Bugs, bugs, and more bugs!!! How to get them off my car?!?!?!?!?!

lostcause · 01-09-2008, 10:42 AM

Now I've done it. I drove through the everglades several times over the last couple of weeks and in the process ended up with what seems like half the south florida insect population glued to the front end of my car. I've had it hand washed, driven it through a car wash (touchless of course), and they still won't come off. If I take my fingernail and rub them, I can pretty much scrape them off so I know they're not permanently part of the paint yet but it would take me most of an entire day to get rid of them this way.

What can I use to get rid of them? I've heard people say anything from WD40 to diesel fuel but I'm not sure if any of those remedies will damage my paint. Is there some type of commercial bug remover I can buy at the auto parts store that might do the job? What about some kind of non-abrasive polish?

MidniteBlues · 01-09-2008, 11:11 AM

Most tar removers work pretty well. Bug & Tar remover. Heres one of my sites here in Florida that has some options for you. Some stuff you can probably find/buy locally, this site is to give you ideas and options. http://www.autogeek.net/searchresult...over&x=40&y=16

The trick is to not let sit for weeks and let them etch into the finish..
Of course once cleaned off, you will need to polish & seal. Some polished mild ones will also remove the bugs if they are "still fresh" if you will..

markwell · 01-09-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostcause

I've had it hand washed, driven it through a car wash (touchless of course), and they still won't come off. If I take my fingernail and rub them, I can pretty much scrape them off so I know they're not permanently part of the paint yet but it would take me most of an entire day to get rid of them this way.

Lostcause,

I had the same issue after driving through Florida on a business trip. When I got back to Georgia, the outdoor watering ban prevented me from washing the car myself to get them off. The bugs actually stayed on my car for a month. I went to a local hand-wash car wash (which is still allowed to operate in the drought), and they successfully got all the bugs off.

I don't know what they were using to get them off, so I can't help in that regard. But, I do suggest that you try a different car wash place than the one you mention using. I know it is possible to get the bugs off, you just need to find the right car-wash place.

Druid-2 · 01-09-2008, 11:24 AM

get yourself a clear bra

It covers everything up to the top of the headlights

I did this very early and since that time I can take soap and water and a scrubby and get all the bugs off without damaging the paint

My entire kit cost $600.00 and covers the entire nose area...the backs of the rear view mirrors and the rocker panels as well as half way up the rear wheel wells (where you get a lot of road tar etc being thrown up)

Strongly suggest you do this as an investment

**Skip** · 01-09-2008, 11:34 AM

Dang all that protien going to waste...Skip...hehehe I heard that polecat juice gets it off real good....

bigdog · 01-09-2008, 11:37 AM

This sounds so wrong but, WD40 works wonders at getting bug guts off. Really, it does! Of couse, you will need to re-seal and polish/wax.

**Texas Red Line** · 01-09-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostcause

Now I've done it. I drove through the everglades several times over the last couple of weeks and in the process ended up with what seems like half the south florida insect population glued to the front end of my car. I've had it hand washed, driven it through a car wash (touchless of course), and they still won't come off. If I take my fingernail and rub them, I can pretty much scrape them off so I know they're not permanently part of the paint yet but it would take me most of an entire day to get rid of them this way.

What can I use to get rid of them? I've heard people say anything from WD40 to diesel fuel but I'm not sure if any of those remedies will damage my paint. Is there some type of commercial bug remover I can buy at the auto parts store that might do the job? What about some kind of non-abrasive polish?

I use Turtle Wax bug and tar remover. It works great.

Sierra Shark · 01-09-2008, 01:08 PM

There is a product made by Rain-Ex that sprays onto the paint. It's clear and acts as a shield aganist bugs and debris from sticking to your paint. It washes off with the bug juice and grime at your next car washing. I first tried it on my truck before using it on the Sky and it works pretty good. You just reapply it after washing the car. If you do use it don't touch the surface you sprayed until it dries or it will leave a print. It's very sticky until dry. I'd rather stop it from sticking to the paint then trying to remove it later. Just a thought. Good luck.

tjfox · 01-09-2008, 02:09 PM

I use the "Bug-melt" from here

http://www.buffalomilke.com/

Works great for me.

