Help! Bug attack

[mpiper]

I can't get the bug "stains" out of my paint.

(I've never used the Adams or Zaino lines. I've used Meguiar's for 20+ years. They're not at that league, but they're very good for self-stocked car care.)

Backstory: I had to take a business trip two weeks ago.Got bugs on the car during a 400+ mile drive and was not able to get around to washing them off until after the same 400+ mile drive back 3 days later. So, after 800+ miles and 3-4 days, I use a touchless car wash to get all the corpses off my car. I was working 60+ hours and did not get to wash the car by hand until this Saturday evening. I did a vinegar + Dawn wash (yes, I know horrible for paint. This was to get off hard water spots, bug guts and all old wax. Only time I've ever done this.). After a very heavy rinse, I washed again with Meguiar's Gold carwash. Dried with a terrycloth towel . Then dried with a MF towel. By now it was dark and I'm using electric lights when I start the wax. After the wax is on the roof, I start the hood. I do two panels, then wipe off one, start next, repeat, until car is done. When I get to wiping down the hood/leading edge, I can see and feel the roughness where the bugs had dried on the paint.

Cut to: Last night. I again wash with Megiuar's Gold. Then I clay (first time in my life, don't flame me too bad!) the entire car, starting with hood, leading edge, bumper, roof, etc. until entire car is done. Again, because I work slightly excessive hours, it's full dark by the time I'm done. The way I did it was spray a section with detailer, fold and squeeze clay, wipe in straight lines on that section, keeping paint well wet. Then spray next section, fold, and refold, squeeze, start section. So, at end, car has a haze of dried detailer and clay residue. So I wash again with M Gold. I look at the areas and can still see the texture. I go ahead and wax the entire car to protect the bare paint.

So, I now have a fully clayed (by novice) car that STILL has the bug attack evidence on my paint.

Help!?!?

[CamaroDreams07]

Don't be afraid to really get after it with the clay. This isn't supposed to be a tender, caring step. This is a step where you give the paint hell and pull everything that's stuck off the paint. As long as you keep the paint well lubricated you won't mar it with regular over-the-counter clay.

Start over, dawn wash to get any wax off. Then a good clay job. If that still doesn't work then look into one of those bug and tar removers. If that still doesn't work then it might be time to look into polishing, either by hand or machine. Let us know if you get to this step and we can suggest some products for you.

Good luck.

[Chobbs11]

After claying, you said you can still feel the spots where the bugs were? If so, and I'm a novice too, it sounds like you need to do some paint correction. I sure hope the bug guts did not eat through your clearcoat, that would be a more expensive fix.

Some of the other, more experienced guys will chime in. I say...always try and get the bug guts off asap even when your dead beat. But I'd guess you know that now.

[mpiper]

Ok. I've got one clay bar left, so I can repeat the process and see if that fixes it. I went at about the same pressure you use taking off dried wax, so I'll put some elbow grease into it this time.

Yeah, I know not to repeat the delay again. The three day delay couldn't be helped because I drove to a location, parked the car, and didn't return for 60 hours. But I should have run it through a wash either before I parked, or at least before I drove the return trip. Once this is fixed, I'll be a lot more careful.

New question: my car is black, 3 months old. I bought it the second day it was off the truck. I'm now seeing small 1/4 inch spots that look like the clear coat is separating from the color coat. Not sure what this is, but thats what it looks like. I hoped the clay would take it off and that it was something exterior to the clear coast. Either I was too gentle, or it is the clear coat. Thoughts before I clay a second time?

[Moni]

Originally Posted by mpiper

Ok. I've got one clay bar left, so I can repeat the process and see if that fixes it. I went at about the same pressure you use taking off dried wax, so I'll put some elbow grease into it this time.

Yeah, I know not to repeat the delay again. The three day delay couldn't be helped because I drove to a location, parked the car, and didn't return for 60 hours. But I should have run it through a wash either before I parked, or at least before I drove the return trip. Once this is fixed, I'll be a lot more careful.

New question: my car is black, 3 months old. I bought it the second day it was off the truck. I'm now seeing small 1/4 inch spots that look like the clear coat is separating from the color coat. Not sure what this is, but thats what it looks like. I hoped the clay would take it off and that it was something exterior to the clear coast. Either I was too gentle, or it is the clear coat. Thoughts before I clay a second time?

Might need to have the paint checked out, sounds like you might have a bigger issue than bug guts.

[My 5th]

I had the same dilemma with bug guts on my black SS. I have the 3M clear bra, and thought it would be impervious to the bug guts. NOT! I've even used the PC to try to polish out the gut blemishes, and while the PC polishing helped, I can still see the damaged areas. I think the clear bra may be even more easily damaged by bug guts than the paint, and harder to polish back to "normal". Next up is claying, then another round of PC polishing.

[mpiper]

Just in case someone might recognize what this is, I'm uploading some examples of the paint flaws. These were there BEFORE the bug attack.

The pictures of clouds are from my phone, which kept insisting on focusing on them, but the flaw is still visible as the blur.

Anyone else recognize these? Warranty issue or something I can correct with proper technique?







All the specs are dust that got on the car during my drive to and from work. Anyone know a "static cling" free wax?

[Chobbs11]

I do not know what the paint flaws are. But that first one looks like a chip with cleaninf and waxing product that got in there?????

As far as dust, uhm maybe it is time to invent a dust repelling wax! That is, I've not yet heard of it. A california car duster seems to work for me. I live in Vegas. And the dust here is something awful.

[mpiper]

How well does the california duster work? I've heard it's great from people with white cars, but yours is a dark color. Does it cause scratches just taking dust off? I've heard it does, but not from anyone with personal use, just "they say."

My other option was trying the detailer spray and a mf towel. But if the C D works and doesn't scratch, thats easier.

As far as the blemishes, they look UNDER the clear coat in person. Part of me hopes I can fix this, and part hopes it's a paint defect so I can just get it corrected under warranty.

[garcmol]

Start here on your Cali Duster journey OP.

[CamaroDreams07]

I'd at least take the car in and show the service manager, see what he says. If it truly is under the clear then it should be fixed under warranty. If not, it's really hard to tell from pics. Can you feel them if you lightly drag a fingernail across, or is it completely smooth like the rest of the paint?

[mpiper]

Garcmol, thanks for the link. Watched the whole series and his method is awesome!
Dreams, good idea about showing the service manager. I'll run the car through a touchless tonight and test the smoothness over the flaws. I'm not going to rub anything over the paint right now. I swear it's Texas Dust Season right now.

I've ordered a california duster and will be following Junkman's methods to keep it looking good once it arrives. The the meantime, drivethrough touchless is my short term solution for keeping the paint reasonable between real car washes.

The biggest worry right now (unless the paint flaws get me a repaint) is that I think the bug guts etched my paint. I've really been looking at them in full daylight and they look like pits, not raised material. Compounding might fix it, but the new finish would be VERY thin where the air pressure and any airborne particles are going to be hotting the car. That's not a good recipe for an enduring paint job lasting years. :-(