When it comes to paint restoration Nissan, owners are faced with a choice: use original paint or analogues. Paint is especially popular among professionals and car enthusiasts. KYO-G is a Japanese brand that supplies paints and varnishes for conveyor painting of many models Nissan, including Qashqai, X-Trail And GT-R. But why exactly KYO-G, and not other brands like Nippon Paint or PPG?

The point is that KYO-G develops colors specifically for standards Nissan Motor Co., which guarantees an almost 100% match of the shade with the factory coating. However, even with original paint you can encounter problems: incorrect selection of color code, tinting errors or violation of application technology. In this article we will look at how to avoid common mistakes, where to find the correct paint code for your model and why sometimes even the original can KYO-G may give unexpected results.

What is KYO-G paint and why is it chosen for Nissan?

Brand KYO-G (or Kyoto Paint Co., Ltd.) is one of the largest Japanese manufacturers of automotive paints, collaborating with Nissan since the 1980s. It is this company that supplies paints and varnishes for the primary painting of bodies at factories in Japan, the USA and Europe. What are the key benefits?

  • 🔹 Exact match to factory colors: formulas are developed for specific models and years of production, which minimizes the risk of shade mismatch.
  • 🔹 High hiding power: paints KYO-G often require fewer layers compared to analogues.
  • 🔹 Compatible with original varnish: For local repairs there are no problems with adhesion or changes in gloss.
  • 🔹 Code documentation: for each model Nissan There are official correspondence tables, which simplifies the selection.

However, there are also nuances. For example, paints KYO-G sensitive to storage conditions: if the temperature is violated (above +25°C), the pigments may delaminate, which will lead to uneven color after painting. In addition, for some rare shades (for example, "Midnight Purple" for Nissan Skyline GT-R R34) the original formula may not be available - in such cases, manual tinting is required.

📊 What brand of paint do you use for your Nissan?
  • KYO-G
  • Nippon Paint
  • PPG
  • Sikkens
  • Another

How to Find the KYO-G Paint Code for Your Nissan

Paint code Nissan usually consists of 2–4 characters (letters and numbers) and can be specified in several places:

  1. Body plate: most often located on the driver's door pillar, under the hood or in the trunk. Look for inscriptions COLOR, PAINT or C/Trim.
  2. Service book: Color information is sometimes duplicated in the vehicle data section.
  3. VIN decoder: through online services (for example, Nissan VIN Decoder) you can get information about the factory paint using the body number.

Example of code decoding: KAD - this is not just a set of letters, but an indication of a specific shade. First letter (K) often denotes a series of paint, and the following symbols indicate the exact color. For example, for Nissan Juke 2015 code KAD matches the color "Brilliant Silver", and KH3 — "Gun Metallic".

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If the type code is indicated on the plate B54 or QAB, but in the catalog KYO-G it's not there, check alternative notations. For example, B54 for Nissan Almera can match KH3 in the system KYO-G.

Popular KYO-G Color Chart for Nissan Models

Below are the current paint codes KYO-G for the most common models Nissan. Please note that shades may vary depending on the year of manufacture!

Model Nissan Color code KYO-G Color name Years of use
Qashqai J11 KAD Brilliant Silver 2014–2021
X-Trail T32 KH3 Gun Metallic 2014–2020
GT-R R35 B54 Solid Red 2007–2023
Juke F15 N16 Pearl White 2014–2019
Navara D40 KAK Titanium Olive 2010–2015

If your code is not in the table, check it through the official catalog KYO-G or contact your dealer Nissan. Please note that some colors (eg. "Vibrant Blue" for Nissan 370Z) can have up to 3–4 variations depending on the batch of paint.

What to do if the paint code is erased?

If the code plate is unreadable, try:

1. Take a photo of the car in daylight and compare it with reference samples in the catalog KYO-G.

2. Contact the service center Nissan with a VIN number - they can restore data from the database.

3. Use a spectrophotometer to analyze color (service available in professional car paint shops).

Typical mistakes when selecting and painting KYO-G

Even with original paint KYO-G you may get unsatisfactory results. Here are the most common mistakes:

⚠️ Attention: If you're only painting one part (like a bumper) and the rest of the body is sun-bleached, the new coat will look noticeably different. In such cases, a complete polishing of the car is required before local repairs.
  • 🔴 Ignoring the substrate: on aluminum parts (e.g. hood GT-R) requires special primer, otherwise paint KYO-G will peel off.
  • 🔴 Improper surface preparation: Remains of old varnish or rust cause the new coating to bubble.
  • 🔴 Violation of proportions during tinting: even if you use a base KYO-G, adding too much solvent will change the shade.
  • 🔴 Low temperature painting: at +10°C and below, the paint applies unevenly, and the drying time increases by 2–3 times.

