2022 LEXUS RCF Owners Manual

2476-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)
RC F Owner's Manual
6
Maintenance and care
6-2.Matte paint care guide (if equipped)
Illustrations in this manual are simplified for explanation and may not represent the actual
vehicle.
Top coat (clear): A transpar ent coating which protects the lower layers of paint.
Some clear coats enhance the appearan ce through improved color depth or
gloss.
Top coat (base): Paint which gives the vehicle body its color.
Intermediate coat: Enhances the top coat finish and durability.
Primer: Enhances the rust resistance of st eel parts of the vehicle body. Primer is
also applied to the inner side of ve hicle body and structural components.
Basic knowledge abou t matte clear coat
The body of a vehicle is painted with la yers of several different coatings to
enhance its durability and appearance. The top layer is called a clear coat.
Unlike a normal clear coat, which enhances the glossy appearance of the base
paint, matte clear coat gives the base paint a non-glossy finish with a unique
texture.
In order to ensure the longevity of the matte clear coat and its texture, special
care must be taken when cleaning the vehicle.
Basic paint structure
A
B
C
D

2486-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)
RC F Owner's Manual
Normal clear coat
 Cross section
Light
Clear
Base
 Enlarged surface
Matte clear coat
 Cross section
Light Matting agent
Clear
Base
 Enlarged surface
Illustrations in this manual are simpli-
fied for explanation and may not repre-
sent the actual vehicle.
Glossiness of a surface is seen by the
human eyes by a difference in the
amount of light that reflects off the sur-
face.
A surface painted with normal clear
coat is flat and smooth. As the amount
of light that reflects off the surface is
large, the vehicle body will appear
glossy.
A surface painted with a matte clear
coat is slightly uneven due to the added
matting agent. As the light shining on
an uneven surface is diffused signifi-
cantly, the amount of light reflected is
small, making the vehicle body look not
glossy, with a unique texture.
Difference between general
clear coat and matte clear coat
A
B
C
A
B
C
D

2496-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)
RC F Owner's Manual
6
Maintenance and care
If the painted surfaces of the vehicle
are dirty, wash the vehicle immediately.
(Washing your vehicle P.251)
Dirt
Due to the slight unevenness, matte
clear coat surfaces are more likely to
trap dirt and other foreign matter com-
pared to normal clear coat surfaces. If dirt or foreign matter is left on the
vehicle, it may settle into the textured
surface of the matte clear coat, making
it more difficult to remove. Additionally,
as the surface of the matte clear coat
will become more flat when dirty, the
vehicle body will start to look glossy,
ruining the textured finish.
Therefore, make sure to clean the vehi-
cle regularly and not allow dirt to
remain on the vehicle for extended
periods of time.
If dirt or foreign matter is allowed to
settle and cannot be cleaned off with
normal washing, it will be necessary to
remove the dirt with the upper layer of
the textured finish and then to repaint
the entire part.
Ask your Lexus dealer for details.
■Materials that may become difficult to
remove
The following are likely to settle into the
vehicle body and should be cleaned off
immediately.
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior
A

2506-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)
RC F Owner's Manual
●Rain water, sea water, and other liquids
that may cause water stains
●Sand, pollen, volcanic ash, and other par-
ticulate matter
●Dead insects, bird droppings, etc.
●Sap, leaves, flowers, etc.
●Mud, snow, anti-freezing agents, and
other road debris
●Gasoline, engine oil, asphalt, and other
oily materials
■Do not apply a coating to the vehicle
Do not apply a coating to the vehicle body,
as it will form a film over the painted sur-
faces, filling the matte clear coat surface,
making it more flat. As a result, it will
become more glossy, possibly permanently
losing its matte properties.
Take care in order to not damage the
painted surfaces.
When minor damage occurs to a vehi-
cle with a normal clear coat, it can be
repaired by polishing it or using touch
up paint. In contrast, a matte clear coat cannot be repaired using these meth-
ods.
If these methods are used the uneven-
ness of the matte clear coat may be
removed or filled in. In either case, the
surface will become more flat, making
Repair of paint damage

2516-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)
RC F Owner's Manual
6
Maintenance and care
it appear more glossy, possibly perma-
nently losing its matte properties.
In order to maintain the matte finish
when repairing damage, it will be nec-
essary to repaint the entire part.Working from top to bottom, liber-
ally apply water to the vehicle body,
wheel wells and underside of the
vehicle to remove any dirt and dust.
 Wash the vehicle body using a
sponge or soft cloth, such as a
chamois.
 For hard-to-remove marks, use car
wash soap and rinse thoroughly with
water.
 Wipe away any water.Washing your vehicle
Washing the vehicle by hand is rec-
ommended.
How to wash your vehicle
NOTICE
■Avoiding damage to the painted sur-
faces
Observe the following precautions.
Otherwise, the painted surfaces of your
vehicle may be damaged and perma-
nently lose their matte properties.
●When washing the vehicle, do not use
a brush.
●Do not use rubbing or polishing com-
pounds (ex. scratch remover).
●Do not rub the vehicle body.

