2019 Kenworth T680 Paint Codes

Quick reference

Where to find your paint code

For most Kenworth T680 trucks, the paint code is located on the driver's side door jamb. Look for a sticker that contains vehicle information, often including the VIN. The paint code will typically be listed there. If you don't find it on the door jamb, check the B-pillar (the structural post between the front and rear doors on a conventional cab). Occasionally, you might find it under the hood on a separate label, but the door jamb is the most common spot. It's important to specifically look for a code starting with "L" followed by a four-digit number.

Best touch-up paint sources

When it comes to touching up your 2019 Kenworth T680, you have several reliable options:

• Dupli-Color: A widely available brand that offers a good range of colors in touch-up pens, bottles, and aerosol cans. While they may not have every single Kenworth shade, they offer many common solid colors that are suitable for minor chips and scratches.
• AutomotiveTouchup: This company specializes in providing factory-matched touch-up paint. You can typically find exact matches by selecting your year, make, and model on their website. They offer paint in various forms, including pens, bottles with brushes, and spray cans.
• Tcoat Custom-Mix: For more specialized or hard-to-find Kenworth colors, a custom-mix paint supplier like Tcoat can be an excellent option. They can often formulate paint precisely to your truck's original factory code, ensuring a near-perfect match.
• Kenworth Dealer: Your local Kenworth dealership parts department can also be a reliable source for touch-up paint. They can often order the exact factory paint for your truck using your VIN, which is especially helpful for unique or fleet-specific colors.

How to use touch-up paint

Applying touch-up paint effectively can significantly improve the appearance of minor blemishes. Follow these steps for the best results:

1. Clean: Thoroughly clean the area to be touched up with soap and water, then degrease it with a wax and grease remover. This ensures proper adhesion.
2. Primer (if needed): For deeper scratches or exposed metal, apply a thin layer of automotive primer. Allow it to dry completely according to the product instructions.
3. Base Coat: Apply the touch-up paint in thin, even coats. For touch-up pens or bottles, dab the paint directly into the chip or scratch. For aerosols, mask off the surrounding area to prevent overspray. Allow each coat to dry before applying the next.
4. Clear Coat: Once the base coat has dried, apply a clear coat. This protects the paint and provides a factory-like gloss. Apply in thin coats, allowing each to flash dry.

Color matching tips for pearls and tri-coats

While the 2019 Kenworth T680 often features solid and metallic finishes as standard, if you have a custom color that happens to be a pearl or tri-coat, these types of paints require extra care and skill for touch-up. Pearl finishes contain mica particles that create a shimmering effect, and tri-coats involve three layers: a colored groundcoat, a translucent mid-coat (the pearl effect), and a clear coat.

• Layering is Key: For pearl and tri-coats, the number of layers and the evenness of their application are crucial for achieving a good match. Too many or too few layers of the mid-coat can drastically alter the perceived color.
• Blending: It's often recommended to blend pearl and tri-coat touch-ups into the surrounding paint to minimize visible edges where the color shifts.
• Professional Help: For anything more than the smallest chips in pearl or tri-coat finishes, professional repair is generally recommended to ensure a seamless match. Body shop technicians have the expertise and equipment to properly apply these complex paint systems.

For any color not listed, or if you're unsure, always confirm your paint code with your VIN at a Kenworth dealer or reputable paint supplier to ensure an exact match. This is especially important for custom-ordered trucks or fleet colors.

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