Your Corner Wrench: What’s bugging your vehicle’s paint?

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An interesting side-effect of our public health pandemic that’s restricted a good part of industry and motor transportation has been the noticeable increase in certain wild-life populations, and insects are part of this group. Your windshield survey is probably telling you with its bug-spatter reports that we’re likely in for buggier spring and summer seasons, and if you’re a fanatic about keeping your vehicle’s paint in top condition, beware of what insects can do to that surface.

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While insects are key to the functioning of our ecosystems, their guts can be acidic enough to dissolve automotive paint finishes and protective clear-coat. If their spatters are cleaned off quickly enough, the chances of permanent damage are minimal; if these remains sit for longer than a day or so, however, they can start to chemically etch the surface beneath. Getting things clean can require some effort, and pressure washers aren’t always at hand (and can sometimes do their own damage).

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A safe solvent such as WD-40 will easily soften the goo and allow it to be wiped away with a microfibre cloth, making it great for on the spot clean-ups. Avoid wiping the splatters away with a dry towel or regular cloth, however, as these can easily create scratches. If you’ve left a mark just a little too long and some reaction has started, you can stop it with stearic acid. How can you find this mystery chemical? It comes with every bar of Ivory bar soap. Just create a wet paste on your microfibre cloth with the Ivory (after first wiping away the residue) and dab it on the offending spot. Let it rest for a minute or two and rinse it away with water.

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Keeping things protected after a good clean-up session involves either a good quality wax or a protective front end cover. Many purists will scoff at the latter, as they’re known to create visible paint fade lines or some moldy build-up if they get damp. These bras can also pose a risk if left on for too long, as the accumulation of dirt behind could turn a protective shield into an abrasive pad. Still, for temporary use such as piloting your collectable to a show and shine competition, or on a Sunday drive down a winding country lane, they can save a lot of bug picking and wiping.

A good coat of wax will go a long way to keeping bug juice from eating into your paint. But beware of any product labeled to specifically deal with insects — it’s nothing but hype. The standards such as Meguiars, Turtle, and Mother’s all offer good shine, protection, duration and removability. Why care about how easy it is to get a wax product off? Because even the best wax money can buy won’t last an entire season, and removing any wax remnants is key to getting a good finish on the next application.

If you decide to switch up from what you’re using now, make sure to read any new labels carefully as set up times and hazing processes differ from product to product. It would be great if there was an insect repellant for our vehicles, but if you have to drive a precious vehicle during bug season, a little effort in clean-ups and finish protection can go a long way to keeping that showroom shine.