Car Care Tips

CAR CARE TIPS

Written By Greg Dumond
AUTO CARE TIPS
PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT

Auto Paint Deterioration from Acid Rain Cause and Effect

     As we enter the early winter months, particularly with the heavy rains we're sure to have, it is especially important to protect your vehicles surface from the harmful effects of acid rain.
     What is acid rain? A recent study was conducted by Dr. Edward Edney, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scientist, on the effect acid rain has on the automobile's painted surface. He found that acid rain contains a variety of acids, including carbonic, nitric, and sulfuric acid. These acids, are in large, produced by pollution problems stemming from carbon monoxide emmissions and industrial fallout containing concentrated amounts of sulphur, just to name a couple. Once rain water evaporates, so do the nitric and carbonic acids. Sulfuric acid, however, does not evaporate. The remaining concentrated solid sulfuric acid actually etches or mars the painted surface of the vehicle. These marks appear as dull white spots on the vechicle's surface once the rain water has evaported.
     Acid Rain today is a very real problem affecting the painted surface of any make of vehicle. Acid Rain damage acccelerates the deterioration and oxidation process of the vehicle's finish.

Acid Rain damage is not only severe in nature, but is very difficult to remove without first compounding and polishing the surface of the vehicle. For sensitive paint finishes, like the new stage clear coat type being used on today's new cars, it is difficult to minimize this situation without the proper care and product knowledge necessary to address the problem.
You can help prevent acid rain spotting by taking the necessary steps and have your vehicle's paint job thoroughly compounded and waxed at least twice a year. This provides a good clean, slick surface that will help prevent those harmful chemicals from adhering to the vechicle's painted surface. A wax or sealant will provide a protective barrier against the elements. This is a sound preventative measure towards extending the life expectancy of your vehicle's paint job. After all, the automobile is the second largest investment many individuals make other than purchasing a home. And, the cost of a new paint job is certainly worth a little preventative maintenance.

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