This stuff only happens to people who care for their car

[05PhillyStang]

I need some help with my situation. About a week ago, I was driving down the street in the right lane and in the left lane was a flat bed carrying an old underground storage tank (like those used at gas stations). I always do my best to stay away from trucks that fling pebbles and debris and I especially stay away from any truck that has loose items in the back (like tree chippers). In this case, as I was trying to pass the truck, my hood, windshield, and part of my roof go splattered with what looked like tar or oil from the tank. They were very small drops.

I didn't have time to attend to it that night, but the next night, I washed my car, and used about 3 applications of paint cleaner on the hood. I wanted to use clay and/or scratchX but forgot to bring it with me. The paint cleaner seemed to work okay, but the finish was not very smooth. I didn't have time to try anything else, so I put on a coat of #16 to keep the finish protected since the cleaner removed whatever amount of wax was on there to begin with. For the next few days, it rained, then I was out of town. Now it's a week later and everytime I look at my car, I see those liitle spots. It's a black car so it's pretty much invisible to the naked eye, but like I said, the surface is not smooth.

Would clay remove this? I was thinking of using clay, DC #1, and some type of wax (I have NXT, GC, and #16). Also, could I EDIT: CLAY my windows? These spots are very hard, not rubbery or gummy. Any help would be greatly appreciated

[Murr1525]

Clay and ScratchX are a good a start as any... If they dont do it, either a machine, or harsher chemicals coud be needed.

For windows, I dont know about waxing, but I belive the #2 worked in strongly with a terry cloth, followed by rainX can do pretty good.

[05PhillyStang]

oops. I meant to say should I CLAY my windows, not wax. Sorry

[LiquidBlack]

Claying windows wont hurt the glass. Give it a try if you think it'll work.

There are products like goo gone that could help as well.

Opinions? Would goo gone be safe to use?

[grover]

Tell me about it. I was pulling up a stop light that had 2 lanes going in one direction. Right when I pulled up to complete stop the lady in the minivan next to me decided that was a good time to throw her ice cream cone out the window.

SPLAT!!! All over my hood, cone and all. I just thought the same as you, "why me?!" No one else would've thought twice about running it through an automatic car wash. But no, I'm weighing my options - scratches from an auto car wash or let the ice cream dry on my hood? My wife made fun of me for a while for that one.

I know, I know... all the more reason to carry Quik Detailer in the car with a microfiber.

[SiriusRIMZ]

happens to me too, I was driving on the highway, had just finished waxing my car, was taking it out to make sure I had gotten all the water out of the creases, someone decided to throw their half eaten burger out the window, right on my hood, nice red streak.

All my friends wonder why I get so upset when a bird craps on my car or there a new scratch, I dont see how they dont care.

[RamAirV1]

And I thought I these kind of things happened to me! I feel your pain.

Indiana has no covered load law and trucks can basically dump whatever they want on the road with no ramifications.

And the dump truck companies are bold enough to put placards on their trucks that say "Stay Back 500ft. Not responsible for any damage caused by falling rocks." All you can do is get around them as fast as you can and hope for the best.

RamAirV1

[Pete-FWA]

Ram Air, that's CRAZY, isn't it??? Not a month after buying a car in college, I was pelted with debris from a passing dump truck going around I-465. It was in a construction zone and the truck was passing on the other side of the divider. I had to replace a windshiled, driver side mirror glass, and paint the entire driver side.

05PhillyStang, I re-read your post and you did say "These spots are very hard, not rubbery or gummy." Are you talking about the actual deposit left on the paint or just the dull spot left behind by the splatter? My heart sank when I read what happened to a black finish.

The one caveat with clay that comes to mind is that it can carry grit and kill a finish. Toss a clay bar that fell on the ground. You'll only do more damage by using it. Toss a clay bar after an especially nasty job for the same reasons. Knead the clay well so you keep fresh clay on the surface, not that nasty grit.

[Setec Astronomy]

What is it with the people that throw garbage out the window? I can sort of see the ice cream, that you can't really do anything with it in the car...but a burger? Wrap it back up and wait till you find a garbage can.

Just tonight on the way home, I saw a car on the other side of the traffic light I was stopped at, and something came flying out of the driver's side (I think it was a bunch of ice cubes), and then what looked like a big cup! It was hard to see from the headlight glare, but I think someone got out and picked up the cup...I just don't see the need to throw the ice out the window...as has been said, what if someone turned the corner and was driving by just then?

