Paint thickness, 2018 Garnet Red Tricoat - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

davbri59 · 06-24-2025, 07:30 PM

Hello, so I may ask a dumb question, but I checked the paint on a newly purchased 2018 in Garnet Red Tricoat. I buffed using Chemical Guys and it turned out very well. Afterwards I checked with a thickness gauge and it shows 11-13 mils, I know..... and then checked my 2015 Highlander avg 4.8-6.5 mils.

Could the products I used to polish, and wax caused that much of a "paint" thickness. The gloss is excellent, no swirls. There is one area that was repainted due to an accident, and it measures 7.0 mils.

What am I missing?

DamonZ28 · 06-25-2025, 12:26 PM

It's not uncommon for different cars to have dramatically different paint thickness levels, especially between manufacturers and even between different models.

Alan47717 · 06-25-2025, 03:56 PM

The 11-13 doesn't pass the smell test. My detailer measured mine in the 4.2 to 4.6 range and says that is normal. He also says that high end cars (Porsche, Mercedes, etc.) might see 6 to 8. I think you are measuring wax buildup on top of the actual paint thickness.

arpad_m · 06-25-2025, 10:13 PM

Mine is also a 2018, and paint thickness measures between 4.5 and 4.9 mils.

11 to 13 is almost Koenigsegg territory.

06-24-2025, 07:30 PM	#1
davbri59 Drives: 2018 Camaro LS V6 Manual Join Date: Jun 2025 Location: Maryland Posts: 1	Paint thickness, 2018 Garnet Red Tricoat Hello, so I may ask a dumb question, but I checked the paint on a newly purchased 2018 in Garnet Red Tricoat. I buffed using Chemical Guys and it turned out very well. Afterwards I checked with a thickness gauge and it shows 11-13 mils, I know..... and then checked my 2015 Highlander avg 4.8-6.5 mils. Could the products I used to polish, and wax caused that much of a "paint" thickness. The gloss is excellent, no swirls. There is one area that was repainted due to an accident, and it measures 7.0 mils. What am I missing?

06-25-2025, 12:26 PM	#2
DamonZ28 Drives: 2020 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Janesville, WI Posts: 797 View My Garage	It's not uncommon for different cars to have dramatically different paint thickness levels, especially between manufacturers and even between different models. __________________ 2020 Camaro 2SS - Riverside Blue, NPP, Magnetic Ride, Sunroof Soler DLX Bluetooth Throttle Controller / OFFKAT Smoked LED Side Marker Lights / Blue SS emblems on front & rear / Wildhammer Rear Dark Reflectors / Trim Illusion Gloss Black Door Handle Covers / eBay Black Fuel Door / Screaming Chicken Fender Hash Marks / Color-Matched G2 Caliper Paint CT Sounds Tropo 10" Sub / Down4Sound MM1000 Mini Maxx amp / JL Audio LoC-22 line output converter / Sub Thump Plug N Play T-Harness With ANC Defeat Harness Kit My Camaro Journal

06-25-2025, 10:13 PM	#4
arpad_m Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 13,061 View My Garage	Mine is also a 2018, and paint thickness measures between 4.5 and 4.9 mils. 11 to 13 is almost Koenigsegg territory. __________________ 2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6 735 rwhp \| 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley \| Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers \| JRE smooth idle terminator cam \| LT4 FS & injectors \| TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX \| DSX flex fuel kit \| Roto-Fab CAI \| Soler 95mm LT5 TB \| 1LE wheels \| 1LE brakes \| BMR rear cradle lockout \| JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 \| 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 \| 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 \| 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 \| 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 \| 6000 - 3/19/18

06-25-2025, 03:56 PM	#3
Alan47717 Drives: 2022 1LT RS 2.0t/6spd Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 273	The 11-13 doesn't pass the smell test. My detailer measured mine in the 4.2 to 4.6 range and says that is normal. He also says that high end cars (Porsche, Mercedes, etc.) might see 6 to 8. I think you are measuring wax buildup on top of the actual paint thickness.