Cleaning Off Bug Splats

[SUN RA KAT]

In a little more than two weeks I will be meeting Bill Pemberton in person and driving my new Viper 760 miles back home. I plan on getting my first oil change around Iowa City since that is about 200 miles from Blair, Nebraska.

Seeing how this will be in the middle of Summer in the Midwest, I suspect extremely strongly that there will be many bugs attracted in a suicidal manner to the front of my new Viper on the trip home.

So... <FONT size="5">What's the best way to get these little buggers off?</FONT s>

 

[HogWhisperer]

Kenny, without prepping, the only way I know is the old fashioned way, (scrubbing). But... I do know a way to make it much, much easier....

Pam (or WD-40) can be sprayed on your front fascia and that makes it where they don't stick. I did this on a recent 500 mile trip I took and it worked great. When I got home, they rinsed right off. The down-side is that the Pam looks kinda gross. (oily) It does work though quite well though!

Good luck.

 

[DEVILDOG]

Get a bra to use for long highway trips. Protects against rock chips and keeps road trash from getting in the fascia intake also. Have a safe trip!

 

[MichaelP]

I did try that trick and it did not work out too well.

I sprayed Pam and went on a 2800 mile trip. I made the mistake of spaying too much on or driving too fast. The Pam ended up across the top and even all the way to the back bumper. Funny how aerodynamics work.

Well then it rained and was cold. It was a ***** to get off and ended up with scratches in the clear coat to get it completely off.

So I did 3 coats of the Zaino Z5 and MOST of the scratches are off.

Just a little info before you make your decision.

 

[RaceDeck]

YOu can also use a Zaino Clay bar to remove any heavy marks...it works great!, then wax over area again

 

[Snake Bitten]

I would agree with RaceDeck...HUGE ditto on the claybar...you don't have to buy these from Zaino...most Pep Boys, Auto Zone, Checker...etc have clay bars...but you MUST use a lubricant...Zaino recommends using the Z7 car wash as a lubricant (diluted in water), but I prefer to use the Z6 as a lubricant because I know it is super slippery...

 

[HogWhisperer]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DEVILDOG:
Get a bra to use for long highway trips. Protects against rock chips and keeps road trash from getting in the fascia intake also. Have a safe trip!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


No doubt, Devildog's is the best answer. Maybe the dealer has one in stock so when you pick it up, it can already be on. <FONT size="5">I</FONT s> should get one. Wonder what kind of hassle they are to get on and off?

MichaelP, I didn't run through rain so I guess it could really get messy. I put a light coat of Pam on and it definitely was way easier to clean although it looked like hell before I cleaned it.

 

[DEVILDOG]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Paul Bilberry:

No doubt, Devildog's is the best answer. Maybe the dealer has one in stock so when you pick it up, it can already be on. <FONT size="5">I</FONT s> should get one. Wonder what kind of hassle they are to get on and off


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The bra is not difficult to install or remove...about 15 minutes normally...initial install takes about 60 mins. since you have to install the mounting hardware which utilizes existing screw holes under the hood fender vents and inside the front wheel wells. It is really easy and definitely worth the effort to protect the front end on any long trips. Also, I think the GTS bra looks great...kind of adds to the bad asp look. Would look great on a yellow GTS! Now all you have to worry about is your windshield ( fog lamps also if you don't have a '96 thru '98, or you could put 200 mph black tape over the openings in the bra )...I took a windshield rock hit on my last long highway outing while waiting for a Suburban ( Texas Cadillac ) to get out of the left lane so I could pass it and other traffic in the right lane. IMO trucks and SUVs should be banned from the left lane...especially in Texas!

 

[Matt M PA]

I leave a bottle of Zaino Gloss Enhance, and a cotton towel in the back of my GTS, as soon as I get to my destination, I spray the fascia and mirrors--the bugs come off. If you leave them on too long they can leave a stain.

 

[Ron Hickey]

I keep a spray bottle of a Zaino Z-7 wash solution (I recycle an empty Z-6 botle). If your car has a good layer of Zaino protection, just spray the Z-7 solution liberally on the bugs, let sit a minute or so, and use a terry towel (US made, 100% cotton per Sal Zaino specs) to remove the bug remains. Be careful not to rub back and forth with any kind of pressure, as that will surely scratch the finish. If possible, wipe the area with a soaking wet towel to remove the soap solution, then dry. You can then follow up with Z-6 to get the shine back.

The Z-7 solution is also great for wheels.

 

[jimandela]

Ken,
just got back from an hour drive.
some bugs but not tons.
I just use 2 cloth diapers. the first soaking wet with
lukewarm water. the other to wipe dry.
no problem the come right off if you can clean it when
they are fresh.

For dry caked on buggers just zaino brand car wash.
Lots of suds.

good luck
JIM

 

[Roland L-Ocala FL]

I have a Mopar bra on the front of the '94, and it works well. However, the buggers fit in between the sceen on the front and still splatter on the grill a bit. But it does save a lot of cleaning. I use Simple Green at about a 20:1 cut with water in an old empty spray bottle and it works wonders if you use it with an old cotton tee shirt to wash off the bugs, then a sponge with car wash, rinse and a bit ao Zaino, and off you go. Put some Zaino on the grille and front end first, before you start the trip, and the bugs come off quickly! Simple Green is great stuff, and I even use it as a wheel cleaner, it cuts the brake dust right off the wheels. Then just rinse it off and wipe with an old towel, it works very well. Then Zaino the heck out of the rims, and the dust is much easier to clean off the next time.

 

[MiamiJeff]

Some swear that WD-40 sprayed on to the dead bugs will allow them to easily come off.

Putting on the full Zaino treatment before departure might help bugs come off easier later.

 

[Birvini]

(3) I trust only Bounty brand paper towels for
this. Some PTs are very coarse and scratchy. When you
get Bounty a little wet, it becomes softer than a
chamois.

I scratched the **** out of my Vette with a paper towel that was wet.