Motorcycle & Automobile Q & A Forum

Q: Are bird droppings bad for my car’s paint/finish?

A: Yes – some more so than others. Bid droppings are acetic. They can eat all the way through the paint and that allows the metal to start rusting — if left on the paint long enough. You don’t have to clean it off immediately, but you should not allow it to sit on the paint for very long. Three days would be too long. To remove the bird droppings, just a water flush is all that’s needed – enough to ensure the droppings are rinsed off. The longer the droppings sit, the harder it is to remove them. If it sits too long, you should use soap and water to get that discoloring residue off. If it’s been long enough, then wax may be called for

Q: Why do I have to keep applying and rinsing spray-on/rinse-off cleaners over and over before my motorcycle gets clean?

A: It’s simply because of the way these types of cleaners work. Think of each molecule of cleaner as a drop of water. One side of that drop of cleaner sticks very tightly to a molecule or so of the TOP LAYER of grease and grime. Now, the other side of that drop of cleaner sticks to water. So, you spray the cleaner on, it orients itself properly, sticks to some grime, and then the water flushes it away. But if the grime is more than one layer thick, you’ll have to spray again – and again – and again – until you’re down to the finish of the vehicle.

IMPORTANT TIP: Spray-on/rinse-off cleaners are really great for some things, but not generally for completely washing a vehicle. Try washing the vehicle first, and then spot washing with the spray-on/rinse-off cleaners. They’re great for getting into tight places, and why waste that costly cleaner removing the loose outer layers of grime.

What can I use to make my car’s tires black and shiny?

If you visit your auto parts store, you’ll find several products available for that purpose, such as Eagle One Tire Shine (eagleone.com). Some people just prefer to spray on Armor-All, or a similar product. There are also products that specifically make the tires blacker. These are usually applied with a small brush, and require longer drying and setting times. NOTE: products that make tires shiny usually make the tires more slippery, and are thus not suggested for use on motorcycle tires. Be sure to check the label before using any tire shine or blackening product on your motorcycle tires.

Do spray-on and rinse off cleaners really get the vehicle clean?

It would depend on a couple of factors. How dirty the vehicle is; what kind of dirt; how long the dirt has been on there; how many times you go through the spray-on/rinse-off process, and so forth. Basically, if you have a filthy vehicle and try to get it clean with spray-on/rinse-off cleaners – you’ll be there a very long time, and need gallons of cleaner. Cleaners basically work by attaching themselves to grease and oil (not things like soot or dust), and refusing to attach to water. Hence, you spray the product onto the grime and some of it sticks to the cleaner. You rinse it off, and the stuck grime rinses away. But the cleaner will not burrow down into the grime to get all the layers. And x amount of cleaner will only allow x amount of grime to stick to it. Of course, the agitation created by the stream of water will help some. If your vehicle is really dirty, mix up a generous batch of car wash detergent – lots of water. Lavish it on with sponges, or better yet, soft car washing brushes (horsehair is excellent) on the painted areas, and tougher brushes on the harder or non-visible areas. Use lots of the soapy water and agitation. Wash everywhere twice.

I recently had my car painted and there is some overspray on the chrome wheels. How can I get it off?

Fortunately, the paint will not ’stick’ to the chrome very well, and is therefore relatively easy to remove. Get some lacquer thinner from the hardware store – you won’t need much. Moisten a rough rag, like an old facecloth or towel, with the lacquer thinner. (Be sure to use proper safety equipment, and be sure not to allow any of the lacquer thinner on painted surfaces.) Rub over the overspray areas with the moistened cloth. The thinner will take a couple of minutes to soften the paint and make it easy to wipe off. Just keep the area moist and let the thinner work for you. When all of the paint is removed, be sure to completely flush the chrome and the surrounding areas with water. If desired, finish with a quality chrome polish.

How can I prevent my lug nuts from getting rusty over and over?

Start by removing the lug nuts from service on the wheel. Next, make absolutely sure that all the rust is off of them and that they are completely dry and clean. You will need the smallest size can of clear polyurethane that you can get at the hardware store. Carefully dip the clean, dry, rust-free lugs into the polyurethane briefly and then slowly remove them. ONLY dip the exposed parts of the lug nuts – don’t let the polyurethane get on the threads! Now, sit the threaded, open part of the lug onto something to allow it to dry – like a pencil standing up. The idea is to allow the lug nut to dry thoroughly, and the finish to be light and even. When the polyurethane on the lug is completely dry, remove it from the drying stick and gently sand off any excess that flowed downward – making sure not to sand the areas that are visible after installation. Depending on your area and how much weather and road salt they have to endure, the lugs should nw go a few years without rusting.

What is the best way to remove old stick-on type pinstripes from the paint?

If there is clear-coat type of paint over them, then there is really no way that’s reasonable at home. If not, use a heat gun or a hair dryer to soften the adhesive and then slowly peel it away. Remove the remaining adhesive residue with any of the available release solvents such as Goo Gone. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the area when you’re done.

How do I get that whitish discoloration off of my aluminum wheels?

It will depend on what is causing the white material to be visible. If it is water stains, from hard water, then you can mix some white vinegar and water (4-parts white vinegar to 10-parts water) and rub it off easily with a sponge. Be sure to rinse and then dry the wheel afterwards to prevent it from happening because of the rinse water used.

If the residue is caused by an etching and discoloration of the aluminum – then you’ll need to get some aluminum polish, such as Mag-Chrome Aluminum Metal Polish by Eagle One. Thoroughly clean the wheel and then follow the directions on whichever brand you purchase. This process can take quite a bit of time – and elbow grease.