[CarGuys]

I have tried Pam on a well used car up here. After a day in the Spring Sun it was baking into the wax and when I tried to wash it off, The traditional car wash did not remove it. Only good ole Hot water and wax stripping Dawn detergent did.

I would also be concerned about the Pam attracting not only the bug remains but dirt sand and grit from off the road. It would take HOT water and Dawn to remove all the GOO! Those that try to wipe it off will be scratching the finish on their vehicle!

I think the best prevention requires the most work. A good coat or two of Automotive sealer / wax on the vehicle.

And immediately at night when it is cool do a " Face Wash with Dawn and warm water. Then an Automotive " Detailing Mist of your choosing applied in preparation for the next days bug attacks. Soft cotten towels or micro fiber cloths to wipe with

This will have to be evening ritual unitl the critters are gone. Bill is 100% correct on the radiator and more important AC condensor. The hood will have to come up and fresh water hosed from inside the engine compartment toward the outside grill to rinse them off.

I am going to try the " Love Bug Solution" It appears to be the same product that Auto Body Shops use to spary the entire vehicle with as to protect from over spray.

Or leave the toys parked in the garage for a month.

[GaryW]

Love Bugs are a pain all around.. But if you keep your car clean and a coat of good wax on the front areas and mirrors where the bugs hit the most, that will help when you wash them off. You do not always have to use dawn on them. Remember you are stripping the wax off when doing that. Then you will need to rewax the area to protect again.
Once love Bug season starts, I keep a good coat of wax and I also apply a spray sealant on the front, then I also keep the car washed to get the bug guts off. Here is a link to the sealant. I usually apply it right after I wash the car and get the paint cleaned up good. Apply the sealant per directions and after it sets 30 min apply my wax.

Adam's Polishes - Adam's Quick Sealant

Note: really need to fol directions good. It also really helps to have the paint clayed prior to applying any type of sealant.

[JoeC1947]

Originally Posted by GaryW

Love Bugs are a pain all around.. But if you keep your car clean and a coat of good wax on the front areas and mirrors where the bugs hit the most, that will help when you wash them off. You do not always have to use dawn on them. Remember you are stripping the wax off when doing that. Then you will need to rewax the area to protect again.
Once love Bug season starts, I keep a good coat of wax and I also apply a spray sealant on the front, then I also keep the car washed to get the bug guts off. Here is a link to the sealant. I usually apply it right after I wash the car and get the paint cleaned up good. Apply the sealant per directions and after it sets 30 min apply my wax.

Adam's Polishes - Adam's Quick Sealant

Note: really need to fol directions good. It also really helps to have the paint clayed prior to applying any type of sealant.

This looks like the best solution to me. I ordered a kit today. Thanks GW!

[GaryW]

Originally Posted by JoeC1947

This looks like the best solution to me. I ordered a kit today. Thanks GW!

No problem. I hate Love Bugs as much as the next person. On thing I noticed, is that when I wash my truck which is silver, no bugs around. If I wash the white car and use the blower to blow off excess water, the love bugs come out the wood work like fire ants onto the car..

[JoeC1947]

Originally Posted by GaryW

No problem. I hate Love Bugs as much as the next person. On thing I noticed, is that when I wash my truck which is silver, no bugs around. If I wash the white car and use the blower to blow off excess water, the love bugs come out the wood work like fire ants onto the car..

It's the exhaust from the blower. Ever notice how the love bugs hang around the golf cart tunnels. it's the exhaust from the gas carts that attracts them...another reason to go electric! WATCH OUT!!!!!!

[jblum315]

Just like spiders are attracted to gas grills and gum up the works

[eremite06]

I'm going to try RejeX. It's an ultra-slick polymer, like liquid wax. You can use it on painted surfaces, glass, metal, gel coat and acrylics. I put it on the front cap of my fifth wheel. Will put it on the full front of my truck, including the windshield. You can buy it retail at True Value Hardware. $21.39 w/tax for 16 0z. It does keep the diesel exhaust stain off the rear quarter panel of my truck.

Saw it advertized in Trailer Life magazine.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by eremite06

I'm going to try RejeX. ......

Here's a link to the product's company web site:

RejeX

Bill

[thekeithfan]

Originally Posted by scrapple

I'm pretty sure I had my first sighting today. I thought the Love Bugs weren't due to arrive for another few weeks. I don't think it's very considerate of them to come early.
I'm concerned about the damage to the auto, because it is getting a lot of road time. What to do?
I've heard there is some spray concoction for sale at the Marion market? Has anyone tried it? Is it designed to prevent sticking or clean them off after?

Don't waste your time and money love bugs come off with Simple Green and a soft brush. Wet the front of the car down and spray the simple green on let soak a little. Cheap and easy....

[looneycat]

water and a little cheap dish soap applied with a bit of elbow grease works well as soon as one returns from a drive on the thruway. driving around the villages itself produces few stuck bugs if you drive the speed limit, golf carts are virtually unaffected,

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by TV-4-2

1. Having never driven through these bugs, we would like to know if running the car through a car wash gets them off, IF done immediately when done driving?
2. Does either a "brushless" or a "brush-type" car wash work?
Thanks for any help with this, since I think they will be "bugging" us.

A year or so ago, we had a very bad season of love bugs and I was driving down to Sarasota to see my dad. Literally, I had to go through a car wash on my way down and on my way back to get the bugs off my windshield. I could not see while I was driving. Yes, they came off right away but it was so bad, had to do it twice in one trip. Not pleasant. Seems that when you drive locally, its not as bad, but when your on the freeways is when you really get hit. These were car washes connected with the gas stations, not anything fancy, just necessary.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Many cleaners and dish soaps/dishwashing liquids will strip the wax/paint protection from your vehicle, even when they're used in diluted form. Always best to re-apply some type of paint protection after doing this type of cleaning.

JMHO

Bill

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by CarGuys

And immediately at night when it is cool do a " Face Wash with Dawn and warm water. This will have to be evening ritual unitl the critters are gone. Bill is 100% correct on the radiator and more important AC condensor. The hood will have to come up and fresh water hosed from inside the engine compartment toward the outside grill to rinse them off.

In reading the Water Restriction thread, it says that cars can only be washed once a week. I've never been in TV in Lovebug Season. Do cars have to be washed daily?

[rodie]

In southern Florida, like Fort Myers, the car washes offered a spray of car wax to help protect against love bugs. First question, are there car washes around TV and if so, do they offer such a car wax?

[GaryW]

People you are making this way more difficult than it needs to be.
If you keep you car clean with some wax on it the bugs will wash off,,

Do not let them sit on your car for weeks

If you can not wash the car, have someone else do it, or hit a car wash

If you use regular detergent like Dawn, it will strip alot of the wax off your car, if you have any on it. So reapply some wax to it and not just any spay glaze you find will work.

Here is a link to a scrubby that works wonders. It feels like it would scratch the living nightmare out of your car, but if you dip it in the bucket with car wash and wash the front of the car it eats the bugs off. It will not hurt your car or cart as long as you keep it soapy. I use it on every car I detail unless there has been a recent paint correction job done.

Safe Scrub Bug & Tar Pad can be used on glass, chrome, vinyl, fiberglass, paint and clearcoats—100% safe when used with soapy water.

IF you wash and wax the car and keep it cleaned during the bug season, no problems at all.