As fall approaches and summer road trip season comes to an end, it’s very likely that your truck exterior picked up some surface contaminants during your travels. Unfortunately, outside contaminants such as tree sap and bird droppings can cause damage to a diesel truck’s paint if left untouched for too long. Meguiar’s has put together a list of important tips and product recommendations to ensure you can properly remove these contaminants before hitting the road again.
- Tree Sap: When enjoying the outdoors during your summer vacation, it’s likely that your truck ended up parked
under or near a tree. Tree sap can be found as either a very fine sap mist that sits on a vehicle’s paint, or larger, dried-up blobs of tree sap. The fine sap mist can usually be addressed quite easily with a product like the Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Quik Clay Kit. The kit utilizes a specialized synthetic clay pad that does a fantastic job of removing bonded contaminants from the paint surface, along with a Hybrid Ceramic Detailer that not only provides lubrication for the clay pad, but actually leaves some hybrid ceramic protection behind when you’re done.
The dried blobs are usually a bigger challenge, but still easy to handle by using an isopropyl alcohol that can be found at almost any drug store or supermarket. Simply pour a bit of the alcohol directly onto the sap, allow it to sit for a few seconds, and gently wipe away the residue and offending sap with a clean microfiber towel. Since the alcohol will have most likely removed any wax or sealant you had on the paint in the affected area, it’s a great idea to quickly follow up the Hybrid Ceramic Detailer to restore some protection and give superior water beading. Always remember to work on a cool finish and test on a small spot before beginning.
- Bird Droppings: We’ve all experienced the dreaded moment on a road trip when we return to our truck to find bird droppings on the exterior. One of the most detrimental things you can do is let the droppings dry onto the
paint, which can create an etching on the car and make for a lot more work in the long run. Bringing along a premium microfiber towel and a product like the Meguiar's® Ultimate Waterless Wash & Wax will help you to act quickly on-the-go and without water. The Ultimate Waterless Wash & Wax can be sprayed directly onto the paint and used to gently wipe away the droppings with your microfiber towel. This product will lubricate the surface and lift off the droppings before causing damage and can even be used on water spots as well.
- Sunlight: Summer Road trips mean heat and sunlight are inevitable. Obviously, the sun can’t be avoided, but try to park in a garage or covered parking structure on bright days. Sunlight is one of the most damaging elements that affect a vehicle’s finish. Heat from sunlight also bakes “above surface bonded contaminants” like tree sap mist and insects into the surface. If a car must sit out during sunny days, a car cover will help protect it from sun and from the wind, which can damage a car with airborne contaminants.
- Don’t Forget the Windows: There’s nothing more frustrating than a dirty windshield on the open road. Achieve
crystal clear views with the Meguiar's Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner, which easily removes contaminants like vinyl fog residue, road grime, smoker’s film, and bug splatter. Since it’s a pro-strength glass cleaner spray, it easily removes dirt and film while still being safe for use on all tinted windows.
It’s impossible to avoid outside contaminants when traveling in your truck but being prepared is key. With these tips and products from Meguiar’s, your diesel’s exterior will be cared for safely, giving you one less thing to worry about during your vacation.