It has warmed up here and I washed my 2004.5 Dodge today. Found several small flecks of rust on the paint, they appear to be left behind from the road salt. If I lick my finger and rub them they appear to go away, however their is too many to do each and every one. Is it a problem with the clearcoat? Have pics but don't know how to post. Took delivery of the truck in april and has about 22,000km on it. Truck colour is Bright White.

 

It's rail dust. Vehicles that come in by rail will have this problem (sometimes). My wifes last vehicle was white and it had this issue also. Wax will take it away the stain but will come back later on.

MikeyB

 

Detailing clay like Mothers will remove it.Done a many at a G.M.store.Puffing,polishing etc.won't.But that clay will.Take it back to were you bought it and see what is handed down to them to do about it.Rail dust is nothing new.Doing the clay detail is long and tedious.

 

Did the salt (Rusting the rail dust I assume) bring the stains out? Or did I just not notice before?

 

I had the same issue with a 2000 white Chevy. The dealership did what they called an "acid wash". Truck looked great after that. No more problems.

 

Rail dust is actually small pieces of metal from the contact of the rail car wheels and the track.Guess lots of wear on those things.Itty bitty pieces of metal and they rust.The acid wash may be a new thing for it.The first I ever deldt with we tried everthing to get it off and you thought it was gone and then there it was again.The Mothers detailing clay you went over the truck inch by inch and the clay removed it.Had to feel with your fingers and use the clay.Its usually only top surfaces and not on the sides.I don't know about D.C. but G.M.had several Tsb's on it.Bet D.C.and the the rest of the auto manufactures do also.The first ones I deldt with there was no TSB"s and a rep said the clay would work.It did.

 

I've got the same on mine, but I think it's from all the road work that is going on here. It appears to be asphalt specks from the road work. Hot water or tar remover takes em off.

 

My previous Gen II had this same type of issue but only on the tailgate. It appeared after the first winter. I had to use a cleaner and then wax like crazy. I always wondered what in the world caused it. Now I know the rest of the story.

 

The rail dust that I've seen on top surfaces cleaners and waxes had only a very short term affect.It reappeared withen a short while.Buffing also.The Mothers clay and going over it by hand(took a entire day to do) finally ended the saga.Like I said there may be new ways to get rid of it.Its been a issue for a long time.

 

I am heading back to the dealer later this week. I plan on playin' dumb at first. we will see what line they try to hand me. Dan

 

It might depend on who looks at it.Some employees might be totaly unaware of what rail dust is.

 

I have the same thing on my tailgate. I think its from the salt. And boy is there ever a lot of salt here in the winter (I'm from out west and they don't salt there). I wash my truck once a week just to keep the salt off it, but the speck I have to polish off unless any body knows of a better way.

 

One thing I did not notice about your posts was your mileage.22,000 km.whats that in English(lol)any how rail dust shows up very quickly.The ones I was involved in had like 1000 to 5000 miles.Just a few weeks old.Its not in the clear coat its ON the clear coat.Now if yours is several monyhs old and you just now have noticed it it could have come from anywhere and maybe not rail dust.Rail dust that I have seen has only been TOP surfaces.Not the sides or straight up and down areas.We don't have salt here but it was obvious it was rust specs.

 

I am glad I am not the only one with this annoying problem. It is fallout and roadsalt. My truck is covered in the amber coloured specks. I have used a clay bar from Mcguires purchased at Canadian Tire. It is a fantastic product that magically restores your paint to showroom finish. This truck is my forth Bright white pickup and they all have had this problem. Good luck.