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So I went to fuel up my UW IS a couple days ago and noticed a similar brown/yellow-ish stain below the fuel tank (see image below). I'm usually very careful whenever I pump fuel, so I'm really surprised to see the stain.
Once I got home, I tried cleaning it off with Meguiar's UQD and a microfiber cloth - rubbed furiously, but to no avail. The damn stain wouldn't come off.
Unfortunately, I just had to leave on a business trip and won't be back for another 2 weeks. So my car is just sitting the garage with the stain soaking in.
Once I get back, what is the best thing I should do to try and get rid of this (most likely fuel stain) besides buffing it out (I don't have a buffer and I want to try removing the stain myself before taking it to the pros).
Take a look in the fuel door. It is a weird design that holds moisture, either from fuel or just water. It also lets mold and mildew grow in there. It is very hard to clean out and even hard to see because of the dark color. The door itself seems to have a pocket that holds moisture and leaks it out for hours after washing or exposure to rain.
Try cleaning out that area around the fuel filler cap and the door. I have found that to be helpful in keeping that area in that quarter panel clean. It is a pain. Open it and see how long there is water there after a wash. I guess any fuel spill would be the same.
If it were my car I'd be looking at a coating product for the car to help avoid future stains. Coatings offer very durable and long lasting protection. If you did get a stain in the coating you can polish it out without removing any paint.