You love your car, but you hate the fact that it’s constantly getting scratched and dinged.
It’s easy to take care of your car when it looks brand new, but what about when it starts looking a little worse for wear? Unfortunately, even if you take good care of your vehicle, there are things that can damage its exterior and leave it looking less than perfect.
So, if you want to keep your paint job looking shiny and new and avoid damaged car paint, read on! We’ll tell you how to protect yourself from some common car paint damage types.
1. Acid Rain
Acid rain is rain, in the atmosphere, with a higher-than-normal pH level. It can be caused by factories or power plants releasing high levels of sulfur dioxide into the air, which combines with other chemicals in the atmosphere to form an acidic rainfall. The acidity of this type of precipitation reduces your car’s paint protection.
2. Bird Droppings
Even though they provide visual interest to your vehicle’s finish and may look beautiful streaking down the hood of your car in the morning after a rain shower, bird droppings are acidic enough to damage paint over time. If left alone, bird droppings can etch into painted surfaces and create permanent stains that ruin a car’s appearance.
If you notice bird droppings on your car while it is still wet rather than after it has dried and hardened, blot them off with a paper towel or rag without rubbing too hard; this will limit the amount of pressure you put on the paint surface when removing debris. If these deposits dry already, spray them with water first and then try to remove them as much as possible before they dry completely.
3. Brake Fluid
Brake fluid is essential for the braking system of any vehicle. The bleaching ingredients in brake fluid are strong enough to eat through car paint if it seeps through a small crack or puncture in the brake line. Since brake fluid does not harm rubber hoses, brake fluid should be cleaned off immediately to prevent damage to the exterior paint on your car.
4. Bugs and Tar
Bugs and tar are acidic and can be pretty stubborn to remove. If this isn’t handled quickly, they can eat through the paint’s clear coat and leave permanent, stubborn stains that ruin a car’s appearance. These substances also tend to adhere firmly and become difficult to access with a pressure washer or water hose.
5. Road Salt
Road salt is used for melting snow and ice on the pavement during winter months to make roads safe for driving, but when it’s not washed away quickly enough, it can eat through your car’s paint over time. If left alone, road salt easily damages the finish of vehicles.
A good way to protect your paintwork is with a paint protection film. You can find a PPF installer near me here.
Want More Help Avoiding Damaged Car Paint?
We hope this article has helped you better understand the potential causes of damaged car paint. If your vehicle is starting to show signs of wear, don’t hesitate to check out our blog for more advice on how to keep your car looking new with simple washing tips!
The sooner you fix any damage like sun damage paint, egg damage to car paint or tree sap car paint damage, the less likely your vehicle will suffer from corrosion and rusting of metal parts which can lead to expensive repairs down the line.
