photos are helpful.

Removing tar will sometimes leave a orange stain. The stain is in the clearcoat and next to impossible to remove. One thing about white and stains is amazing. The sun (ultraviolet radiation) bleaches out stains.

 

+1

 

No, you didn't. This is the first time I've mentioned this, and the first time I've seen it. Maybe you're talking about my detailing thread that you posted in asking Greg what to do. But I didn't fully read your response.

Anyway, I don't live NEAR a railroad, yes there is one in my town, but the car may have lived closer to one before. Idk. I'm going to try to get it out, we'll see. Like I said, pics, if it'll show up, will come tomorrow. The tar being bleached out makes sense.

 

If the problem is primarily the rear bumper its tar. Its just the way that the air flows when driving.

If the stain is over the entire top of the car its most likely acid rain. Crap in the air settles on top. Morning dew makes it like mud. The dew evaporates.

 

Ask any car dealer about rail dust.We see it a lot on the west coast with brand new cars.They are shipped from back east on trains.It is always most noticeable on white cars but essentially it is very tiny specs of iron that stick the the car.
Pretty quickly these specs rust and leave a tiny rust spot.If you see it on plastic bumpers its a sure givaway.I am a dealership service manager,have been for 17 years and I have seen my fair share of it.In fact ,in my GM days,we got paid extra during PDI to remove it.
It is barely noticeable on any color except for white.If yo u have a white car and it is parked near train tracks,you will get it.Obviously worse in wet climates like mine.

 

http://www.clean-image.co.uk/articles/fallout.htm just google rail dust

 

Yea I just read up on it and it's usually with the cars that are shipped by train.

OP, still need pics.

 

Just saw the pics of that, and it looks identical to what I am talking about. Weird thing is, it is just around the Nissan emblem on the back, which is up high. Maybe because the car wasn't detailed worth a crap there, or something. Hopefully claybarring will take it off, we will see. But those tiny spots are randomly everywhere. But not on the roof.

 

Makes sense. Flat areas can be buffed with a machine. Areas around door handles and emblems must be done by hand. Its easy for detailers to skip these details.

 

Above is a common area where I have problems with “black specks.”

 

Another place where the "rust" specks come from is your brake rotors. They are cast iron and every time you apply the brakes, small amounts of iron are released into the atmosphere. These can stick to your car and are usually removed by using a clay bar.

Black specks are usually road tar and an excellent product for removing them is Stoner Tarminator.

 

Thanks for all of the help!
Davidv, what are you using to get them off?
The Stoner Tarminator?

 

I have not been successful removing the spots. I have tried:

Bug and Tar remover
100 percent Mr. Clean
Mineral spirits
WD-40
Black Magic wax

 

Just use a claybar to remove. I had a smiler issue when I lived in Orlando. It pissed me off, but the claybar cleaned it up just fine.

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...18&Screen=PROD

How too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcZRj509Ir8