Darn Bugs!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Bad Homburg, Germany
Darn Bugs!
Couple days ago da wife and I washed the cabrio and then I waxed the bejeezus out of it using one of the premium automobile waxes that some folks who post here recommend. Gotta say the wax is so good and the shine is so deep that it really lets you see the orange peel (AKA FLA) effect that Porsche shipped the car with. Anyhow, yesterday da wife and son took the car for a 500 mile trip to France and apparently hit every flying insect between Frankfurt and Metz both coming and going, so now the front of the car has a thick film of bug juice & guts and I want to get them off ASAP. I thought about using a spray bottle of plain old H2O to soften the crud but thought I'd check here first. I can't complain too much as I got two cases of wine and a case of peach flavored Champagne out of the deal. Any bug removal experts out there?
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,299
Likes: 19
From: Arlington Heights, IL
Bugs are water soluble, so dwell time with the soap and water it critical. So wait about 5-10 minutes before scrubbing off, so you minimize any scratching.
I wax most all of my leading edges (front bumper, side mirrors and etc) with RejeX wax. Works great for bugs and bug guts. Everything just washes off with hot soapy water.
I wax most all of my leading edges (front bumper, side mirrors and etc) with RejeX wax. Works great for bugs and bug guts. Everything just washes off with hot soapy water.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,031
Likes: 266
From: Bentonville, AR
Just hot water ( use rubber gloves ), mild automobile finish friendly soap, clean soft wash towels, and some elbow grease. Might take couple of passes to get all the stuff off.
I buy soap and towels at auto parts store. Towels are white, come in a bundle and I use them until too dirty for washing car then use them to clean wheels then discard the towels.
I used to take my (then) new 02 Boxster out in the summer months in the mid-west (mid-Missouri) bring the car back with the front just layered in bugs. I'd then spend several hours washing the bugs off, drying the car, then the next day go over car with detail cleaner and wax the parts just cleaned.
Then do it all over again.
Another "trick" is take car out in rain. Doesn't take much time driving at speed in a rain storm to blast the bugs off the car.
Sincerely,
Macster.
I buy soap and towels at auto parts store. Towels are white, come in a bundle and I use them until too dirty for washing car then use them to clean wheels then discard the towels.
I used to take my (then) new 02 Boxster out in the summer months in the mid-west (mid-Missouri) bring the car back with the front just layered in bugs. I'd then spend several hours washing the bugs off, drying the car, then the next day go over car with detail cleaner and wax the parts just cleaned.
Then do it all over again.
Another "trick" is take car out in rain. Doesn't take much time driving at speed in a rain storm to blast the bugs off the car.
Sincerely,
Macster.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 5
From: NEast Florida
Shouldn't be too hard coz' you just waxed the car. The bugs+stuff are actually on the layer of wax and should be easy to remove with just car shampoo and a sponge.
If the car is not freshly waxed, I use a bug & tar remover (spraycan) which really makes the job easy.
If the car is not freshly waxed, I use a bug & tar remover (spraycan) which really makes the job easy.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15,860
Likes: 1,629
From: Clifton, NJ
I like the yellow microfiber towels from costco. Not pakshak quality, but pretty damn good for 30/$15 or whatever.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Bad Homburg, Germany
Ok, here's what *I* did. I read the advise here and checked a few other enthusiast sites online, and I came across some really good dope on a Mazda MX-5 forum. I used a mild soap (the German version of Woolite) diluted 10:1 with H2O in a spray bottle and hosed the bugs, waited 3 minutes, and did it again, and again, and again. The soap acts as a lubricant for the later process. Now here's the tricky part; I removed the softened bug-crud using a couple of old clothes-dryer fabric softener sheets. Bugs came right away with no pressure. I cleaned up the mess with bucket of water, sponge, and chamois. Not a mark, nor micro-scratch left by the used dryer-sheet and wax still beading the water, shine looking great. Test on for yourself somewhere where it won't show if you have doubts (that's what I did).
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Bad Homburg, Germany
perryinva: What wax did you use?
I won't tell because I've seen wax wars here on this same board and I don't want to be responsible for the carnage. The stuff I use is one of those premium brands, it's a spray, and it's an advanced formula that, blah, blah, blah. But I'll give you this, I don't apply it the way I'm instructed on the spray-bottle. Nope. I did that exactly once. This stuff dries quite rapidly in the shade on a 75°F day and if you let it get hard and try to buff it with a micro-fiber cloth you'll end up with arms like Popeye the Sailor. So I apply the spray to an old cotton under-shirt scrap and use that to apply the wax to the paint, a small section at a time and I get it off as soon as a film forms. Shine is deep and it beads for months. Winters I switch to Negrin Caruba liquid wax and apply it in generous quantities as Negrin's is easy to buff up.
I won't tell because I've seen wax wars here on this same board and I don't want to be responsible for the carnage. The stuff I use is one of those premium brands, it's a spray, and it's an advanced formula that, blah, blah, blah. But I'll give you this, I don't apply it the way I'm instructed on the spray-bottle. Nope. I did that exactly once. This stuff dries quite rapidly in the shade on a 75°F day and if you let it get hard and try to buff it with a micro-fiber cloth you'll end up with arms like Popeye the Sailor. So I apply the spray to an old cotton under-shirt scrap and use that to apply the wax to the paint, a small section at a time and I get it off as soon as a film forms. Shine is deep and it beads for months. Winters I switch to Negrin Caruba liquid wax and apply it in generous quantities as Negrin's is easy to buff up.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 29
From: Beautiful North Carolina
FWIW I get some of my 100% cotton drying cloths out of the "to be washed" pail, soak them in my wash water (with soap) and slap them on the front of the car and let them sit for a few minutes. That lets the water (and soap) really get into the bug carcasses and soften them up. Then I just wash as usual, with very little extra scrubbing required.
I figure the less scrubbing I do, the less chance for scratches.
Michael
I figure the less scrubbing I do, the less chance for scratches.
Michael
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,470
Likes: 44
From: SF bay area
Rejex is a great solution for bugs
I use ReJex on the front and windshield of all of my cars, and it works great for keeping the bugs from sticking when they hit the car. Even those that do stick, come right off with just a light wiping with a wet towel. I highly recommend it.
Their tagline is " So Slick, Bugs Can't Stick!"
Their tagline is " So Slick, Bugs Can't Stick!"
