Rust blooms on chrome lettering...

I finally got some time to give my car a quick ONR wash. Since my car sits out all the time it's really neglected for the most part. I've yet to clay it since ownership and I have a few spots with rust blooms. Today I noticed one on a badge on the back end of my car.

I have a VW GTI and there's a spot of what looks like rust on the "G" letter. I haven't tried to remove it with anything yet but I'm concerned about this penetrating the emblem.

Has anyone experienced rust blooms on badges and such?

 

That is a first I have heard of. I always thought the badges were plastic that are chrome dipped.

 

Yeah I'm not entirely sure. The rust bloom could just be superficial and sitting on top of the chrome plating.

 

I see this all the time.. its usually caused by a combo or pollution in the air and the exhaust, which contains all sorts of nasty stuff.. I usually clean them up with a mild compound and a microfiber.. you will also see that the rear of the car gets really dirty from the exhaust coming up fromthe low pressure buffer when you drive. You can see little bits of rust or fallout in the paint , and it comes from bracke dust, and the cataylitic converter. Clay will get it all of easy . hope this helps a bit!!

 

I figured it was fallout or rail dust from transport. My biggest concern is if it's going to or already has permeated the thin coat of plating on the lettering. I don't want the lettering to bubble up later and flake off because of contaminants under it.

 

well, the emblems are pretty durable.. i have rarely seen them peel... its worth a try right? Worst case senario..you order new ones..
If you can polish and seal them now, there will be no issues later.

 

Yep. They were sealed with ZAIO+Z2Pro. Perhaps I sealed in the rust particle and it just bloomed on me. Hrmph. (waits for superbee to comment on fallout protection of Zaino :whistle

I'll report back when I get a moment to try some light polish on it or clay.

 

Any pics of your car mate? Dirty or clean?

 

Uhm. You know? I don't think I have any. I had a few I snapped on my iPhone after a ZAIO/Z2P session but when I upgraded to the new firmware I wiped them out. I just gave it an ONR bath last night so it's looking ok but not perfect. Maybe I'll snap a picture when I go for lunch.

 

Here ya go p1et.

Here's 3 of the car. Sorry they aren't great. The 4th is of the "G" badge. You can see the bloom on the bottom part of the G... and some dirt I missed washing it yesterday haha.

 

I've seen those small rust spots on badges and I basically just clay them off, they come off easy and like FuelTuner said I've yet to see a vehicle with badges completely rusted off, but just my opinion.

As for protection, I apply wax/sealant on the emblem just like the rest of the veicle just me though.

 

:mounty:

 

Awesome GTI! What I'd do to have one of these for myself. Too bad my missus won't let me, ARGH!

Do you read Performance VW? One of my favorite magazines...

 

Just Eurotuner currently. Thanks for the compliments.