SWTSKY · 01-09-2008, 02:27 PM

I suspect your talking about those lovebugs that are hooked to one another on the tail? I don't live there, but experiance those crazy things last year when I was at Coco Beach.

ggccg · 01-09-2008, 05:04 PM

Degreasers like Formula 88 (black bottle at your local hardware store) work well. Spray it on, wait a few minutes then blast the bugs away with your garden hose. If you've let the bugs dry on the car for a bit too long, you may have to repeat.

And if you ever get lovebugs so thick that your windshield is covered and smeared in their bodily fluids and you can't see sh*t, a can of Coke or Pepsi works wonders at cleaning up the mess. Try not to get it on your paint.

Bogie · 01-09-2008, 05:56 PM

Aside from the armor and plastic, another method is quick action. I use Quick Detailier (there are others I hear that are just as good) and micro towels designated for bug or bird **** duty. The faster you get to it, the easier it is to get off and the less damage it does. In the summer time, it's almost a daily ritual. Wash windows.....Quick Detail crap on the finish.

And, of course, keep the wax good.

By the way, one of the blessings of a winter climate is virtually no bugs and few birds. But then there's the snow, salt, and potholes.

RedSkyMan · 01-09-2008, 06:39 PM

Although I haven't tried it personally, A guy at a local auto show last summer told me when he goes on trips to shows with his Vette, he puts a thin layer of Vasoline on the front of his car and it wipes off easily, bugs and all after he gets to where ever he goes. Sounds like It's worth a shot. Sure couldn't hurt.

jayman · 01-09-2008, 07:40 PM

Just get a Bluestone Sky...it's not only repellant...it's bug repellant as well

TulsaSky · 01-10-2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSkyMan

Although I haven't tried it personally, A guy at a local auto show last summer told me when he goes on trips to shows with his Vette, he puts a thin layer of Vasoline on the front of his car and it wipes off easily, bugs and all after he gets to where ever he goes. Sounds like It's worth a shot. Sure couldn't hurt.

I wonder if K-Y would work and it would be easier to get off then the Vasoline since its water soluble? Yea I know you all get your minds out of the gutter were still talking about bugs and cars, but when you start thinking about bugs sliding off a hard surface, lubricants comes to mind, W-D 40 etc.

TulsaSky

Gerry · 01-10-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TulsaSky

I wonder if K-Y would work ...

Works great, especially if you rear-end someone.

**Celt03** · 01-10-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayman

Just get a Bluestone Sky...it's not only repellant...it's bug repellant as well

Whatcha ya doing, Jay - did MM appoint ya to take up the slack during his trip ?

lostcause · 01-10-2008, 03:46 PM

I went to Pep Boys and out of the ones recommended here the only one they had was the turtle wax bug and tar remover. I tried it on a small section and so far it seems to have worked well. I'll report more once I use it on the entire front.

I thought about the degreasers and wd40 but figured I'd try something specifically designed for this purpose before breaking out the heavy artillery on it. So far so good. Thanks everyone for all the info so far.

**Skip** · 01-10-2008, 04:02 PM

Just let the dog lick it off...Rub some hamburger on the bugs and let the dog run its tongue over it. ..Now I am getting hungry...Skip...

Ghost-Sky · 01-11-2008, 01:16 PM

Beleave it or not, but Hydrogen Peroxide works great. Put it in a spray bottle and spray on the bugs, they will foam up and wipe off, if real thick do it twice. It will NOT hurt the finish on your car. I have used it on those love bugs and it worked great.
"The Sky's The Limit"

Darkwing · 01-11-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost-Sky

Beleave it or not, but Hydrogen Peroxide works great. Put it in a spray bottle and spray on the bugs, they will foam up and wipe off, if real thick do it twice. It will NOT hurt the finish on your car. I have used it on those love bugs and it worked great.
"The Sky's The Limit"

I'm going to try this, thanks. Peroxide does sound like a good non abrasive way to clean off that 'organic' material. Hmmm

I wonder why I never thought of this myself.

