Going on a road trip...

**nonwelder** · 06-07-2007, 11:24 PM

Getting a new black magic GTI in a few days and will be going on a road trip next weekend. I am going to give it a full workup before I go....but...what would you suggest to help keep bugs from doing damage? I can clean it after I arrive, at least the front. Maybe some QEW in a spray bottle? Bug Squash? Any help is great!

**mblgjr** · 06-07-2007, 11:42 PM

Don`t laugh...it WORKS...

Get a roll or two of 3M painters/masking tape. Blue or green, doesn`t matter....tape up the front of the car like you would a bra. Keeps bugs and rock chips at bay.

Otherwise just wax the front real well. QEW or ONR in a bottle would do well too, just clean it when you arrive.

**todd@bsaw** · 06-08-2007, 12:02 AM

Like this?

Seriously though, I spend a lot of time with the car show crowd and tons of guys do this on the way to a show but I`ve never seen it used for a simple road trip. I suggest just what mblqjr did. Good coat of wax and bring a "bug kit" with you.

BMP is an excellent color choice, btw!

**ruining** · 06-08-2007, 12:04 AM

How long do you think before they start really having problems with residue baking onto the finish?

I really like the aggressive headlight covers on that VW, btw. Classy!

**Accumulator** · 06-08-2007, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by ruining

How long do you think before they start really having problems with residue baking onto the finish?

Bad luck- Last summer I left bugs on the S8 from Thursday until Tuesday. Got minor etching that I had to polish out.

Better luck- My wife just got back from a long trip (over a week and many miles), and the coat of #16 I applied before she left protected things just fine. A quick claying of the leading edges with Sonus green and all was well. But then her front bumper cover is needng another repaint again anyhow

Still, the bugs on the hood didn`t leave any etching.

I just accept it either way; I`m not gonna try to remove most such contamination as I`d probably just cause some marring anyhow and, well, I don`t spend my trips/vacations worrying about the vehicle. Guess that`s more of my Autopian Heresy, but at some point any vehicle is just transportation to me and as the museum curator said: "real cars have stonechips" (or bug etching

).

If you do use something to clean them off, I`d make sure it won`t strip your LSP. If that happened, you`d be unprotected for the rest of the trip.

**nonwelder** · 06-08-2007, 10:50 AM

I`m thinking I will get to the bugs as soon as I get to my destination with some ONR. Shouldn`t be a problem. Any experience as to which protects from bugs better...Nuba or Sealant? I am using DG 105 on the car, which I think is pretty darn tough.

**awahl63** · 06-08-2007, 10:57 AM

Definately a thick carnauba against Bugs...I find that bugs etched through sealants much much quicker than a good nuba

**bulgingtwine** · 06-08-2007, 11:11 AM

i just had a 1400 mile road trip this past weekend. i had put a couple coats of P21s on it before i left. had some quick detailer with me, sprayed up the bugs, l;et it sit for a min of two, and they wiped right off. sooner you get them the better. i washed it the following day anyway, but even a wet towel, let it sit on bug splats for a min or two, and that wipes them right off as well.

**Accumulator** · 06-08-2007, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by awahl63

Definately a thick carnauba against Bugs...I find that bugs etched through sealants much much quicker than a good nuba

That sorta goes along with my experiences- the UPPed S8 got etched but the #16ed A8 did not. But then there are so many variables....

**audicoupej** · 06-08-2007, 11:31 AM

The tape works well: http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/...or-56k-no.html

I did it in colder weather and it cleaned up easy. In warmer weather you might have more residue, but 50/50 ipa/water should remove it.

**NSXTASY** · 06-08-2007, 11:39 AM

Duplicolor makes a spray product called "SHIELD" that I have used with good results. It`s a clear spray. You mask off the area you want sprayed and give it a few coats. I did my mirrors, front bumper, and a strip on my hood and roof. It worked, and the stuff comes off with soap and water + scrubbing.

Alternatively, you *could* put on a coat of carnuba and just not buff it off I guess.

**bjackson8** · 06-08-2007, 12:14 PM

I usually put a couple of coats of Collinte 476S on all of the bug prone areas before a long road trip. When I get to my destination, I go the local coin-op and spray the bugs off.

I`m with Accumulator on this one, I don`t obsess about the car when I`m on vacation. Just clean it up good when I get home. It`s guranteed that the interior will look 10 times worse than the exterior anyway (kids).

**mikelea4ever** · 06-08-2007, 12:22 PM

Just make sure you bring a QD bottle and MF towel. I agree with the idea that as soon you would take care of those bugs the better. So whenever you pulled in in a rest area, bring out your QD and towel. That should take care of your problem. It works to me when I go in a roadtrip so I hope it would on you too. Have a good time!!!