Best sealant or product to reduce rock chips?

M

MackCollier

New member
Hi guys, I recently bought a Ford Fusion with Redfire color paint. I love the car and the paint. When I bought it a few weeks ago it had one very noticeable paint chip on one door, so I got some touch-up paint and fixed that. But in the past couple of weeks I`ve noticed that paint seems to be collecting tiny paint chips. More like slivers, and most appear to be down to the primer but not the metal. I live in the country and on a gravel road, so I am sure that`s a big part of the problem.

My question is, is there a particular sealant or product I can use on the paint to make it less likely to get more chips? I`ve coated the car with a couple of layers of Klasse SG so far, but the chips still seem to be multiplying. Most are very small but just large enough for me to notice. Is Ford Fusion paint (it`s a 2008) particularly soft and more susceptible to chips? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!
 
I think the only think you can do for rock chips is a paint protection film. To my knowledge, no wax, sealant, or coating will protect your car from rock chips.
 
Thanks for the advice. Not wanting to add a film or bra. Would any sealants at least reduce the frequency of rock chips? I wasn`t expecting to eliminate them, but at least make them less common? Would layering a sealant help with this or is it just a lost cause short of film or a bra?
 
It`s a lost cause, layering any sealant or coating. The only thing that could protect your paint, is paint protection film.
 
Sealants and coatings are just not thick enough to provide much protection from rock chips. Just invest in a kit from Dr. Colorchip and stay on top of the situation. Sorry I couldn`t be of more assistance.
 
As already noted, no wax, sealant, or coating is going to reduce or prevent the chipping. Clear bra or maybe something like the 3m 90000 paint defender spray film is your only option. Mud flaps will help a little too if you don`t already have them.
 
If somebody`s bound-and-determined to try fortifying the paint against rock chips with LSP, I`d go with many layers of KSG because of the (relatively) thick "plasticy" build-film that can be achieved. But I sure wouldn`t expect it to actually provide any signifcant benefit. For that matter, I`ve had rocks penetrate high-quality PPF.
 
If you drive on dirt/gravel roads, you can expect your share of rock/gravel-induced paint chips. Both suggestions above of mud flaps and paint-protection film would be wise investments on your part IF you plan or must continue to drive on gravel roads.

On a related note about gravel, check your tires periodically for imbedded stones/gravel in the tread. Those detritus can cause tire/wheel unbalance, not to mention tire noise, and even lead to tire punctures should you hit a pot hole or road debris in an unlucky way. All it takes is a dulled flat-tip screw driver to wedge them out. You may be surprised how many imbedded stones have been worn off to tread depth.
 
Lonnie said:
If you drive on dirt/gravel roads, you can expect your share of rock/gravel-induced paint chips..
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Sigh...the Crown Vic was driven extensively on limestone gravel access roads while in-service. Besides the usual chips up top, the whole underside suffered greatly and is an ongoing project.
 
The only thing that would reduce (not guarantee) damage, is to place it in a building somewhere and never again open the building up.
 
Like the others have already stated, no wax or sealant or coating will protect against rock chips. Xpel is what I have and would recommend, if you do not want to go the PPF route, then MAYBE, and I want to stress the maybe, you could use Plasti Dip and layer it up thick!
 
So since film is the only real option, what do people here think of it? My biggest issues with it are looks - it seems very conspicuous and doesn`t look like paint, and I assume it has to be removed at some point. Not sure how hard or risky that is. They use sand/pebbles on the roads here for ice and snow, and it`s like a shotgun blast to the front of your car.

Saying it looks conspicuous is also an assumption now that I think about it. I could see this all the time and just not notice it.

Do the pros here like it? Not like it? Do you guys install it?
 
RippyD said:
So since film is the only real option, what do people here think of it? My biggest issues with it are looks - it seems very conspicuous and doesn`t look like paint, and I assume it has to be removed at some point. Not sure how hard or risky that is. They use sand/pebbles on the roads here for ice and snow, and it`s like a shotgun blast to the front of your car.

Saying it looks conspicuous is also an assumption now that I think about it. I could see this all the time and just not notice it.

Do the pros here like it? Not like it? Do you guys install it?
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You can see it if you look for it, mostly the line where it ends but otherwise it is hard to see.

Here are a couple pics of mine the 1st showing where I taped it off when I polished my car this spring. 2nd what the front looks like on a car that is almost 8yo even tho only a little over 70k. others on how it looks like otherwise.

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And here is the one I have that it is the most visible.
2016-10-18%2010.11.43.jpg
 
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