01-09-2008, 10:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
lostcause Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,251 My Photos: (0)	Bugs, bugs, and more bugs!!! How to get them off my car?!?!?!?!?! Now I've done it. I drove through the everglades several times over the last couple of weeks and in the process ended up with what seems like half the south florida insect population glued to the front end of my car. I've had it hand washed, driven it through a car wash (touchless of course), and they still won't come off. If I take my fingernail and rub them, I can pretty much scrape them off so I know they're not permanently part of the paint yet but it would take me most of an entire day to get rid of them this way. What can I use to get rid of them? I've heard people say anything from WD40 to diesel fuel but I'm not sure if any of those remedies will damage my paint. Is there some type of commercial bug remover I can buy at the auto parts store that might do the job? What about some kind of non-abrasive polish?

01-09-2008, 11:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
MidniteBlues Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 3,586 My Photos: (0)	Most tar removers work pretty well. Bug & Tar remover. Heres one of my sites here in Florida that has some options for you. Some stuff you can probably find/buy locally, this site is to give you ideas and options. http://www.autogeek.net/searchresult...over&x=40&y=16 The trick is to not let sit for weeks and let them etch into the finish.. Of course once cleaned off, you will need to polish & seal. Some polished mild ones will also remove the bugs if they are "still fresh" if you will.. __________________ 2.4L Midnight Blue, Premium Trim Package, Automatic, Monsoon Pre Audio 1-CD, Std Rear. GMPP CAI, 3M Clear Bra, Splash Guards, Black Top, Fiam Frwy Blastr 2-horn Opel Ant - WR V2 - Flux Capacitor -

01-09-2008, 11:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
Druid-2 First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE OHIO Posts: 611 My Photos: (0)	get yourself a clear bra It covers everything up to the top of the headlights I did this very early and since that time I can take soap and water and a scrubby and get all the bugs off without damaging the paint My entire kit cost $600.00 and covers the entire nose area...the backs of the rear view mirrors and the rocker panels as well as half way up the rear wheel wells (where you get a lot of road tar etc being thrown up) Strongly suggest you do this as an investment __________________ **************** SOL-ibate till at least late March !!!! T2TR-DOUBLE HEADER OCT. 11, 2008**

01-09-2008, 11:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
Skip First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: deep in the land of cotton where good times there are not forgotten Posts: 4,736 My Photos: (0)	Dang all that protien going to waste...Skip...hehehe I heard that polecat juice gets it off real good.... __________________ Resident Redneck of the forum and Birthday Greeter Keep on the sunny side of life It tant Christmas without Christ.

01-09-2008, 11:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
bigdog First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 842 My Photos: (5)	This sounds so wrong but, WD40 works wonders at getting bug guts off. Really, it does! Of couse, you will need to re-seal and polish/wax. __________________ -Pete WCKCC member 2.4L, silver graphite VIN: 01472 Delivered 5/23/2006 - Contracted SGS the same day SGS = Silly Grin Syndrome ________________________ Universal Law of Location: No matter where you go, there you are.

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01-09-2008, 01:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sierra Shark Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: "Where the mountains meet the SKY. Posts: 179 My Photos: (0)	Spray on shield There is a product made by Rain-Ex that sprays onto the paint. It's clear and acts as a shield aganist bugs and debris from sticking to your paint. It washes off with the bug juice and grime at your next car washing. I first tried it on my truck before using it on the Sky and it works pretty good. You just reapply it after washing the car. If you do use it don't touch the surface you sprayed until it dries or it will leave a print. It's very sticky until dry. I'd rather stop it from sticking to the paint then trying to remove it later. Just a thought. Good luck. __________________ *SIERRA SHARK* SILVER GRAPHITE REDLINE BLACK LEATHER AUTO LSD 6 CD MONSOON CHROME 18's SPOILER "it's all good"

01-09-2008, 02:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
tjfox First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Perrysburg,OH Posts: 126 My Photos: (0)	Bug-Melt I use the "Bug-melt" from here http://www.buffalomilke.com/ Works great for me. __________________ CP RED BLACK CLOTH AUTOMATIC PAINTED WHEELS 6 DISC XM IMAGED 3/30 ORDER # GGL030 Made 5/12 Vin # 2613 Released to Ship 5/18 At Home 6/1/06

01-09-2008, 02:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
SWTSKY First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Corinth Tx Posts: 771 My Photos: (4)	I suspect your talking about those lovebugs that are hooked to one another on the tail? I don't live there, but experiance those crazy things last year when I was at Coco Beach. __________________ Chili Pepper Red Premium Trim Package Tan/Black Tinted Windows / Wind Restrictor/ Automatic,LSD, Chili Pepper Red Calipers XM, MP3, 6 Disk, Monsoon Stereo / Stubby Antenna Duel CAI-Fujita Magnaflow Dual Exhaust w/ quad tips Last edited by SWTSKY : 01-09-2008 at 05:22 PM.

