9 Common Things That Can Cause Car Paint Damage
July 7th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
There it is, glistening in the sun – your beautiful car with its perfect paint job.
Go ahead, admire it.
But it’s not going to stay that way unless you take good care of it. That means protecting the exterior from the things that wish to do it harm.
As the owner of your car, it is essential to know what takes paint off a car, so you can guard against the substances and materials that can eat away and erode your car’s paint job. You want to keep your car looking good as new because protecting your paint is one of the best ways to take care of your investment.
What takes paint off a car may surprise you. There are many culprits out there, from bird droppings and bugs to spilling a soda on a car.
Here are nine of the most common things that can cause car paint damage.
1. Tree sap
Watch where you park your car because sticky tree sap can damage your paint’s clear coat and cause discoloration in addition to staining. When it hardens, it can be challenging to remove.
2. Brake fluid
If brake fluid interacts with your coating, it acts as a paint thinner, eroding your paint job and causing it to peel. While this rule may not apply to all brands of brake fluid, why try it out?
3. Bird droppings
What ruins car paint? How about bird droppings! If your car has never been victimized by bird droppings, count yourself lucky. It’s bound to happen sometime.
The droppings are not just unpleasant to look at; they can do serious damage to your paint job because of their acidic nature.
Clean the droppings while they are still wet. Use a wet towel and a cleaning agent that won’t scratch the coating (see next tip).
4. Old rags & dirty towels
Dirty rags and towels have tiny particles of dirt and residue that will scratch your paint job. Whenever you wash your car, use a soft, clean microfiber towel and remember not to toss it on the ground.
5. Coffee and soda on car
What liquids damage car paint? Plenty of them, including your favorite soft drinks. Let’s just say that Coke on car paint doesn’t mix well. The culprit is the acidic content. Both coffee and soda have high acidity levels, and an accidental spill can lead to corrosion and damage your car’s exterior.
6. Bugs
Do you know what ruins car paint? Bugs do! When bugs land on your car and linger there, they can damage your paint over time. The reason insects and paint don’t go together well is because insects tend to have highly acidic fluids that can erode your car paint.
7. Gas
When you’re filling up your tank, be careful that the gasoline doesn’t get onto your car paint, as it will leave a stain that is hard to remove. If that happens, it’s a good excuse to wash your car using mild soap and water.
8. Ash
If there is a fire in your vicinity, move your car immediately. If ash lands on your car, it’s bad enough; if it rains afterward, the combination of water and ash could cause a chemical reaction and leave a dark stain on your vehicle.
9. Dust
Cars that don’t get washed very often accumulate layers of dust and dirt. Dust combined with rain could create an acidic compound that corrodes your paint.
Now that you are aware of what ruins car paint, try to be proactive about preserving and protecting your paint job to minimize car paint damage.
By following these guidelines, your car can retain its new car look…and its value!
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Modesto, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing customers in Modesto and California’s Central Valley neighborhood.
