Help identify paint issue

Hello all,

New here. I have a 2008 Tacoma long bed 4x4. I was wondering if someone could help identify some issues with my paint. Is this the clear coat coming off? Is it staining? Any way to fix this by myself? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you all!

 

Looks like minerals from hard water.

 

Looks like hard water spots to me. Try using some white vinegar on a microfiber towel and wipe it gentley. It works great on glass, so I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work on paint.

 

Chemical guys makes a hard water removal product too but as others mentioned you can dilute vinegar and water

 

Awesome. Thank you everyone for the tips.
I worked in a chemical/refinery plant for a while so I assumed it was something quite damaging from all the constant overspray from the environment out there. However, running my hands along it doesn’t feel abnormal.

 

Just use a polisher and light polish it will come off and be extra shiny lol

 

Looks like hard water or other spots.
The best way to eliminate the possibility that it might be clear coat starting to thin and eventually start to flake off is to look at the other side of the truck, and at areas that are not as constantly exposed to the sun. For example, if you park your truck outdoors at home always facing in the same direction, you will find that the side with the most sun exposure gets either more faded or that the clear coat starts to deteriorate on that side more than the other side. This does not happen overnight and takes years to become noticeable.

 

First Rule of Detailing: Use the least aggressive process first. In this case, that means trying to dissolve the hard water deposits - if that's indeed what the problem is - first. If that doesn't work, the next move would be to try - in a discrete place on the truck - polishing with a very mild polish. One also has to remember that the OP has a 15-year-old truck and there could be many different issues here. The paint is old and possibly compromised. Going at it with too aggressive of a process might do more harm than good.

 

very good idea @1schoir i didn’t think about that.

Also, @Too Stroked you may be right. I have the rust racing stripes on the roof AO I’m pretty sure many things are going on. I just didn’t know if it was clear coat as it wasn’t flaking.
Will do the vinegar trick for starters.

 

ive tried removing hard water spots from windows with vinegar and had no luck, too far etched. Then tried the chemical guys and worked like a charm. Yes, try the vinegar first, least aggressive