COLOR CODE17497 - Light Blue MetallicFleet Touch-Up Paint

The Look

This is the blue of industry. For over three decades, this color served as the skin for the workhorses of the road, from utility trucks to massive delivery fleets. Because it was a staple for PPG Paints between 1966 and 2000, your vehicle likely spent its life outdoors, earning its keep in the sun and rain. It is a functional, mid-range blue that avoids the "baby blue" trap by leaning into its metallic roots. It's a color that says your truck is ready for a shift, though years of road salt and UV exposure mean the original finish on your panels has probably shifted a shade or two from the day it left the factory.

Technical Details

This is a metallic finish, which means you are dealing with tiny flakes suspended in the pigment. While these flakes help hide small surface scratches and road grime better than a solid color, they present a specific challenge for your repair. If you apply the paint too heavily in one spot, the metal particles will clump together, creating dark, cloudy patches that ruin the uniform look. You want to build the color in thin, even layers. This allows the metallic bits to lay flat and catch the light correctly, ensuring the patch matches the rest of the bodywork once it sits in the shade.

Best Practices

Finding the exact identification plate on a commercial or fleet vehicle can be a hunt. Start your search on the driver's side door jamb, but if it isn't there, check the passenger door edge or inside the glove box. Before you spray or dab Fleet Light Blue Metallic (check for code 17497), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This is non-negotiable for metallics to ensure the flakes are distributed throughout the liquid. Test the color on the included card to see how it reacts to your technique. When you begin the repair, keep the container moving at all times to prevent pooling. Give each layer enough drying time so the surface isn't tacky before you apply the next.