There are a ton of different ways your car’s paint job can sustain damage.
Many of these factors are hard to avoid, but knowing the threat they pose can prompt a better care regimen for your car that ensures a longer-lasting paint job. Many car manufacturers have considered these facets of car paint damage in evolving stronger and more durable paints for their vehicles.
Still, disregarding these risks to your car’s paint can result in severe rust problems in the future. Familiarize yourself with the most common causes of car paint damage below.
Gasoline and Break Fluid
Both liquids have the potential to peel your car’s paint. Since they’re essential for other parts of a car’s functionality, try to be mindful when handling them so as not to spill them on the outside of your vehicle.
Abrasive Cleaners and Dirty Cloths
Many cleaners are strong and acidic, to the point where they could peel or eat away at your paint job. Always select a high-quality cleaning product, and make sure to enlist a clean, car-friendly cloth for its use. Dirty rags trap particles that could easily scratch and mark your paint.
Bird Droppings
Bird droppings are high in acidity and contain natural chemicals that can cause damage to your vehicle’s paint. Remove these relatively quickly when you notice them, and be careful not to scrape your car in the process.
Moisture
It is important to ensure your car is completely dry after a wash or precipitation. Water spots left on the paint can contribute to rust and peeling.
Weather
In extreme heat and cold, paint expands and contracts. It is not uncommon for a vehicle’s paint to crack after experiencing this kind of pressure. With colder weather, the salt and chemicals that road crews spread on the streets can kick up onto your car’s exterior and cause deterioration. Fortunately, you can take steps throughout various seasons to ensure your car’s protection against these elements.
Stones and Rocks
Driving on unfinished roads can cause rocks to chip bits of paint from your car’s body. Ironically, the same thing is true for finished highways. There is a greater chance your car will encounter small stones and rocks in these conditions, leading to the paint’s deterioration.
Bugs
Take the time to wash your car or visit a carwash after a long trip. Dead bugs are often hard to remove from vehicles, and their acidity tends to penetrate body paint.
We encounter many of the most common causes of car paint damage daily. Skipping the car wash can expedite the damage to your paint job in the form of chipping, peeling, and rust. To avoid causing greater problems for you over time, make sure you wash your vehicle routinely to remove the accumulation of buildup on your car’s paint.