Six shocking dangers to your car paint job

Hot ashes from bonfires, cigarettes, or even barbeques can be a serious threat to your paint job. When ashes and soot settle on your car, they can begin a chemical reaction if exposed to moisture, which causes the potassium and calcium to leave grey stains. This is unlikely to happen if your car has been properly waxed and sealed, however, older vehicles will definitely see the effects of this reaction.

Brake fluid that isn’t silicone-based is a notorious threat to paint jobs, especially on more classic luxury cars with less comprehensive paintwork. It can cause the paint to be thinned, and result in the top layers peeling away. Some brands of modern paint have been produced with this in mind, and have agents included to counteract this reaction – but it’s best to avoid brake fluid touching your paintwork wherever possible.

Bird droppings are bad news all round for paint jobs – they’re highly acidic and, when left to dry in the sun, can harden and essentially remove top layers of your paint or paint protection. That being said, it’s important to be careful even if you spot it early and decide to wipe it away – it often contains grit and solid seed particles, and rubbing this can cause some pretty nasty paintwork scratches.

It’s not exactly hard to get a little diesel on your paintwork when filling up – but it can be detrimental to the finish. Diesel is a highly corrosive liquid, and if a little is spilt onto the paint of your car, it can cause serious peeling, bubbling and stripping. If you notice diesel has gotten onto your paint job, rinse it away as soon as you possibly can.

One of the lesser-known threats to your paint job is sugary drinks – such as fizzy pop, tea and coffee. These drinks are highly acidic and can corrode paintwork if spilt, again, causing peeling and bubbling. Even if wiped away quickly, the sugar in these beverages can leave behind a pretty bothersome sticky residue that can continue to damage the paint – so bear that in mind the next time you stand your drinks on your roof.

The winter months can be particularly bad news for your paint job, as grit laid down on road surfaces to prevent ice contains high levels of salt, which can cause rust and corrosion to your paint and other exposed car components. Not to mention, particularly hard pieces can be flicked up to cause small chips and scratches. You should wash and wax your car regularly in the colder months for this reason.

It’s not just the above everyday items that can damage your car paint – many things your car comes into contact with has the potential to strip and stain your beautiful paint job. To maintain that elegant look, consider protecting your car with a ceramic coating  or PFF protection film.

However, there are smart car repairs that can revive and restore an affected paint job – for more information about our car paint correction options, get in touch with a member of our team.