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Tips to Keep Your Auto Paint Looking Fresh

We’ve all seen a car with a faded top or hood. The Florida sun does quite a number on auto paint. Maintaining your vehicle’s paint is not only important for your car’s appearance. Well-maintained auto paint also preserves its value.

Here we look at the most common issues affecting auto paint for North Florida drivers and how you can keep your paint looking fresh!

Common Issues Affecting North Florida Auto Paint

The most common issues affecting auto paint in North Florida include sunlight, rain, insect and bird droppings, and pollen. Each issue can be solved with a few overlapping maintenance practices.

Sunlight

As Floridians, we are no strangers to sunlight — there’s a reason we’re known as “The Sunshine State.” However, powerful UV rays from sunlight can take a toll on your car’s paint job, causing the paint to fade.

There are ways we can enjoy the Florida sun and protect our car’s paint. Here are a few practical tips for decreasing the negative effects of sunlight on your auto paint.

• Keep your car in a garage if you have one.
• Park in the shade when you’re out and about.
• Wash your vehicle regularly.
• Wax your vehicle at least 1-2 times per year.

Additionally, when you wash your vehicle, it’s best to wash it in the shade or late in the day when sunlight isn’t as intense. It can be tempting to wash it in the full sun so it will dry more quickly, but the interaction between the water droplets and the sun can cause spots and damage to your paint.

Rain

Rain is another element we must contend with, especially during our rainy Florida summers. Torrential downpours are frequent from May to September. Additionally, rain is more acidic than natural rainwater due to air pollution.

Acid rain wears off your auto paint’s clear coat over time, exposing the paint to the elements.

Here are a few tips to mitigate damage to your car’s paint from rain.

Insects and Bird Droppings

Insects

We’re all familiar with the Lovebug season. Lovebugs come out in full force every spring and fall, covering our vehicle’s paint and windshield with thousands of tiny red and black splatters.

Unless you decide not to drive during Lovebug season, you’ll have to contend with the mess they leave behind on your auto paint. Here are a few tips for minimizing the havoc Lovebugs wreak on your car.

• Make sure you wax your vehicle in spring before April and late summer in August.
• Remove the bugs every 1-2 days by washing with water, mild soap, and a car sponge.

Bird

Another group of critters we’re familiar with in Florida is hundreds of bird species. The abundance of birds leads to frequent droppings, and if we park in the shade to protect our vehicles from the sun, we’re opening ourselves up to higher chances of droppings landing on our auto paint!

When bird droppings are permitted to sit on our paint, they can erode the surface over time or become harder to remove due to the sunlight. Here are a few tips for minimizing the effects of bird droppings.

• Although it’s good to park in the shade, avoid the trees that tend to be more popular for birds to perch.
• Keep an auto cloth in your vehicle to wipe away droppings shortly after they occur.
• Wash your vehicle within a few days of first noticing droppings.
• Keep your auto paint sealed by waxing your vehicle 1-2 times per year.

Pollen

Every March, our vehicles are covered in a film of green pollen. Although it’s like fighting an uphill battle, try to wash your vehicle every few days during pollen season to prevent the film from building up on your auto paint. Your car will look fresh, and your paint will thank you!

City Auto Repair Has Your Car’s Mechanical Maintenance Covered

It’s important to keep your car’s exterior looking fresh. It’s even more important to keep up with regular maintenance through oil changes and take care of your car’s mechanical parts like the engine, transmission, brakes, and tires.

At City Auto Repair, we can help you with your auto maintenance through regular checkups and tune-ups. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment for auto maintenance to keep your car on the road!