Q&A for How to Paint the Hood of a Car

A decent paint job would cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500. Depending on what sort of deal you could get from the shop.

Definitely! With modern cars, especially nowadays, there's not really any worry about getting water in the engine bay at all. With older cars, you definitely need to take precautions if you're going to be using a pressure washer. You don't want water getting into carburetors or air filters, but modern cars are designed in such a way that it doesn't really matter. You just want to make sure you're not directing the pressure washer stream into sensitive areas like the fuse box or battery area. As long as you stand back and aren't using a zero-degree nozzle (I recommend a 40-degree nozzle for the engine bay), you can definitely clean the engine bay with a pressure washer. Again, you want to be careful of the sensitive areas.

You can’t simply reapply clear coat over peeled areas without proper preparation. The peeling areas need to be sanded to remove the damaged clear coat. The surface should then be cleaned, smoothed, and refinished with a new base coat if needed, followed by reapplying the clear coat. Proper blending is essential for a smooth finish. For best results, consider professional help if you’re not experienced with auto painting.

Apply three to four clear coats for a shiny and durable finish on the hood. Let each coat dry as directed. After the final coat, wet sand and polish to boost the shine.