Another common problem is metallic "doesn't fit". This happens if the pressure in the spray gun is set incorrectly (optimally 2–2.5 bar for KYO-G) or the nozzle is too large (should be 1.3–1.4 mm).

Remove the old coating down to the metal|Treat the surface with anti-corrosion primer|Apply 2–3 layers of leveling primer|Polish the primer with P800–P1000 abrasive|Degrease the surface before painting-->

Step-by-step instructions for painting Nissan parts with KYO-G paint

Paint application process KYO-G It’s not much different from working with other brands, but there are key points to consider:

  1. Preparation:

    Remove the old coating with a grinder (grit P180–P240), treat the part with a degreaser PPG DX330 or similar. For aluminum parts, use acid primer KYO-G No. 800.

  2. Primer:

    Apply 2 layers of acrylic primer KYO-G No. 2000 with interlayer drying for 10–15 minutes. After complete drying (2-3 hours), sand the primer with P500-P600 abrasive.

  3. Painting:

    Thin the paint KYO-G solvent KYO-G Thinner No. 1 in a ratio of 2:1 (paint:solvent). Apply 2-3 layers with drying time between coats for 5-7 minutes. For metallics, use the wet-on-wet method.

  4. Varnishing:

    Coat the part with varnish KYO-G Clear No. 9000 in 2 layers. Drying - 24 hours at +20°C.

To achieve an ideal result, it is recommended to use infrared drying (temperature 40–50°C), especially for dark colors (e.g. "Deep Ocean Blue" on Nissan Maxima). This will speed up polymerization and prevent the formation of dust on the surface.

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For paints KYO-G with a "chameleon" effect (for example, "Mystic Jade" on Nissan Murano) requires application of 3–4 layers with increased drying time between them (10–15 minutes).

Where to buy original KYO-G paint and how to avoid fakes

Paints KYO-G officially supplied through dealer networks Nissan and certified distributors. However, there are fakes on the market that are outwardly indistinguishable from the original, but have a different composition. How to recognize a counterfeit?

  • 🔍 Packaging: original cans KYO-G have a holographic logo sticker Nissan and batch serial number.
  • 🔍 Color and consistency: Fake paints are often thinner and have an uneven shade when mixed.
  • 🔍 Price: if the cost is 30% or more below the market price, this is a reason to doubt the originality.

Official distributors KYO-G in Russia and the CIS: OOO "Nissan Motor Rus" (Moscow), "Avtokhimiya-Profi" (St. Petersburg), "Kyo-G Europe" (for EU countries). Before purchasing, ask for a certificate of conformity - original products always come with one.

⚠️ Attention: When purchasing paint through online stores, check the reviews and reputation of the seller. There are known cases when, instead of KYO-G sold relabeled paints Mobihel or Lesonal, which do not match in shade.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about KYO-G paint for Nissan

Can KYO-G paint be mixed with other brands (such as PPG)?

Technically yes, but not recommended. Paints KYO-G have a unique composition of pigments, and when mixed with analogues (for example, PPG Deltar) delamination or change in shade may occur. If tinting is required, use only original bases and solvents KYO-G.

How many coats of KYO-G paint need to be applied for full coverage?

For most colors, 2-3 coats are sufficient. However, for light metallics (for example, "Pearl White" on Nissan Juke) may require 4 coats. It is important to observe drying between layers (5–7 minutes at +20°C).

How to store KYO-G paint if it remains after renovation?

Original paints KYO-G sensitive to temperature and humidity. Store jars in an upright position at +15...+25°C, tightly closed. The shelf life of undiluted paint is 2 years, diluted - up to 6 months. Avoid direct sunlight!

How does KYO-G paint for Nissan differ from similar paints for Toyota or Honda?

The main difference is in the pigment formula. KYO-G adapts composition to standards Nissan, where “cooler” metallic shades are often used (for example, "Gun Metallic" has a bluish tint). Paints for Toyota (For example, Nippon Paint) are usually warmer and contain more yellow pigments.

Is it possible to paint plastic parts (bumpers, moldings) with KYO-G paint without primer?

No! Plastic requires the application of an adhesive primer (for example, KYO-G Plastic Primer). Without it, the paint will peel off in 1-2 months. For flexible plastics (e.g. bumper Nissan Micra) use soil with an additive PPG DP40.