Is my cars paint destroyed? FL Love Bugs

If any type of bug is left on paint for that period of time, coating or no coating I wouldn't hold out much hope for the paint not being etched. Think of it this way, the clear coat is clear paint, which is much more durable than a thin chemical coating. If bug guts can damage clear coat then a coating is no match for them. I would recommend keeping a bottle of either of these with you in your vehicle and micro fiber towels.

Poorboy's Spray & Wipe Waterless Wash: Just spray and wipe away dirt and grime with this quick cleaner! qed, poorboys waterless wipe, poorboys quick

Poorboy’s Bug Squash: Removes bug remains, even Love Bugs, from car windshields and front bumpers. bug remover, pooboys bug remover

Poorboy’s World Bird Sh#t Remover, bird dropping stain removal car
 
yep, while Opti-Coat when cured will generally be harder than any clear coat (Dr. G's words), it's still not etch proof, esp with something as acidic as some of the bug matter that's out there.

the benefit of the coating in that case isn't that it doesn't etch, because it does...but it is etching instead of your clear coat! the coating can easily be corrected/replaced as many times as you want. that isn't the case with clear.

i use Opti-Clean like water and removing bugs before they damage anything is one of my main uses - when i come home, i like to do a quick front wipedown with a quartered MF and Opti-Clean. i also do the mirror backs and windscreen glass.
 
RobertJ34 said:
I can't speak for how opti coat will hold up to it, if anything it will hold better than a wax/sealant but I would assume if baked on there, it could damage some of the Opti-coat--again, I'm not pro so I can't be 100% sure.

BUT, I can recommend swinging by a auto part store or walmart and pick up some quick detailer and get them off of there -- better safe than sorry, right?
Click to expand...

My car is dirty right now and I dont want to smear the dirt over it
 
custmsprty said:
If any type of bug is left on paint for that period of time, coating or no coating I wouldn't hold out much hope for the paint not being etched. Think of it this way, the clear coat is clear paint, which is much more durable than a thin chemical coating. If bug guts can damage clear coat then a coating is no match for them. I would recommend keeping a bottle of either of these with you in your vehicle and micro fiber towels.

Poorboy's Spray & Wipe Waterless Wash: Just spray and wipe away dirt and grime with this quick cleaner! qed, poorboys waterless wipe, poorboys quick

Poorboy’s Bug Squash: Removes bug remains, even Love Bugs, from car windshields and front bumpers. bug remover, pooboys bug remover

Poorboy’s World Bird Sh#t Remover, bird dropping stain removal car
Click to expand...

I carry quick detailer + micofibers in my car. But it's so dirty I dont want to smear it as mentioned above. I was out of town for 1.5 weeks and wasnt able to set an appointment with detailer till Friday.
 
The bugs are pretty small and seem to leave yellow spots. Hopefully it wont be an issue.

With opticoat Ive seen etching from bird poo but it goes away after a week or so after washing off. Not sure how that works but Ive seen others experience the same.
 
itisthumper said:
I carry quick detailer + micofibers in my car. But it's so dirty I dont want to smear it as mentioned above. I was out of town for 1.5 weeks and wasnt able to set an appointment with detailer till Friday.
Click to expand...

These products are better on bugs. I live in Florida and deal with love bugs and all the other assorted flying critters we have down here pretty much year round. The PB products of which I have all three do a much better job of loosening them up. I also have alteast 15 different brands of detail sprays and the afformentioned stands in my experience and humble opinion. Why not carry both? The PB Spray and Wipe is one of my favorite post drive products for removing bug guts. It has cleaning and sudsing properties that lubricate and do not remove waxes/sealants. Then I just wipe it down with BF WDPS.
 
Going off topic.Insects in general are on a three year program depending on weather and a multitude of situations on their egg laying options.This year in south Florida the love bugs came and went quickly unlike many years in the past.Can`t speak for northern areas here.I know of their level of acid and their short lived life as they hatch, mate and die.They are equality bothersome as they fly around you but they don`t bite like a Miskito that carry diseases.
 
any suggestions of a product to leave in car to get love bugs off when you can't wash the car?
 
^^^ bingo! And get to them asap, don't let them linger, dry and recycle through wet and dry cycles.
 
How about hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle to dissolve the bug guts and then wipe the panel with some WW.
 
and yall give us a hard time because it snows up north...
 
When it’s really bad, I use a product you apply to the paint and then simply rinse off when the bugs accumulate.
 
I think I saw some by the beach the other day. No place is safe!
 
I was on the road for most of the day today in the St Johns county area. Very fortunately, there were very few bugs around and nothing a little waterless wash couldn’t take care of. What a relief! I hear we have another week before the love bugs go away but then they come back in November. :-(
 
Who says another week? Aren’t they around all of May
 
That’s what they said on the news. I sure hope they’re right
 
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