01-09-2008, 05:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
ggccg First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under Skip's Skin Posts: 1,497 My Photos: (0)	Degreasers like Formula 88 (black bottle at your local hardware store) work well. Spray it on, wait a few minutes then blast the bugs away with your garden hose. If you've let the bugs dry on the car for a bit too long, you may have to repeat. And if you ever get lovebugs so thick that your windshield is covered and smeared in their bodily fluids and you can't see sht, a can of Coke or Pepsi works wonders at cleaning up the mess. Try not to get it on your paint. Last edited by ggccg : 01-09-2008 at 05:07 PM.*

01-09-2008, 05:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
Bogie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern, VA Posts: 2,483 My Photos: (0)	Aside from the armor and plastic, another method is quick action. I use Quick Detailier (there are others I hear that are just as good) and micro towels designated for bug or bird ** duty. The faster you get to it, the easier it is to get off and the less damage it does. In the summer time, it's almost a daily ritual. Wash windows.....Quick Detail crap on the finish. And, of course, keep the wax good. By the way, one of the blessings of a winter climate is virtually no bugs and few birds. But then there's the snow, salt, and potholes. __________________ 2008 Redline** Black Onyx Black/Red Leather Monsoon 6 Disc Spoiler French Transmission Born July 2007 Snagged 8/31/07 Belle? That's my car Alizée? That's my avatar Me? Forty something male skydriver

01-09-2008, 06:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
RedSkyMan Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Columbus, IN Posts: 402 My Photos: (6)	Although I haven't tried it personally, A guy at a local auto show last summer told me when he goes on trips to shows with his Vette, he puts a thin layer of Vasoline on the front of his car and it wipes off easily, bugs and all after he gets to where ever he goes. Sounds like It's worth a shot. Sure couldn't hurt. __________________ Chili Pepper Red Ordered 3-28-06 Delivered 6-29-06 Sent to Mallett 2-21-07 Delivered 5-11-07 #007 "Beast" LS-2 400 HP Dual Exhaust

01-09-2008, 07:40 PM	#14 (permalink)
jayman First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,830 My Photos: (0)	Just get a Bluestone Sky...it's not only repellant...it's bug repellant as well __________________ Silver Graphite '07 : red interior, tint, chrome rims, li'l chromies, chrome wipers, chrome domes, chrome vanity,chrome valve stems, chrome antenna, chrome sack... "I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul" C&H RED SOX NATION

01-10-2008, 03:46 PM	#18 (permalink)
lostcause Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,251 My Photos: (0)	I went to Pep Boys and out of the ones recommended here the only one they had was the turtle wax bug and tar remover. I tried it on a small section and so far it seems to have worked well. I'll report more once I use it on the entire front. I thought about the degreasers and wd40 but figured I'd try something specifically designed for this purpose before breaking out the heavy artillery on it. So far so good. Thanks everyone for all the info so far.

01-10-2008, 04:02 PM	#19 (permalink)
Skip First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: deep in the land of cotton where good times there are not forgotten Posts: 4,736 My Photos: (0)	Just let the dog lick it off...Rub some hamburger on the bugs and let the dog run its tongue over it. ..Now I am getting hungry...Skip... __________________ Resident Redneck of the forum and Birthday Greeter Keep on the sunny side of life It tant Christmas without Christ.

01-11-2008, 01:16 PM	#20 (permalink)
Ghost-Sky Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Elkton MD Posts: 192 My Photos: (0)	Beleave it or not, but Hydrogen Peroxide works great. Put it in a spray bottle and spray on the bugs, they will foam up and wipe off, if real thick do it twice. It will NOT hurt the finish on your car. I have used it on those love bugs and it worked great. "The Sky's The Limit" __________________ (Ghost-Sky)