COLOR CODEU6 - Red Candy TricoatMercury Touch-Up Paint

The Look

When Mercury rolled out the Milan and Mountaineer for their final production runs, this was the color they used to make a statement. It is a deep, glowing red that looks like it has a dozen layers of glass over it. Since your vehicle has been on the road for over a decade, you have to account for how the sun has treated the original finish. Red is notorious for fading or shifting toward a darker maroon over time, so your repair will likely be as much about matching the current state of your car as it is about the factory formula.

Technical Details

This is a pearl tricoat finish, which makes it one of the more complex colors to handle at home. It is not a single-stage paint where you just dab it on and walk away. This color depends on a mid-coat-a semi-transparent layer filled with pearl flakes-to give it that signature depth. The risk here is layering. If you apply the mid-coat too heavy, the repair will look like a dark bruise on your fender. If you apply it too thin, the red will look flat and won't catch the light. You are looking for a balance where the light reflects off the flakes rather than getting buried in the pigment.

Best Practices

You can find your color information on the manufacturer sticker inside the driver's side door jamb. Before you spray or dab Mercury Red Candy Tricoat (check for code U6), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. Since the pearl flakes are heavier than the paint, they sink to the bottom and require a lot of energy to mix back in. Test the color on the included card to see how many layers of the mid-coat you need to reach the right depth. Keep the container moving at a steady pace to prevent the metallic flakes from bunching up in one spot. Always work in your garage or a patch of shade to ensure the drying time remains consistent across the entire repair.