2526-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)
RC F Owner's Manual
■General washing tips (P.251)
■If the vehicle body is dirty ( P.249)
Question: What should I do if any of th e following have attached to the vehicle?
NOTICE
●Do not attach a stickers to or vinyl
wrap the vehicle body.
●Before attaching a magnet (sign, etc.)
to the vehicle body, make sure to wash
and thoroughly dry the area of the
vehicle body where the magnet is to
be attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are frequently asked ques tions about the matte clear coat and
their answers:
Washing the vehicle
QuestionAnswer
Can the vehicle be washed?
Yes. The vehicle should be wash ed immediately if it is dirty.Can the vehicle be washed
frequently?
Is there anything I should be
careful about when washing
the vehicle?Make sure to start by rinsing the entire vehicle with plenty
of water from top to bottom.
ItemAnswer
Leaves, flowers, branches,
etc.
Remove immediately.
They may scratch the matte clear coat and if they are
allowed to remain on the vehicl e, dirt may settle into the
matte clear coat, making it mo re flat. As a result, it will
become more glossy, possibly permanently losing its matte
properties.

2536-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)
RC F Owner's Manual
6
Maintenance and care
■Vehicle washing products (P.251)
Sand, pollen, and other par-
ticulate matterWash off with water immediately.
If the contaminants are allowed to remain on the vehicle,
they may settle into the matt e clear coat, making it more
glossy, possibly causing it to permanently lose its matte
properties.
Asphalt (tar)
Water repellent glass coating
Remove immediately.
Even if removed, depending on the contaminant, the matte
clear coat may be damaged, possibly permanently losing its
matte properties.Glass treatment remover
Tire cleaner
Gasoline
Oil
Washer fluid
QuestionAnswer
What should I use to wipe off
dirt?
Use a soft chamois cloth.What should I use to dry the
vehicle?
Can I use a water stain
remover?Lexus does not recommend the use of water stain remov-
ers, as they may damage the matte clear coat.
Can the vehicle be waxed?No. Do not wax the vehicle or apply a coating to the vehicle
body, as they may cause the ma tte clear coat to lose its
matte texture.
Can a coating be applied to
the vehicle body?
Can I use an iron remover?No, as it may cause the matte clear coat to lose its matte
texture
Can I use tar and pitch
remover?No, as they may damage the matte clear coat.
Can I use a matte paint
cleaner/wax?Lexus does not recommend the use of matte paint cleaners
or waxes, as they may cause th e matte clear coat to lose its
matte texture.
ItemAnswer

2546-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)
RC F Owner's Manual
■Body coatings
■Repairing the vehicle body (P.250)
■Attaching accessories and ot her objects to the vehicle
Are there genuine Lexus
vehicle washing products
available for matte paint?
No. Use a soft chamois cloth for cleaning the vehicle body.
Are there any vehicle wash-
ing product brands that Lexus
recommends?
No. Use a soft chamois cloth for cleaning the vehicle body.
QuestionAnswer
Can a body coating available
at a Lexus dealer be applied?No, as it may cause the matte clear coat to lose its matte
texture.
Can an aftermarket body
coating be applied?Lexus does not recommend applying a coating to the vehi-
cle body, as it may cause the matte clear coat to lose its
matte texture.
Can an aftermarket body
coating designed for matte
paint be applied?Lexus does not recommend applying a coating to the vehi-
cle body, as it may cause the matte clear coat to lose its
matte texture.
QuestionAnswer
Can damage to the paint be
repaired?In order to maintain the matte finish when repairing paint
damage, it is necessary to repaint the entire part. Consult
your Lexus dealer for details.
Can I use rubbing or polish-
ing compound (ex. scratch
remover)?No. Using a rubbing or polishing compound or touch up
paint may damage the matte clear coat. In order to maintain
the matte finish when repairin g paint damage, it is neces-
sary to repaint the entire part. Consult your Lexus dealer
for details.
Can I use touch up paint?
QuestionAnswer
Can a sticker or vinyl wrap be
attached to the vehicle body?No. They may damage matte clear coat when they are
installed and may cause the matte clear coat to lose its
matte texture when they are removed.
Can a magnet be attached to
the vehicle body?Yes. Make sure to wash and th oroughly dry the area around
where the magnet is to be attached before attaching it.
QuestionAnswer