[05PhillyStang]

Pete-FWA, I'm not quite sure what you're asking. You want to know if the hard spot is "the actual deposit left on the paint or just the dull spot left behind by the splatter?"

It's the actual deposit. I'm not sure what a hard, dull spot would be. Anyway, the little drops of whatever came out of that tank hardened onto the paint, as opposed to being gummy. By gummy, I mean something similar to driving over road tar or the residue left behind after a smokey burnout. Like I said in the original post, many of these spots on the paint were either removed or diminished by multiple applications of DC #1. Tonight, I washed the car and clayed the windows. It took a lot of time and patience to get these spots off, but my windshield is now clear. I didn't get a chance to do the hood and roof because I would then have to wax the treated areas and I do need to get to bed at a somewhat reasonable time

As for all the "I feel your pain" comments, it just blows my mind how common this is. I'm not sure about Pennsylvania's covered load laws, but I don't think I've ever seen an uncovered load, so that's good. The situation I was describing was a flat bed carrying an old, muddy, underground gas station tank, not a Tanker truck, so I don't think the covered load law would even apply. As for the littering, there's just no excuse. And some people do it without thinking twice.

SiriusRIMZ, the comment you made about friends not understanding is so true. Just tonight, as I was claying the windows, the comments starting coming out. They were awstruck at what I was doing. One guy held the clay bar in his hand and stared at it like a dog staring at a stereo playing music. Then again, these are the same guys who ask, "What type of wax should I use to make my cars look like yours?" That's when I explain that's it's more than just wax and I get into the 5-step process...and then I lose them. Although I will say that I've started to convert some of them, albeit to a lesser extent (baby steps here). For instance, most, if not all of my friends now wash their cars themselves, no automatic washes. And instead of going straight to wax, they use cleaner/wax. To them, it's the same amount of steps involved, just better results. Eventually, I'll get them to break apart the cleaning, polishing, and waxing steps.

[LiquidBlack]

For me, ice cubes and drinks that have been sitting in the car can be thrown out the window. I dont just toss it out though, I wait til a stoplight, then open my door and drop it to the pavement.

Tossing food out the window at 50 miles per hour is just plain rude. I could see me getting road rage if somebody's tossed burger landed on my windshield!

[rusty bumper]

I eyewitnessed a can throwing incident a few years ago. One guy was getting an earful from another driver about getting cut off in traffic and having to slam on brakes. The guy finished his argument by throwing his drink can at the offending driver's car.

But that wasn't the end of it.

The other guy gets mad at the can thrower and hits the gas and sideswipes the can throwers car!!.....He traveled 3 lanes over to hit it!!

Someone must have had a bad day at work!

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
I eyewitnessed a can throwing incident a few years ago. One guy was getting an earful from another driver about getting cut off in traffic and having to slam on brakes. The guy finished his argument by throwing his drink can at the offending driver's car.

But that wasn't the end of it.

The other guy gets mad at the can thrower and hits the gas and sideswipes the can throwers car!!.....He traveled 3 lanes over to hit it!!

Someone must have had a bad day at work!

I listen to a police scanner alot. Halloween night they had the police going all over for egg throwing incidents. Mostly kids I guess. I made sure I kept on ear out for where it was happening so I could avoid the places. Had a Toyota Sienna get egged once. Happened a mile from my house. Came straight home, rinsed with the garden hose. Too late. Paint already etched. No more than 4-5 minutes. I made sure I avoided most of the backroads Halloween to avoid this happening again.

[Pete-FWA]

05PhillyStang,

I could have worded it better, but you answered my question. I thought maybe the spots were discoloration, but no actual extra material still clinging to your top coat.

[tron1974]

Originally posted by RamAirV1

And the dump truck companies are bold enough to put placards on their trucks that say "Stay Back 500ft. Not responsible for any damage caused by falling rocks." All you can do is get around them as fast as you can and hope for the best.

RamAirV1

These guys are responsible regardless if they put something on their vechicle or not. If they are carrying something and it falls off, no matter how small, they are responsible. A friend of mine had a similar incident where a dump truck had some gravel that hit his car and they paid him for fixing the scratches.

I would like to put a sign on my car, that says, move out of my way. If I hit you it's not my responsibility.