Volcanic ash and your paintwork....

[robsangster]

Ok chaps I know we are all fed up of hearing about the stuff and apologies if someone has posted and i missed it, but....
I've neglected my Cabriolet for a while (it's white) and this evening I finally got around to cleaning her.

Having whisked around I was aware that the detrius coming off was most definitely a different colour to normal, but I didnt pay too much attention. However once the foaming was over and much rinsing (not knowing how likely the stuff was to scratch the paint) I was most alarmed to notice millions - yep no exaggeration, of tiny rust coloured dots all over the upper most facing areas. Panic set in as I gently rubbed a small area and nothing happened and I wondered if it had 'burned' in. I have since calmed as a mild paint renovator has done the job, however intially i was very worried I must say!

I can only assume that the millions of dust particals that are from said volcano contain iron and it had started to rust. I VERY much doubt if my car was anything other than white I would have noticed, given that this was a wash and not a detailing exercise - but no joke she was absolutely covered. Tiny being anythning from a pinprick to say 1/4 mil in diameter (approx). I have no idea if these would be detrimental if left but all I can say is a decent coat of Zymol wax will be going on tomorrow and I will be keeping an eye from now on. If your car is outside regularly and a painted a darker shade - you might be advised to have a closer look at the very least and maybe do as I did?

Again can't pretend I have any idea if left this would have caused damage, but given all the other nasty stuff that's in that dust... im not sure I'd want to leave it and find out!
My last 'glass out paint' cost me 4k so all I can say is- you've been warned!!

 

[Alexw]

yeah I've noticed that myself. My car has been up on axle stands for a few days while I source a slide hammer to do the rear bearing - it looks minging now! Its covered in dust in patches where the rain has dried.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Me too - we've all got white ones so maybe its easier to see.
Mike

 

[Northern924]

Oh hell I better be careful after I drop mine off the stands on later this week, will need a wash and polish after it comes back from its retest!

 

[smiffyraf1]

I had the same on mine after it had rained then been really hot and sunny the next day had 5p piece sized yellow splodges all over which would not shift at all. Ended up having to use some pretty course polish to shift them, took forever. ive got paint protection stuff on mine but it had seemed to eat into it not sure the effect it would have on bare paint/laquer

 

[Pastry]

i know i pap on about auto balm, but did mine a few weeks ago and all this dust hasn't stuck at all despite being dried on pretty much every day.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

I use Turtle wax Ice and I've had no problems just rinsing it off.
Mike