If it's not rail rust, what the 'H' is it?

I've read around about something called "rail rust" from the metal bits flinging up from the railroad wheels and landing on vehicle paint and then later rusting. There's too many variables in that idea for me to be convinced.
However...
My tuck is suddenly pitted with tiny rust specks all over. I bought the truck in October and the spotting just showed up last week. It's everywhere around the sides and back. It's even on the parts that were color matched after the truck was delivered to the dealership. It's also on the plastic flares and the plastic LED light panels below the headlights. All things that were done to the truck after the dealer took possession of it. This is what leads me to think it isn't rail rust. To further irritate the issue, I now see it in the sides of my company supplied vehicle, a white 2013 Chevy van. Same thing, all around the sides and back.
What the heck is this coming from?
Thoughts?

~Mike~

 

Just a guess but since its on your company vehicle as well, maybe its acid rain? Does it wash off?

 

Im going to go on a thought here for a second. Do you like where the roads are salted or brine? If you do thats the salt eating the paint away digging into the paint all the way down to bare metal why washing every other day helps in those conditions. Also road salt is very acid ( depends on who the supplier is )

 

It hasn't washed off. Using an after-wash detail spray doesn't take it off, nor does liquid polish used on airplanes.

It is very salty around here during winter. Good thinking, but it's on the plastic parts too, there is no metal to rust. It is something that has hit the paint and then rusted.

I have a nanoskin scrubbing sponge on the way. I've read about using clay bar to take it off, and the nanoskin giving similar results.

 

Here is a video (if you haven't already seen it). Not really buying is reason for why its happening but if it helps get it off...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWMMPuA8Suk

 

I will give the guy credit good theory. i could see this.

 

I would think that it would then be more prevalent on the front of the vehicle, just like rock chips.

 

Sean. Im willing to bet you might have to wait till your humidity starts to go up there with the hot sun before this would happen I believe. Few good hot days I bet it will show up if it does.

Way to prevent this might just be wax it and seal the paint every year or a clear bra like you said might do the trick.

 

Could be where the op lives then they have high corrosive salt content.

 

But OP says it's in the plastic as well...I'd like to have a look at it with a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe...or some such.

 

If the surface of the plastic is painted I have seen rust from the painted surface before.

 

Do you mean like metalflake paint where the corrosive gets embedded in the paint and the "flake" begins to rust? Or is metal flake not really metal? Shucks, I don't even know. heh

Or might you mean where metal particulate gets embedded into the paint and rusts as it's exposed to a humid environment or whatever the heck is being used on the roads these days?

 

Correct. metal no matter what the surface area is ( metal or plastic) will do a rust spot to it do to corrosion. If the metal say is cold for example the clear coat should be safe, but say it the metal particulate is HOT clear coat will burn with paint. That said if you have hot flakes for example your corrosion should increase faster do to oxidation then corrosive part of the metal. The metal would be bare so it can accept moisture do to its not painted surface and its exposure to elements in air. You can make rust form on bare plastic with shaving of metal for example leave it out watch what happens.

The guy in the video i will give him credit, and a solved problem for paint, but not a permanent to keep it from do it again like the op might have again. Only thing i can think of ( off the top of my head here) say if it is brake pads / dust doing this, there are low dust pads you can buy to help this problem. More expensive pads they are but might be worth a try for the op.

Metallic paint shouldnt be a rust helper so to speak in this case i believe IMO.

 

Thanks Mike.

I don't know if I'm sold on this phenomena being metal material from the brake pads nor the disc rotors though. I would think that the "hot" flecks would have a much greater accumulated density as you get closer to the caliper and have a "spray pattern" on the exterior sheetmetal much like that of water or mud spray; I would think that the fender liner for example would have a "layer of rust" on it. Ah well, I haven't noticed it on my vehicle, but given time, someone will track down the origin.

 

I not sold on it either its very plausible.

One thing fender wouldnt have rust the dust/metal ( in this case) goes with the WIND. fender is x feet higher than pads. more you get away from the pads more like you will get a spray effect on the truck. My theory on the brake part.

 

can you buff it off sean like in the video?

Edit spelling police.

 

Looks like the (rail dust) or fall out is more plausible now.

 

I hosed down the sides of the truck, swabbed most of the water off with a drying towel, then sprayed the Iron-X on. Let it stand about 3 minutes(long enough that it doesn't dry on there), then wiped it down with a regular sponge. I did a couple panels at a time so the drying wouldn't get away from me. All but the bigger spots are gone. I'm hoping wiping down with the Nanoskin will resolve that.
The purple showed up on the painted plastic and the chrome. The rust dots are everywhere...

 

I swabbed it all off before it dried, so I had no issues.

 

Amazon!! I get my Prime membership's use out of Amazon

The Iron-X spray:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UMB7WY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
I used about an 1/8th of the bottle. I figure I'm good for three more applications.

The Nanoskin and the lube:

$18 Nanoskin (AS-019) AutoScrub Fine Grade Sponge

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CUAWJ6G?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

$8 Nanoskin GLIDE Silicone Free Spray Detailer 16 oz - Use with Autoscrub/Clay Bar After Car Wash | Leaves No Residue Before Wax Sealant Coating | Automotive, Home, Garage, DIY & More | Concentrated

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DOS0KC8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

 

Did you or anyone do any grinding around your vehicle? Looks like that could be a culprit if its plausible.