Bird crap warning UK

[Clive]

We all are aware that birdy poo is liable to
cause damage to the paint and should be removed
as soon as possible.
I have discovered the following...to my cost...
#1 Seagull crap from coastal birds (not the inland
scavengers) is full of sand and does an excellent
job as an abrasive which I found out after having
to rub quite hard to remove a big splatter following
a trip to the beach...and that's after soaking
with warm water and detergent.
Result...a big dull patch of paintwork plus a few scores...
most of which polished out OK luckily.

#2 Some varieties of birds appear to excrete a mixture
of solvent and acid. One took a dump which landed
on the roof at the back...not easily visible. By the time
I noticed it I had a hole in the paint about an inch square
right down to the primer. The top coats had gone.
I'm trying to fill with paint and cut back to avoid a roof
respray so be warned...bird sh1t is extremely bad news.
Nope, not covered in the warranty.
You'd think that in this day and age the paint technologists
could come up with something better.

--
Clive Norris
02 WRX
Selectron (UK) Ltd
Musical Equipment Distribution
www.espguitars.co.uk
www.espshop.co.uk
www.emgpickups.co.uk
www.emginc.com
www.whirlwindusa.com
www.deanmarkley.com
www.mightymite.com
www.tube-shop.com

 

[Cliff Wright]

Thanks for the tip guys!!
Went out to my Legacy at lunch time and found it had been divebombed by a couple of incontinent
seagulls. Fortunately a wet rag from the workshop cleaned it up really fast!
regards Cliff Wright

 

[H]

You think you have it tough! I work as a coatings and corrosion consultant
to the Canadian Navy at one of their coastal dockyard facilities. My 04
Forester (Black no less) is parked under a constant barrage of seagulls and
ravens. The white on black effect really high-lights the effect. I have to
hose down the car almost daily just to make it pesentable. The hazards of
the job I guess. Next time I will insist on the silver paint I wanted in the
first place.

One thing I have noticed about the foresters paint is that it appears to be
soft, relative to other auto finishes in my experience. Circular rub marks
all over, even though I use the latest specialized automotive cleaning
equipment and products.

Here's a thought on paint colour (as a coatings pro). Black vehicles are
subject to a greater thermal cycling during the UV attack by day (surface
temps to 68C) and then to ambient temp at night (typically 14C). This
stresses the coatings, and all parts for that matter, by continued expansion
and contraction. In contrast, a light silver or white vehicle may see only
50C in the same conditions. Quite a difference in terms of thermal cycling.
Not only are the extremes more pronounced, the speed of cool to hot cycle is
far more rapid, effectively shock loading the coatings.

 

[hippo]

Hmmm.. reminds me of a friend in Australia who parked his pride and joy
Bilstein Liberty (Legacy) on a headland to admire the view and realised
when he came back that he'd left the doors open. Then he realised that the
pelican INSIDE the vehicle had redecorated the entire dashboard and
upholstery a fetching shade of white ... That's not covered by warranty
either, but it did eventually clean up!

 

[Dr. Rastis Fafoofnik]

We all are aware that birdy poo is liable to
cause damage to the paint and should be removed
as soon as possible.
I have discovered the following...to my cost...
#1 Seagull crap from coastal birds (not the inland
scavengers) is full of sand and does an excellent
job as an abrasive which I found out after having
to rub quite hard to remove a big splatter following
a trip to the beach...and that's after soaking
with warm water and detergent.
Result...a big dull patch of paintwork plus a few scores...
most of which polished out OK luckily.

#2 Some varieties of birds appear to excrete a mixture
of solvent and acid. One took a dump which landed
on the roof at the back...not easily visible. By the time
I noticed it I had a hole in the paint about an inch square
right down to the primer. The top coats had gone.
I'm trying to fill with paint and cut back to avoid a roof
respray so be warned...bird sh1t is extremely bad news.
Nope, not covered in the warranty.
You'd think that in this day and age the paint technologists
could come up with something better.

High quality paint there I see......Earl Schieb would be proud.