Best protection against bird sh@t??....

A

Al N

Member
....especially seagulls sh@t. Just spent 40 odd minutes cutting back the lacquer on my boot lid, stains left from seagulls sh@t. The car has had copious amounts of wax to protect the paint, but this crap from seagulls is seriously acidic. What have you used to protect the paint, and what do you recommend? I've used Maguire carnuba, harly wax, zymol , in fact every mainstream affordable wax and protectors out there and nothing can stop the crap burning the lacquer. :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x
 
Clean it off as quick as possible is the only reliable protection.

It's not so much acidic as has a totally different properties from car laquer.

Worst case, hot day your laquer is relativly soft and malleable. Wet gritty seagull crap gets on it. The seagull crap sets like concrete in the heat and actually creates an indentation in your laquer. That is what causes the marks, not acid. :wink:
 
I was actually going to post a very similar topic, but since you've already done it I hope you won't mind me asking a related question.

What product do you guys recommend to keep in the car at all times for bird poop emergencies, keeping in mind that the car gets scorching hot in summer, which may or may not ruin the cleaning product itself?
 
Sirrith said:
I was actually going to post a very similar topic, but since you've already done it I hope you won't mind me asking a related question.

What product do you guys recommend to keep in the car at all times for bird poop emergencies, keeping in mind that the car gets scorching hot in summer, which may or may not ruin the cleaning product itself?
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I have autoglym bird wipes in my boot at all times. Though I usually use simple water if it is available.
 
Fighting losing battle, according to the science prevention and quick removal are it. Interesting reading for all the facts about bird poo and types of damage (paintwork geeks only) :)
https://www.automotivequalitysolutions.com/2014/03/14/bird-droppings-paint-etching/
 
Good article, sounds like uric acid is the primary culprit then. I wonder if the likes of Gtechniq Crystal Cerum Ultra offer any realistic protection. Their page here would suggest so...

https://gtechniq.com/products/auto/crystal-serum-ultra

....but having not had a great experience with their lesser Crystal Serum Light I'm somewhat sceptical.
 
You could leave a small bottle of water in the trunk and a MF cloth or chamois? Failing that, pop into the nearest servo on the way home and wash/rinse it off there.
Other than that, if you have good paint protection, then this slows the whole process down. Whatever is on top acts like a sacrificial layer.
 
I just catch of of the feckers and get my own back...and if it’s the wrong bird then word gets around quite quickly :P
 
buzyg said:
Sirrith said:
I was actually going to post a very similar topic, but since you've already done it I hope you won't mind me asking a related question.

What product do you guys recommend to keep in the car at all times for bird poop emergencies, keeping in mind that the car gets scorching hot in summer, which may or may not ruin the cleaning product itself?
Click to expand...
I have autoglym bird wipes in my boot at all times. Though I usually use simple water if it is available.
Click to expand...
I keep a box of these in both cars. They aren’t cheap but seem to work quite well. :thumbsup:
 
Trouble with bird s**t is that not only is it acidic, its also quite abrasive. Have to be very careful smearing across your paintwork with a wipe.
 
ph001 said:
Trouble with bird s**t is that not only is it acidic, its also quite abrasive. Have to be very careful smearing across your paintwork with a wipe.
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It's very abrasive. Almost sandy!!I'm quite anal with my cars, but I don't want to be cutting back the top coat everytime I get bird shite on my car. Thankfully it's in the garage when I'm not using it.
 
OK so trying to get to grips with the science of how poo degrades paintwork I found an interesting article which goes deep, deep in to the chemistry of bird poo. Again the conclusion is that few if any products offer meaningful resistance and early removal AND NEUTRALISATION of the acidic content with an alkali is a must before applying any kind of detailer or sealant. Otherwise you seal in the acidic enzymes that attack the paintwork that give us that crazed spot.

The most practical suggestion they offer seems to be to neutralise and wash with an alkaline rinse of water and baking soda ASAP, also a solution Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and distilled water to draw out the surface contamination, THEN seal with detailer or wax. Off to the chemist then :exitright:


http://togwt1980.blogspot.com/2013/10/bird-excrement-most-damaging.html
 
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