What is insect etching on car paint?

Also calledBug Guts, Bug marks, Dried Insect Parts, Insect secretion

Squashed insects can mark paint. Some insect residue turns acidic within a day. Cleaned off before it has baked in the sun for a day or two, it leaves no lasting damage.

What kind of repair does it need?

A machine polish, if it has marked the paint. The clear coat is cut back to the bottom of the marks and levelled. Light marks come out fully. Deeper damage means painting the area.

Class of work Machine polishing, or a refinish where it has etched deep.

How long it sat decides it. Caught early, it is a polish on one area. Left long enough to bite past what the clear coat can give, the panel is painted instead.

What to do next

Book a detailer. The real fix is timing. Get insects off within a day or two, especially in summer. After a country or highway trip, a bug wash is worth more than any polish later.

Sources

  1. Standoxpaint makerLight defects can be removed by polishing
  2. UF/IFASuniversitymacerated lovebugs are about neutral with a pH of 6.5 but become acidic at 4.25 within 24 hours
  3. OCD Car Careproduct sellerBug Guts and Lovebugs are topical contaminants with the ability to create below surface paint defects (etching) if not removed ASAP.
  4. PPG GBpaint makerDewax the affected area, flat lightly, compound and polish, repeating if necessary
  5. Sherwin-Williams Automotivepaint makerSand and featheredge damaged areas to remove chips, then refinish

Not sure what your car damage is?

Point your phone at it, or describe it. The answer in seconds, $8 AUD.

Check it

Related

What is bird dropping etching on car paint? Bird waste is acidic and eats into clear coat when left on hot paint. Learn how to identify etching and how it is repaired. What are water spots on car paint? White chalky circles left when water dries on paint are mineral deposits that can etch the clear coat. Learn how to remove them. What does concrete do to car paint? Concrete and render splashes are alkaline and burn into clear coat as they cure. Learn how to remove them before they etch.
← All damage types
Check it