avoid-these-4-common-causes-of-auto-paint-damage

Aside from rogue shopping carts, Texas-sized hail, and collisions, your car’s paint is probably pretty safe with routine washes and waxes. But don’t let its rugged appearance fool you! Car paint has enemies hiding in the oddest of nooks and crannies. Here are 4 everyday causes of auto paint damage that you can avoid if you take the right steps.

Lovebug Bugaboos
Having grown up in Texas, you’ve certainly seen your fair share of lovebugs, particularly when their numbers surge between late spring and early autumn. Although these always-mating insects are entirely harmless to humans—just don’t ride a motorcycle with your mouth open—the damage their guts can inflict on your car is a whole nother story.

Lovebugs, or honeymoon flies, with their orange-hued heads and coal-black bodies, have an acidic body chemistry that can damage auto paint finish if left on too long. During the lovebug mating season, carwashes usually see an uptick in traffic, and that’s really the only verifiable way to prevent the insect gunk from leaving bug-shaped silhouettes on your front fender and grille.

Tip: To dodge these paint-damaging bugs altogether, the best you can do is avoid driving between dawn to dusk (good luck), travel at slower speeds, or add a protective cover to your grille. Some people even go through the trouble of adding a coating of cooking spray to their front fender, but we don’t advise that; cooking spray can become sticky and probably won’t do well under the hot Texan sun. At Northside Ford, we can order and install authentic Ford accessories like grille covers for your F-150 or Mustang. Just call us at (210) 525-9800 and ask!

Don’t Be a (Tree) Sap
Consider this scenario: It hits 101 degrees in San Antonio. You need to run into the store for a gallon of milk and some Cheetos. You park under a line of trees, hoping the shade will keep your cabin cool. When you get back, plastic bag in hand, the tree has left drops of sap all over your window and hood.

Although natural, tree sap left on your car is nothing to shrug a shoulder at. It’s incredibly adhesive, and any attempt to remove it can also remove protective car wax and even paint. Plus, because of its sticky nature, sap also attracts dirt, which can scratch your car’s paint if you try to scrub it off with the wrong type of product or material.

Tip: You’ll need the correct tools to safely remove tree sap from your car. A microfiber cloth, plastic de-etching knife, and specialty chemicals are essential, as is a clay bar and a good deal of patience on your end. Tar remover is a good start, though you’ll want to be sure to apply a new layer of wax and sealant on your car after you’re done.

Get Salty Over Road Salt
Although San Antonio rarely gets snow, it’s no stranger to ice—and with ice comes road salt. Oftentimes road salt is mixed with harsh chemicals to aid in the melting of ice, but even pure NaCl can do damage to a car’s undercarriage. That damage is commonly in the form of rust, which you surely don’t want.

Because your car’s chassis is probably made entirely of metal (anodes and cathodes), it’s especially susceptible to rust when introduced to an electrolyte. As you may know from drinking your fair share of sports drinks, electrolytes are usually in the form of salt. See where we’re going? As the ice melts, the residual mixture splashes up and coats your vehicle. This is not usually a big concern for newer vehicles with rust-protectant coatings, but if you’ve got an older car—uh oh.

Tip: Consider applying a layer of rust protection to the underbody of your vehicle, including around the wheel wells and exhaust. After a particularly eventful winter ice storm, thoroughly wash your car, too. If you aren’t sure how well your car’s doing in the rust department, bring it into our San Antonio auto body center for an inspection. We’ll assess your vehicle’s condition and offer fixes and solutions to keep it in shape.

Bird Poopies
Unlike your internal system for “waste management,” birds do not have the capability to urinate. Instead, birds pass liquid waste through their cloaca, which also passes digestive remnants like seeds and insects. So, that white poopy-trap left on the hood of your Ford Focus is actually an avian mixture of both #1 and #2.

What makes bird droppings so dangerous to your car’s paint is its high level of uric acid. As you might guess, this acid can be corrosive to a variety of materials, including car wax and paint sealant. Within minutes, dried bird poop can etch your vehicle’s paint.

Bird dookie is generally separated into two categories:

Type 1 (topical) – Bird doodoo in this category are fairly mild and present with shallow etching that can be removed easily by hand, even when left on your car for hours.
Type 2 (fractured) – Bird caca that becomes saturated over a portion of your car can result in paint fractures, splits, wrinkles, and chips. Removing this type of dung usually results in stripping away your car’s protective basecoat.
Tip: If you see a bird lay a liquid egg on your car, get it washed! Even a rinse can save your car from displaying those embarrassing poo stains. However, if you are unable to remedy the situation by hand, bring the car into your trusted auto detailer. Located at 12300 San Pedro Ave, our San Antonio body shop can strip off the damaging fecal matter and repaint your car. Schedule your appointment online for the first available timeslot, and we’ll have you back to business in no time.