Rail Dust... anyone dealt with this before???

[Dv8tor]

Slacker, it's more likely brake dust that's sticking to your truck...and it's obviously more noticeable on a white vehicle. Rail dust is really only an issue upon delivery when new cars and trucks are transported on rail cars.

You can use some Deep Wheel Cleaner as a decontamination step before you wash when the spots get bad enough to bother you. Spray down with water, apply the Deep Wheel Cleaner and watch it start to dissolve the spots, rinse off thoroughly, then continue with the normal wash process.

If there are any spots left after this, claying them will be FAST and easy since you've removed most of the spots with the DWC step.

Exactly. I'm not sure where you guys think this is "rail dust". I've never heard of such a thing. It's brake dust. It's on All cars but you just notice it on lighter colors. I can even find it on my red truck. It's from the brakes. Trust me and Adam on this one.

 

[SVTRaptorNY]

I have this on my 2012 ingot silver screw. The clay bar works wonders and I haven't noticed any of them come back. Once in awhile while detailing ill notice a new one I haven't noticed before. All in all it's a PITA but at least there is a way to fix it.


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[Malibu1]

So I cleaned my truck this weekend. Ended up having to clay bar it... again. I have got a bazillion rust dots all over the truck. Less than 15k miles and the truck is only a year old. These things come back every couple of weeks. What gives and how to I stop it? Should I be going back to the dealer? I am using Adams products so I know I am getting it clean and protected. I just don't get it. I clay bar and wax and they still come back.

forgot to mention, this does come off with clay bar and detail spray but absolutely will not come off with just washing.

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I think that looks like the stain from little road tar particles.

 

[Slacker]

So I got my response from Ford finally about the issue. They have a documented fix for it (WSM section 501-35) but I don't qualify because I have more than 12 months and 12,000 miles. I have had the issue since I bought the truck and have taken it in twice to get photos made for Ford. I have used Adam's products to remove it, but it keeps coming back. The photo below I just took today. Why would "rail dust" still be showing up after 2 years and 30,000 miles? And why is Ford not offering to do anything about it? Seems to me to be a paint issue since no amount of cleaning/polishing/waxing will make it not come back. Does anyone have any ideas or am I looking at getting the truck repainted?

 

[Humvee21]

Clay bar?

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[Chris's FX4]

It's never gonna go away forever unless you never drive your truck and keep it stored inside. I have paint coatings on my truck and I still get it. The majority of it happens in the winter time cause I can't hand wash my truck all the time and get it off. The blades from the snow plows scraping on the roads are one of the reasons. Brake dust will cause it too. Even during the summer, I'll still eventually get it. My dad's mustang is white, stored in the garage, never sees snow, and barely sees rain. His still gets it every year.

Have you tried Iron-X?

 

[TheWolf]

So I got my response from Ford finally about the issue. They have a documented fix for it (WSM section 501-35) but I don't qualify because I have more than 12 months and 12,000 miles. I have had the issue since I bought the truck and have taken it in twice to get photos made for Ford. I have used Adam's products to remove it, but it keeps coming back. The photo below I just took today. Why would "rail dust" still be showing up after 2 years and 30,000 miles? And why is Ford not offering to do anything about it? Seems to me to be a paint issue since no amount of cleaning/polishing/waxing will make it not come back. Does anyone have any ideas or am I looking at getting the truck repainted?

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Where is that pic taken from on the truck? Is this staining all over the entire truck?

To see if it is brake dust, spray it with some Adam's Deep Wheel Cleaner and see if it turns red, like it is bleeding. Just make sure to rinse it well, DO NOT let the Deep Wheel Cleaner dry on the paint. I have not used Iron-X, but from the product info it looks like it turns purple when it dissolves the metal from the brake dust.

EDIT- Just went back and read the old posts. Still would like to know if it bleeds with the Deep Wheel Cleaner or Iron-X.

 

[Slacker]

That pic is the bottom front of the bed on the passenger side. That is by far the worst on the truck but the spots are all over the vehicle on both sides. The only place I cannot find any of them is the roof.

I have used Adam's Deep Wheel Cleaner twice now. I have used the clay bar 4 or 5 times. I have waxed so many times my arms hurt.With all of the work I have done I should not be having this issue, and not to this extent.

I don't really care what the fix is, and I am not trying to get something out of Ford. I just want the spots to stop coming back. Personally I think spending now about $1,500 on Adam's products is a clear message that I take care of my vehicles and that I am doing everything I can to make sure they look decent. I bought a gallon of DWC after my initial post in hopes that would make it stop. It did help clean it, but it keeps coming back. And yes, it does change color over almost the entire truck when I use it.

---------- Post added at 06:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:22 AM ----------

It's never gonna go away forever unless you never drive your truck and keep it stored inside. I have paint coatings on my truck and I still get it. The majority of it happens in the winter time cause I can't hand wash my truck all the time and get it off. The blades from the snow plows scraping on the roads are one of the reasons. Brake dust will cause it too. Even during the summer, I'll still eventually get it. My dad's mustang is white, stored in the garage, never sees snow, and barely sees rain. His still gets it every year.

Have you tried Iron-X?

So this is normal? This is one winter's worth as the last time I detailed the outside of the truck was November. I know people with cars that they never detail and I have never seen this, even on white cars. I have a white 2013 Ford Escape as well and I have looked it over and see no evidence of these rust spots anywhere.

I have not tried Iron-x. I am using Adam's DWC which does remove the stuff. That is a lot of work for something I just can't get my head to accept is a normal part of owning a white truck.

 

[13raptorcrew]

My wite truck has it, clay bar gets it off. Once a year I could clay bar it again because more have shown up. Rail dust is basically the same dust that can come off your brakes. After snoball this year, the back was full of tiny orange spots.

 

[Slacker]

I have been a fan of the white but not so much any more. If this is going to keep coming back I am going to start looking for a replacement. That much rusting stuff on the truck after 6 months means I will be clay barring it every month. I don't know of anyone that does that. And the Adam's DWC is expensive!