What To Do if You Get Brake Fluid on Car Paint
September 28th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
Brake fluid on car paint – not good! Do-it-yourselfers take pride in doing the work themselves and saving a little cash too. We get that, but just know that replacing your brake fluid may not be the best DIY job. It can get very messy. If you end up getting brake fluid on car paint, your beautiful paint job will never be the same. Does brake fluid ruin paint? Absolutely.
How brake fluid damages car paint
Why does brake fluid ruin paint? Most brake fluids used today are glycol-ether based. When these molecules within the brake fluid mix with your car paint, it creates a chemical reaction. Essentially, the brake fluid becomes an aggressive solvent. Accidentally spilling brake fluid on car paint can be a disaster unless you respond promptly. It must be cleaned immediately (ideally within five minutes) or it could begin eroding the coating layer of your paint job and expose the metal underneath. (You know what else ruins car paint? Here are 9 other culprits.)
Length of time needed to cause damage
When you see the vertical lines and marks of brake fluid flowing down on your car, it is imperative that you clean brake fluid without delay to avoid any long-term damage to your paint job. You don’t have much time. As the brake fluid accumulates on the paint, your risk of doing damage increases. In fact, all it takes is five minutes to do significant harm to your car’s underlying paint coat. Cars without that protective coat are at even greater risk. If you let ten minutes pass without cleaning the brake fluid from your car, it’s already too late. If brake fluid does damage your car, don’t delay – take your vehicle to a reputable auto body shop so they can inspect and repair the damage.
In order to clean brake fluid, you have to move very fast. If you have waxed and taken good care of your car’s exterior, you’ll be fine. Start by soaking up the residual fluid with a paper towel. You want to avoid wiping it across the car, because that is a sure way to spread the fluid, which of course defeats your purpose. Then it’s just a matter of washing and rinsing your car.
How to fix damage caused by brake fluid
Brake fluid and car paint are not meant to exist together. That’s a combination that just doesn’t end well. If you delay getting your car fixed, the damage to your paint could continue to spread and even become worse. Rust and corrosion could form.
If you see evidence of damage, it is important to have your paint job evaluated by a qualified auto body shop. Fixing the damage is not a DIY project. If your goal is to restore your car to its previous condition, and in the process restore its value, this is a job for an expert technician.
Drop by your local Fix Auto USA auto shop or make an appointment online. We are open for business and ready to serve you!
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Tucson – Thoroughbred, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing the Tucson area including Colonia Del Valle, Rosemont West, Myers, Naylor, Corbett, and Wilshire Heights.
