So it looks like I made the mistake of thinking a tree that I had been parking under for a few weeks was free of excessive fowl...how wrong and foolish I was. I got slammed this morning by over 10 droppings and was unable to remove it until late in the afternoon. My guess is the gastric acids have already done their deed and that faint discoloration where the droppings once were is a result of these acids catalyzing with the finish. I gather I'm sunk and there's no conceivable way to reverse this without getting a new paint job. Luckily, they only hit the roof of the car and the paint color is light (golden/tan/beige), so their presence is not especially visible unless being looked for specifically.
I worry about that constantly and won't even park in my own driveway! I have a large tree there where pigeons (sky rats) do their defecation like rain. Yes, the finish can be tarnished by bird poo left unattended. I carry a spray bottle of water and some paper towels in case I get unlucky in parking lot.
Bird droppings can do damage to paint, which is why I go out of my way to avoid parking under any trees. Depending how severe the damage, you should be able to get the paint back in good shape. Wash well, then try using a cleaner wax. Zymol makes a great one, which is available in most auto parts stores: http://www.amazon.com/Zymol-Premium-Products-Natural-Cleaner/dp/B0002JN510 If that doesn't work, try something more aggressive, like rubbing compound, followed by cleaner wax. Even if you can get the surface back to perfect, given you have a light colored car, you should be able to get it to the point where you'd be the only one who notices it.
Thank you, I'll look for that! Being on the roof (and given I have bunk elbows aka tendinitis), it will be somewhat difficult to move to rubbing compound.
The cleaner wax works very well. Years ago I had a red car (before clear coat) bombed by birds, and it did the trick. Rub in a back-and-forth motion, from front to back of car (circular rubbing will create swirls). Start lightly, buff off, then increase pressure as necessary. Topping off with pure wax is also a good idea. The roof on the Prius is high, so try using a step stool.
By pure wax, do you mean the carnauba laden wax like the One Grand Blitz you had mentioned in another thread?
I'd try the clay bar first. If that doesn't work, remove the damaged paint (clear coat is still paint, only clear in color) using a rubbing compound.
Good call, sir. Taken from Zaino's product descript: [/SIZE][/FONT] I've already applied Zymol...I can move to clay bar next. Any specific recommendations aside from the above? I'd like to get one locally (Autozone, Walmart, O'Relly's) if possible in the name of expediency.
If the cleaner wax didn't fully solve the issue, clay bar won't be of any use. Clay bar removes surface contaminants. From your description, it sounds like the damage is deeper than just some bird crap sitting on the surface. The surface contaminants would have been removed by the cleaner wax. Before moving to rubbing compound (which can be pretty aggressive), I'd suggest the cleaner wax again, this time with a bit more pressure.
Meguiars makes a decent cleaner wax. I am not crazy about the shine, but it cleans very well and is available at most places including WalMart. If that doesn't work, try a polishing compound but there is a point of diminishing returns where you are taking off too much clear coat and the finish will never come back, so maybe you just suck it up and don't look at that area all that much. Clay bar will not work if a cleaner wax doesn't and certainly not if a polishing compound strikes out.
Thanks again, all. I also have Meguiar's Scratch-X 2.0, which I've seen recommended and which I've been employing. I think I'm definitely to the point of diminishing returns and all this excess use of pressure is going to increase the risk of micro scratches, which I'm beginning to see now in the same locations, lol. I do believe both the Scratch-X and Zymol products have helped in reducing these "stains."
As a last resort, try NuFinish. I think it is a crappy product, but it has little or no abrasives, it takes off dead paint chemically so try that section that is marred since the bird poop obviously works chemically too.
Impossibility in an apartment, though there are some strays. Need to move to a place with a garage. Too many telephone poles and trees to make worrying about this a priority anymore. No carports either...maybe I should get one of those cumbersome car covers.
