There are certain things on Earth that really don’t make too much sense. For example, why does the color of water depend on the color of the sky? Why does it always rain right after washing your car? And of course, why are bugs and birds attracted to a freshly detailed ride?
There are many things that just don’t make logical sense – but simply “happen.” Having your car covered with sticky stuff like road tar and bug guts are two of those unexpected and non-planned situations.
Most car damage like chips, stains, or scratches are sourced by contaminants that are acidic, strong base pH, and are hard. Bugs typically check all these boxes, which is why they can cause havoc on your paint, front grille, bumper, and headlights.
Bugs like flies, grasshoppers, butterflies, moths, and others typically strike your vehicle at speeds higher than 40 mph. The speed of the impact, plus the gentle nature of the bugs composition often leads to a splatter of internal acids, toxins, and other sticky stuff.

As these substances stick on your ride, the acids and toxins go to work on eating away at the clear coating, or other protective layers.
A bug’s internals are not as acidic as tree sap or bird waste, but they can be difficult to remove.
The longer they remain on your vehicle, the more damage can be done. The same thing applies to road tar. Initially, it’s going to simply stick to your paint, but the longer it stays there, the aggressive chemicals in tar will start to eat away.
Whether due to the impact or being stuck on the surface, bug guts and tar stains can lead to the following damage.
Stains: Bug guts contain acids. So does road tar. When these acids stay on the vehicle for more than a day or two, it will go to work and begin to eat away at the surface area. With car paint, or specifically clear coats, the acids can leave paint stains, which basically etch into the paint surface.
Headlights and plastic parts (such as those on a bumper or grille pieces) can also stain. The only way to remove these stains is through paint correction using a cutting compound and polishing cloth.

Chips: There are some instances when a bug impact will cause a chip in the surface. This happens frequently on the bumper, grille, or plastic parts on the front end. This typically happens with large flying beetles, as they have hard shells that can chip the surface before splattering.
HOW TO REMOVE TAR AND BUG GUTS?
When a bug decides to prematurely terminate its life via impaling itself onto your front end or windshield, it creates a messy splatter. If you continue driving down the highway, it’ll take a few minutes to dry. Tar can likewise dry on your car within an hour. At this point, the bond is solidly connected to an unprotected surface.
A Clay Mitt or Clay Bar

When tar and bug splatters are dried, it’s very tricky to remove. To do so, you’ll have to find a way to slowly break away that bond and the substance to reduce the potential of scratching.
A great and safe way to accomplish this is to use a clay mitt or clay bar. The small clay particles on a clay mitt or a clay bar grasp onto the surface and do a great job of removing those hard to move and microscopic imperfections found in those hard to remove areas.
Paint Protection Film or Clear Bra

Paint Protection Film is also called PPF. It’s an exceptionally durable and strong polymer material that is applied to the clear coat, headlights, even plastic bumper, or a grille.
A PPF that is applied to just the front end of the vehicle is called a clear bra. They are applied by professional detailers and certified PPF installation centers.
The great thing about PPF is that it can protect your vehicle from small rocks, tree branches and other hard items that cause scratching or chip paint.
There are some amazing PPF products that include nanotechnology that permits any scratches or dents to instantly heal in a matter of seconds.
Most professional PPF’s have self-healing properties, but they require heat or professional detailers to repair.
However, the con of PPF is that it’s not very hydrophobic, meaning that bugs and tar can stick to the coating. There are PPF’s out there that include a top coating that makes it easier to remove that sticky stuff.
Ceramic Coating

The other professionally-engineered product that makes removing bug splatters simple is a coating.
For those not aware, a ceramic coating is a highly concentrated liquid that is infused with Silicon Dioxide or SiO2 and other ingredients.
It utilizes nanotechnology to fill minor imperfections found in all porous surfaces – including the clear coat on your paint.
As it hardens, it produces an exceptionally flat layer of protection that makes the surface ultra-slippery – or hydrophobic. This makes it difficult for things to stick – even bug guts and tar residue.
Bugs and road tar are just a way of life folks. There isn’t anything we can do to completely remove the potential of this sticky stuff from landing on our precious rides.
However, being proactive by applying a clear bra or coating will help you improve the process of removing this stuff.
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