Oxidized paint on my 08 is buggin

Oxidized paint on my 08 is buggin, any DIY solutions, before and after pictures out there? I don’t want to drop money on paint, I’m saving for a lift and tires in the fall.

Show me how you managed the shitty paint job. Love my truck, just don’t want it to rust through.

 

https://wolfgangcarcare.com/five-steps-to-detailing.html

 

You have 1 money but 2 ways it can go. Seems you should prioritize the paint before the lift and tires.

 

Without pictures, correct / proper advice is kind of hard. Assuming you have good old-fashioned oxidation (not clear coat failure) though, I'll offer some advice.

The general solution to oxidation is to carefully polish the surface, then re-seal it with wax, polymer sealant or ceramic coating. Generally speaking, this is best done by an experienced detailer because the polishing removes the top layer of paint. If you try this at home without proper tools, products and experience, you'll end up with a Delorean.

Another point I'd offer is that oxidation doesn't necessarily lead to corrosion (rust). Yes, oxidation is your paint job starting to fail due to exposure to the sun. When this happens, the protection your paint originally offered is now somewhat compromised. So, it can accelerate the start of corrosion. Then again, polishing and removing some of your paint thickness can do the same thing.

As I've told many, many customers, the best way to fix failed paint is not to let it fail in the first place. Said another way, prevention is a far better fix than correction. As you might guess, most of the folks I give this advice to come to me way too late in that game.