Freightliner Maroon Metallic (Catalyzed Spray Can Only) (L0221EY) Touch Up Paint

The Look

Your Freightliner is a tool of the trade, but that doesn't mean it has to look like one. This maroon is a deep, professional shade that was prominent across the 2015 lineup. It trades the bright, fire-engine reds for a more sophisticated earth-toned wine color. Because this was used on everything from highway haulers to vocational chassis, it is a color built to look clean even when it has been through three states of road grime. Under direct sunlight, the metallic flake gives the cab a heavy, expensive presence that standard solid colors just can't match.

Technical Details

This is a true metallic finish, which means you are dealing with thousands of tiny aluminum flakes suspended in the pigment. If you apply it too heavily in one spot, those flakes will "swim" and pool together, creating dark, muddy patches known as mottling. It makes the repair look like a series of stripes rather than a flat surface. Since you are using Freightliner Maroon Metallic (Catalyzed Spray Can Only) (code L0221EY), you also have a ticking clock to consider. Once you activate the internal hardener by pressing the button on the bottom of the container, the paint begins a chemical reaction. You generally have about 24 to 48 hours to finish your work before the liquid hardens inside the container and becomes useless.

Best Practices

Before you start, find your paint code on the driver's side door jamb or the passenger side door label to confirm you have the right match. Because the metallic flakes in this maroon like to settle at the bottom, you must shake the container for a full two minutes after you hear the mixing ball rattle. Once you activate the catalyst, shake it for another minute to ensure the hardener is fully integrated. Always test the color on the included card to verify the flake density before you touch your truck. When you begin, keep the container moving in steady, overlapping passes. If you stop moving while the nozzle is open, the maroon will darken in that spot and ruin the metallic effect. Give the paint plenty of drying time in a covered garage or a patch of shade to ensure the finish sets hard and durable.