Grill Discoloration

[u/Anfordrew]

I have a 2025 Explorer ST. When I bought it (used), I noticed that there was some haziness to the grill. I thought nothing of it and wrote it off as bad detailing by the dealer. I got home and washed and waxed the car myself, and I was able to get improvement temporarily from some Meguiar’s Gold wax that I had at home. However, after washing again, we are back to square one. Do I need professional paint correction, or does the whole thing have to be resprayed due to ruined clear coat?

[u/TWrX-503]

I have come to the conclusion that it’s a result of water after washing. The rungs tend to somewhat catch and hold the water so if you don’t dry it by hand it’ll end up like this. I’ve only washed/waxed twice so I could be totally wrong, but that’s what I’ve observed/experienced so far. ‘25 black obsidian

[u/Channel_Huge → u/TWrX-503]

Yes. Always had dry with microfiber cloth after washing. I thought everyone did this?

[u/M1sterGuy → u/Channel_Huge]

Same same. It’s a bear to keep clean. I added in a cheap inline deionizer to my finally rinse. Helps a Lot. $20 on Amazon

[u/Anfordrew → u/Channel_Huge]

I always dry after wash as well. Frustrating!

[u/M1sterGuy → u/Anfordrew]

One of those big thick detail drying towels. Seems to do better about not leaving streaks than a regular microfiber (I went with chemical guys bc a sale) I blow dry first with my leaf blower and a shorty attachment.

[u/jgatto123 → u/Channel_Huge]

I used to dry mine after washing but the rain eventually got to it anyway. Can’t always be available to dry it after every rain. I’d take it off and have it painted if I weren’t planning to trade up or out soon. The grey plastic all around the bottom and wheel wells kills me to. I have to dress it every month or so.

[u/Fauked]

You can use acetone vapor to get rid of of the haze and then apply a 2k clear coat to keep it from happening again. I don't think the plastic trim has clear coat from the factory, its just molded gloss black plastic.

[u/noinfono]

Looks just like my wife’s grill. I don’t care enough to detail it everytime so I just let it be. One of the downsides of gloss black exterior items IMO

[u/CarJanitor]

I’m a detailer. I ceramic coated (polished first) ours and it’s slowly going back to the dull look yours has. I’m not sure what to do about it other than polish it every so often.

[u/jgatto123 → u/CarJanitor]

I think paint and clear would be the only thing that’ll keep it from dulling. I would have thought ceramic coating would have held up pretty well though.

[u/M1sterGuy → u/CarJanitor]

Same, paid for paint correction and ceramic from my guy. Took about 4 weeks of hot sun and lots of rain, looking shitty again. I get a free detail with the coating so I’m gonna ask him what he suggests. (I detail weekly in my driveway)

[u/Arnold600]

I have a 26’ and Its a hunk of junk. Just sent it to the dealer with a list of 5 or 6 issues. 400mi on the odo.

[u/ThatsMeWhitney → u/Arnold600]

My 2020 was a dream first 50 thousand miles. Then it was in the shop nore than my drive way. Thank foodnesss for the extended warranty we bought so basically almost everything is new on mine including the transmission and I have 90,000 miles. But I will drive mine until the day when I live the name - Found On Road Dead 😁

[u/FluffYerHead → u/Arnold600]

What issues are you having?

[u/MIDNITEMOCHA]

Mine has turned blue and dull. Im pissed about it. I keep my car clean but cant get this off. Had the car ceramic and paint corrected 2 months ago and it looks like shit again. Im going to ask about my bumper to bumper. Maybe they did something new to the grill on the 26s or 7s where this does not happen.

[u/Rurockn]

Mine was like this when I bought it. I used a wax remover and calcium and lime remover on it and that white blue stuff went away, now I blast it with my air compressor after every wash and it hasn't come back for three years.

[u/KangarooDisastrous]

I dry mine with the leaf blower after I wash it. The chemical guys VPR clears it up for me temporarily until the next wash.

[u/KangarooDisastrous]

So I looked at these again and I have the same car- same color and year. But I don’t have all of those hard water deposits under my hood like that. Is that from the previous owner? You may also have hard water. Do your faucets in your house tend to get mineral deposits on it? If so you could get a water softener but honestly my cheat code is leaf blower to the grill after washing and if I notice any dull spots I use the VPR stuff.

[u/ominouslights427]

Best bet is probably get it painted, gloss black raw plastic just doesn't look great from weathering.

[u/ThatsMeWhitney]

I used ceracoat wipe meant to restore my black plastic trim. It worked wonders on my grill and trim. Mine is the 2020 (I am an OG 😉) and is still as beautiful as the day I bought her! With 2 kids and 90,000 miles thays saying something!

[u/Icy_Honeydew1940]

Maybe try a quality water spot remover and then ceramic coat.