Tesla Wash After Bug Attack

[bayx]

If you get a lot of bugs smashed on to your MX, how quickly should you wash them off? Does the so called 'soft' paint on Teslas get really damaged if bugs and bird droppings are not washed off within hours?

If anyone has recommendations on places that can wash Teslas in the Central Valley of CA (Folsom, Merced and Fresno), please post. Thanks.

 

[Peteski]

Get your Tesla ceramic coated and then you don't have to worry about such things and they clean off much easier too.

IME public car washes are 100x more damaging to your paintwork than any bugs will be! There's nothing worse than a high powered jet wash fired at a distance of 2 mm from your bodywork, followed by a gritty sponge and then a good buffing up with some random dirty rag!

 

[teethdood]

Why can't Tesla include the ceramic coating after painting? I don't imagine it's a lot more work to do so. A nice shiny easy to clean Tesla is a better "advertisement" than a dirty one.

 

[Peteski]

Why can't Tesla include the ceramic coating after painting? I don't imagine it's a lot more work to do so. A nice shiny easy to clean Tesla is a better "advertisement" than a dirty one.

Because ceramic coating is typically an aftermarket product. Some other manufacturers (or dealers actually) offer it as part of their pre-delivery prep at an inflated cost and often badly applied - doing it properly is a full day's work. I prefer that Tesla leave it to the customer to get it done properly by specialist detailers and some people prefer just to wax their paint instead or get the whole thing wrapped, in which case ceramic coating is not required.

Ceramic coating doesn't keep your car shiny and clean either, it just makes it easier to clean and protects against damage from bugs, bird poop and other surface crap.

 

[Yinn]

Ceramic coating also wears off with time. Imagine the warranty claims...

But the answer is as soon as possible. They become permanent if you wait too long.

 

[jboy210]

Bird droppings can eat into a car's finish quickly. I waited a week to clean my BMW X3 and never got some of the outlines of the bird droppings off. One of the reasons I went for white instead of black on the X.

 

[dzmconstr]

If you get a lot of bugs smashed on to your MX, how quickly should you wash them off? Does the so called 'soft' paint on Teslas get really damaged if bugs and bird droppings are not washed off within hours?

If anyone has recommendations on places that can wash Teslas in the Central Valley of CA (Folsom, Merced and Fresno), please post. Thanks.

I laugh every time I hear "soft paint". Anyone knowledgeable know what paint Tesla uses? Is it clear coated?
Dzm

 

[jboy210]

I laugh every time I hear "soft paint". Anyone knowledgeable know what paint Tesla uses? Is it clear coated?
Dzm

There are 3 parts to the paint. A base primer, color coat, and then clear coat on top.

 

[Mine GO BOOM]

Happened to be driving at twilight during the early summer. Didn't get a chance to fully wash the car until a week later since we were on a trip, but I did take some windshield cleaner to it in the morning with a towel. There is no evidence of this appearing on the paint at all. You should be fine as long as you get most of the nasty stuff off soonish.

 

[BLKMDL3]

View attachment 361665

Happened to be driving at twilight during the early summer. Didn't get a chance to fully wash the car until a week later since we were on a trip, but I did take some windshield cleaner to it in the morning with a towel. There is no evidence of this appearing on the paint at all. You should be fine as long as you get most of the nasty stuff off soonish.

Where the HELL DID THAT HAPPEN?

 

[dzmconstr]

Where the HELL DID THAT HAPPEN?

...and don't do that again............

 

[Brian's ReX]

If you stare at that bug-riddled bumper long enough... it looks like the opening scene in Star Wars

 

[Brian's ReX]

Ceramic coating doesn't keep your car shiny and clean either, it just makes it easier to clean and protects against damage from bugs, bird poop and other surface crap.

99% agree with this. IME, ceramic coating seems to 'repel' dirt to a degree... ergo, it kinda 'does' keep it shiny and clean - but it's more accurate if we add the word 'longer' at the end of the statement.

I'm a clean freak (just ask the Mrs.), and was constantly washing my cars. Since my ceramic is 'repelling' dirt/grime, I only have to wash my MX every week instead of every day!

 

[jboy210]

View attachment 361665

Happened to be driving at twilight during the early summer. Didn't get a chance to fully wash the car until a week later since we were on a trip, but I did take some windshield cleaner to it in the morning with a towel. There is no evidence of this appearing on the paint at all. You should be fine as long as you get most of the nasty stuff off soonish.

Growing up in the Central Valley of California this car looks like every car I saw in the Spring and Early summer that was driven on the West side of the valley, like near I-5.

 

[teethdood]

View attachment 361665

Happened to be driving at twilight during the early summer. Didn't get a chance to fully wash the car until a week later since we were on a trip, but I did take some windshield cleaner to it in the morning with a towel. There is no evidence of this appearing on the paint at all. You should be fine as long as you get most of the nasty stuff off soonish.

You really shouldn't be driving that close to Chernobyl

 

[Peteski]

99% agree with this. IME, ceramic coating seems to 'repel' dirt to a degree... ergo, it kinda 'does' keep it shiny and clean - but it's more accurate if we add the word 'longer' at the end of the statement.

I'm a clean freak (just ask the Mrs.), and was constantly washing my cars. Since my ceramic is 'repelling' dirt/grime, I only have to wash my MX every week instead of every day!

I tend to agree. When it rains, the coating helps the rain to wash off some of the dirt already there. But ultimately I still have to clean it, unfortunately! But for me a good ceramic coating is a much more convenient solution than regular waxing. If it lasts for 2-3 years I'll be happy for the price paid. After a year it's holding up nicely and water still beads up beautifully. Cleaning is considerably easier too, so would recommend it to anyone. Only caveat is to get it done by someone very reputable as prep is everything with these things. Also there are various qualities of ceramic coating, some harder wearing than others.

 

[Shock-On-T]

Wash them off within 12 months.
I find 2017 bugs were a particularly sticky vintage.

 

[xyeahtony]

There have been videos online comparing the paint thickness of Tesla vs porsche, BMW, MB, Ford, etc. Whatever "soft" means, Tesla does not have any thinner paint than other cars.