Hi guys,
I am new here and owned the TL for only 3 months and looking to see if anyone else also has the same issue, or have experience on what I need to do with my '12 TL Tech. Recently, the weather is getting colder. It was (55F-65F) last few weeks, and 35F this early morning. I started up my car as normal, warmed up and drove to work. Got to work about 20 minutes driving, and look back at my car hood. It looks like a layer of fog over the mid of my hood, covered the portion of the engine. I don't have the picture but it is like, said oxidation. But I never have this issue before, even when the temp dropped to 55F as mentioned earlier.
Is this just because the outside temp is too low, while the engine run hot (as usual) ? This is only my assumption since the engine portion would be hot and freezes up that covered portion on the hood. Have any one else experience this issue?

Thank you for your answers guys

 

are you talking about condensation from the morning dew out lining the engine's heat signature?

 

I wouldn't call it condensation since it doesnt look exactly like any drop of water forming together. It looks more like fading type of hood, but only a portion above the engine (about mid hood). I swipe my finger on it and it feel like a matte type (sounds weird). Btw, I have a black color car and it s really easy to notice this.
I am still unsure however. If it is condensation from the morning dew, it shouldn't just appear after 20 mins driving. It formed like a type of matte but a thin layer. Sorry for the non-pic description

 

I wouldn't call it condensation since it doesnt look exactly like any drop of water forming together. It looks more like fading type of hood, but only a portion above the engine (about mid hood). I swipe my finger on it and it feel like a matte type (sounds weird). Btw, I have a black color car and it s really easy to notice this.
I am still unsure however. If it is condensation from the morning dew, it shouldn't just appear after 20 mins driving. It formed like a type of matte but a thin layer. Sorry for the non-pic description

 

perhaps the clear coat failed????

 

So would I need to get it to a detail shop for clear coat restoration? What would be your recommendation? I just dont want to step in there and they recommended to do the whole body paint correction or such. (I dont have much experience with this). Appreciate the answers

 

my recommendation would be to IDENTIFY what the problem is...

right now, we are guessing. because I can't see the damage, I dont know what kind of damage it is, therefore CANNOT tell you how to treat the damage.

if it is clear coat damage, a detailer will not be able to make it better.
a paint shop/body shop can! they will need to re-clear the clear coat.

 

Thank you so much for the advice. I guess I will take the picture tomorrow and upload it here. It would speak for itself much easier than explaination. Please hang on with me @justnspace

 

If you swipe your finger over the hood and the texture changes from a rougher "matte" feeling to a smooth feeling when you get toward the edges, then you almost certainly have clear coat failure. That would be odd on a car that's only 6 years old, even if was never waxed.

Wash the hood well then try swiping your finger over it again. You might also try taking it to a body shop to get their opinion.

Is it not noticeable when the hood is dry?

 

That is a helpful tip. i will try it as soon as tomorrow morning after getting 20 mins drive to work in 35F weather again to re-create the issue.
And yes, I noticed nothing when it s dry, and not to mean my paint is new but I maintained it well since I got it like regular wash, hand wax and such. I rub my hands on the hoods many times before this incident but never noticed anything rough or close to matte-feeling. But until today (again when weather drops from 55 to 35). Thank you for your input. Will upload the image tomorrow again.

 

It's most likely water condensing around the engine area. I have that all the time on my car, and there isn't any clear coat failure. The car is washed and waxed regularly and I had a detail done a year or so ago too. I can take a pic if I notice it in the next few days for you to compare.

 

I would so much appreciate if you can attach the pic. Thank you

 

It's still a bit warm in the AM around my area for this to happen but I'll post a pic when I use the car and it's a cold start on a cold day!

 

On a related, but yet totally different note, I previously posted this picture, which I took after entering my parkade on a cold autumn day. Shows the trunk lid construction nicely, I think.

 

Ha! That's funny. You can see where the reinforcement sheet metal was pressed.

 

Thanks guys for all answers and pictures. If someone else has a pic that related. I would love to see as well. I couldnt be able to replicated it yesterday even today, since the temp outside is higher now (~55 morning).

 

That's cool!