Your car’s sparkling finish made it through the salt, sand and harsh temperatures of winter. But your car’s paint faces year-round hazards. According to Autoblog, a car with faded paint and a dingy look sells for 10-20 percent less than an otherwise identical vehicle that just looks nicer.
Start with a good coat of wax, then be on the lookout for these common problems:
Parking Under A Tree
Trees may provide shade, but they also produce sap and can drop twigs or branches on your car on a windy day. Your best defense is to make sure the paint is waxed. If you find tree sap on your paint, get some bug and tar remover from your auto parts store to dissolve it. Then, rinse and wax the area again to remove any residue.
Bird Droppings
Without going into the science of bird droppings and their reactions with paint, you can just trust us that it can wreak havoc. When a bird mistakes your vehicle for a giant portable toilet, the best thing you can do is remove it quickly. A wet cloth will usually do the trick, but be careful to wipe with a lifting motion so that you don’t grind it into the paint.
Gasoline Drips
You know the gas station rules: No smoking at the pump and don’t touch anything in the restroom (although that’s more of an unwritten rule.) But spilled gasoline isn’t just a safety hazard, it can cause long-term harm to your paint.
To prevent stains and rust, avoid topping off your tank, and clean up any accidental drips immediately.
Writing In The Dirt
Using your finger as a writing utensil to draw “Wash Me Plz” in dirt isn’t as harmless as you think. Dirt can act as sandpaper when dragged across your vehicle’s paint, leaving the writer’s message behind permanently.
To avoid this, get your car washed frequently to eliminate abrasive dirt from your car’s surface. Light scratches can sometimes be removed with polish or scratch remover after the car is clean.
High Speed Bug Collisions
Bugs hitting your windshield on the highway are gross, but relatively harmless. The real problem is the bug that makes your paint its final resting place. They are extremely acidic, and not easy to remove. Have your car washed regularly. For the most stubborn guts, use bug and tar remover as soon as possible.
Washing Your Car With A Dirty Sponge
We’ve suggested washing your car frequently, but be sure to do so carefully. Using dirty sponges or towels can do more harm than good.
Some older automatic car washes still use abrasive brushes rather than a soft cloth, which can scratch the paint. Another safe bet is a “touchless” car wash that uses high pressure water jets to clean your car.
You love your car, and you want to protect more than just its paint job. Get car insurance at a competitive rate in just a few minutes.
Robin Thompson Brymer says,
The clear coat finish is peeling off of our 2008 Ford F-150. Will our automotive insurance cover the costs to fix this type of problem?
Rich says,
According to consumer reports nu-finish is the best.
But really any wax will work.
Whats more important is that you actually wax your car.
Dorothy Southern says,
Hi
It would be wonderful if someone would suggest a certain brand of wax as I would do this.
I live at the ocean and everyone’s car could use this wax.
Someone please suggest a wax
Matthew says,
The wax I use is Mother’s Carnauba wax only $9 at walmart. It’s a trusted brand that’s been out for a long time and be careful with brand of wax as some may be too aggressive for your car’s paint.
Bryon says,
Good stuff. Great business move as well, I might add. A few things I have picked up along the way:
* If you smoke in your car, make sure your recirculation feature is off on your a/c. It will fill your cabin filter with smoke and continue to circulate the smell of smoke through your car (lowers value big time and it is just unpleasant).
* A big craze lately (past 5 years or so) has been getting a new car wet sanded to get rid of the “orange peel” look and give the car a mirror-like finish. This is terrible for your paint! It is shaving layers of your protective clear coat off, exposing your cars base coat(s), and leaving it vulnerable to sunfading and other forms of premature wear. The “orange peel” texture is purposefully done and helps to protect your car’s paint.
* When waxing, make sure not to leave the wax sitting for too long before buffing as it can glaze and leave a film that can be very difficult to remove and looks terrible. Completely counterproductive.
* When driving a heavy duty truck equipt with collapsable mirrors, it is common to feel a desire to flip the mirrors up in an attempt to ramp up the aesthetics of the truck. Fight this urge at all cost. Scientific studies show that 9 out of 10 women prefer mirrors flipped down. Hey, don’t argue with me, argue with Bill Nye the Science Guy. (Okay, that one was just for me).
* Driving in snow and ice is tough enough without having to worry about all of that salt being flung across your paint and packed in your vehicles undercarriage. Be careful when washing this off. As they referred to earlier, you should take care not to rub it in as it can act as sandpaper on your paint. Spray it off if you can help it. Additionally, do not hold a high pressure sprayer to close to your paint as it may chip your paint or wear your clear coat thin.
Hope these things help. Thanks Geico! It’s nice to see a large company who is “about the customer”. And I am a very skeptical person.
Joe says,
Orange peel is not done purposely to help the longevity of your paints finish. It is caused from the atomization of the clear coat and air coming from the automated paint systems in the factories. A good painter can spray it like glass. Also color sanding has been around since the laquor days. More than thirty years. But I do agree not to go and color sand a stock paint job.
Ms.Moore says,
High pressure car washes can peel the paint. Suggest good quality was and wax and the ole bucket and sponge for super long beautiful paint.
Lisa Evelyn Wing says,
What is the best car wax to protect my car this winter?
José gaytan says,
OK your info is good but if the sun already damaged my paint can I file a claim ?
STEVEN, SLATER says,
VERY GOOD ADVICE, GOOD LOOKING
alicia cavitt says,
Great information on winterizing and auto paint care.
Stephen Smith says,
You failed to mention a car cover. I bought one for $30.00 and it protects against Sun, birds, markings and keeps the car cleaner. A cover will even help a little with falling items.
Also, a car need not be washed. For the past six years I clean my car daily with a clean, damp t-shirt (removing all hemming). In California we have a serious drought and are not allowed to wash cars. However, if the car is really dirty from mud, use, etc. then it needs to have more water, so using a small bucket of water for rinsing will be needed.
james pollock says,
Bounce dryer sheets are the best way to remove bugs and tar off a vehicle. Just wet it and rub off bugs, tar. It leaves a white milky haze that will wash off with soap
Nora Miller says,
Great Information for Winterizing and Auto Paint care. I ensured I copied the Winterizing write up for my use in ensuring my home is ready for the best or worst of winter.
Thank you!
Richard Emery says,
For a clean engine and total under the hood protection with a shine that looks not only great, but better then you ever seen your engine compartment look before. ,
Try this after every oil change for less then $10 bucks. Go to your local Auto parts store and buy a can of engine clean degreasor and a can of engine protector by Gunk that will give it a shine … First spray on the engine cleaner degreasor per instructions on the can and wash off real good with a water hose.
Once engine compartment is dry, spray the engine protector shine product on the intake, valve covers, hoses, plastic and on everything that can shine up and look awesome.
Once complete, your entire engine and under hood compartment will look awesome enough to show your friends and family with the added protection of the hoses, plastic and metal. It just looks so good, you will take a picture. Lasts much longer than tire shine too. Save that for your tires! Happy Days, Gotta Go…
Rick, San Antonio, Texas
Antionette says,
Thank you so much for this useful information. The other day my car was full of bird poop all over and sometimes I hesitate to wash my car because most car washes scrape your paint thanks for sharing this email.
Marsha Hammer says,
I love emails like this that teach me things!!!!! Please keep up the good work!