Love Bugs & Radiators

[tippyclubb]

A flyer from Deans said love bugs will plug up your radiator. I'll be driving down shortly and my husband wants to know if you have any suggestions to keep radiator free of bugs. Do these love bugs cause problems with cars other than the paint?

I do believe the bug season begins in September, right?

[John_W]

You could go to Pep Boys, Western Auto, or any automotive store and pick up a bug screen for about $10 or less.

http://store01.prostores.com/armadillobugshields/images/SANY0171.JPG

I would see them all the time in the 70's and 80's, they've kind of gone out of fashion along with the wind deflector. That was also real popular for a while. I never heard of anyone having the engine overheat from bugs. Just clean them off real good when you get here. The windshield is the biggest problem, and don't use your wipers to try and clean them off, you'll have a smeared mess. Use the wet brush and squeegie at the gas station when you stop. The love bugs haven't started yet, it's 120 days from their last appearance and that was a small amount in the spring.

http://www.ndsw.org/templates/images/stone-and-bug-deflectors-2.jpg

[tippyclubb]

Thanks John W your reply was helpful. Tom is headed to Auto Zone for the screen and buy me bug removal spray. WHAT...He really expects me to wash off those bugs, lol.

[Sable99]

We got plastered with love bugs when we drove from Michigan to TV in May. The entire front of my Flex was covered!! i took my car to the Village Car Wash on 441 and they did a fantastic job inside and out. Its a lot pricier than a basic car wash here in Michigan but it is worth every penny. Its almost as good as having a car detailed!

[happy employee]

wiping a thin film of Vaseline over the leading edge of your hood helps a lot in getting the bugs off. DON'T use PAM or other anti-stick cooking sprays. If you do, the bugs will come off fine but you'll spend a lot of time trying to get the spray off.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Thanks John W your reply was helpful. Tom is headed to Auto Zone for the screen and buy me bug removal spray. WHAT...He really expects me to wash off those bugs, lol.

What was Tom thinking??? Most women just don't clean their cars! :1rotfl:

[TNLAKEPANDA]

If you keep your car waxed the bugs are a lot easier to remove. Getting them out of the grill is always a problem. I don't think anybody Loves Lovebugs!

[CFrance]

What was Tom thinking??? Most women just don't clean their cars! :1rotfl:
Must have been temporary insanity. The last car I cleaned was a Tonka truck.

[graciegirl]

Must have been temporary insanity. The last car I cleaned was a Tonka truck.


I shook the dirt out of the army jeep in my sandbox in 1946.

[CFrance]

I shook the dirt out of the army jeep in my sandbox in 1946.
You win!:clap2:

[wdonze]

We bought a new Honda last November and had the Auto Butler protection added to combat the love bugs. It was a little expensive and we have to take the car in every 6 months for a re-application (at no cost for 5 yr), but it has made it easy to keep the paint clean.

[CFrance]

My husband upped and bought a bra fitted for my car, which he sweated & struggled to get on, and then we never took the car on the highway, so it stopped very few bugs. Then, of course, you couldn't take the car to a car wash. And as is our wont, we left it on till a few weeks ago since we are procrastinators.

At least the car is now clean. And bug free. But I suppose the bra would be a good thing if you were driving the highways during the two love bug seasons. I wanna see if he really does put it back on this fall, though. It was a b**** to get on.

[thelegges]

I always call the guy. There's always a guy to fix or clean whatever you need. It's just my theory

[tippyclubb]

I always call the guy. There's always a guy to fix or clean whatever you need. It's just my theory

Do you have a contract number for this guy? I'll definitely be needing some help unloading the car because of my bad hand.

When is love bug season? I think it's coming up soon.

CFrance he didn't find the screen and I'll tell him about the bra.

I was informed I'd be in big trouble if there's bugs on the car when he arrives. I'm so scared.....not. He's in for a shock when he sees water bottles, empty chip bags, tissues, and maybe even a banana peel on the floor. Welcome home honey.

[CFrance]

Do you have a contract number for this guy? I'll definitely be needing some help unloading the car because of my bad hand.

When is love bug season? I think it's coming up soon.

CFrance he didn't find the screen and I'll tell him about the bra.

I was informed I'd be in big trouble if there's bugs on the car when he arrives. I'm so scared.....not. He's in for a shock when he sees water bottles, empty chip bags, tissues, and maybe even a banana peel on the floor. Welcome home honey.
Ron found the car bra on the internet, specific to make & model of the car. Maybe you could find a simple bug screen that way too.

I think you will be down before love bug fall season hits.

[cc1246]

We had a problem with our air conditioning this summer in Texas, after pulling into a Dodge dealership we found the radiator was cover with bugs. They just took a hose and cleaned them off. Their suggestion was after a trip or every few thousand miles to be safe just hose your radiator off.

[SheilaO]

I've never heard of the love bug explosion…What is their season? I will be coming down the first of October…is that on season for them or off season?
If it's on season, I will pay more attention to the advice…always something….
thanks everyone!

[janmcn]

I've never heard of the love bug explosion…What is their season? I will be coming down the first of October…is that on season for them or off season?
If it's on season, I will pay more attention to the advice…always something….
thanks everyone!

Love bugs are normally here the month of September and the month of May. Sometimes they arrive a little earlier or stay a little later.

[Aandjmassage]

Windex glass cleaner gets them off are truck with out hurting the paint.

[rjm1cc]

I would wash the car when I get home if there are bugs on it. Did not think of the radiator. I will start looking at it but have not heard of any problems.

[janmcn]

Does the new gas station in Pinellas have a drive through car wash?

[TNLAKEPANDA]

My husband upped and bought a bra fitted for my car, which he sweated & struggled to get on, and then we never took the car on the highway, so it stopped very few bugs. Then, of course, you couldn't take the car to a car wash. And as is our wont, we left it on till a few weeks ago since we are procrastinators.

At least the car is now clean. And bug free. But I suppose the bra would be a good thing if you were driving the highways during the two love bug seasons. I wanna see if he really does put it back on this fall, though. It was a b**** to get on.

Most men are better at taking bras off than putting them on! LOL