From: sew@philabs.philips.com (Scott E. Wakeman)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech
Subject: bird Stains, oh s*&t!
Date: 31 Jul 92 17:57:23 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Philips Laboratories, Briarcliff, New York


>I washed my new car (6 months old) because it had some tree and bird droppings
>on it.  When I was drying, it looked like I had not washed all the stains off.
>I began to rewash these areas, only to see that the stains *were* gone, but it
>looked as if the outline of the stains were still there.  The area feels smooth
>to the touch, and yet it seems like the "ghosts" of the stains remain *under*
>the clear coat.  Is this possible?  Anyone have any idea what's happening and
>how I can fix this?  Thanks.
>-- 
>Jay Crawford          

>jayc@hubcap.clemson.ed

>well, this is the same that happened to mothers car a few years ago, it
>seems that a big bird decided to use her car for target pratice, and hit
>it right on the nose, about three days later I finally decide towash tht
>car, once I scrub the sh*t off, i find noting but BARE METAL, the birs
>had some VERY acidic sh*t in his system, and took off the paint, sounds
>somewhat like your problem, the only thing youcan really try is getting
>some rubbing compoundand rubbing the area a little and waxing it up real

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^DON'T DO THIS !!!  Never use a rubbing compound on a 
  clearcoat painted surface! This will not only remove the stain, but the
  clearcoat as well! A rubbing compound is VERY abrasive and will scratch
  a clearcoated surface. 

       When I 'detail' a car with a stain such as this, one that has been
 on the surface for a while, I use a pre-wax cleaner that is meant to 
 be used on clearcoats. If that does not work I then try Tar&Bug remover.
 this has the chemicals neccessary and should do the job. Clearcoated
 surfaces must be treated differently than an otherwise normal paint.
 
        Think of a clearcoat this way :
 
                          surface
                         CLEARCOAT   layer  1
                         CLEARCOAT    " "   2
                         CLEARCOAT    " "   3
                         CLEARCOAT    " "   4
                         CLEARCOAT    " "   5
                           COLOR      " "   6
                           COLOR      " "   7
                        sheet metal
 
 Note:   traditional paint is not compatible with clearcoat

>good...the stain did not go under the clear coat, but probably rather
>took off the clear coat...does the area look duller that the surounding
>area?, if so, the clear coat has been removed or thinned out...

 Rule of thumb for protecting the surface of your car should be wash
it twice a month with carwash such a Raindance liquid. Never use 
dishwashing liquid! Dishwashing liquid removes the oils from within the
paint and causes permenant damage short of repainting the whole car.
Also, you should wax the car every two months depending on the severity
of the weather. If you've had two-three heavy rainstorms, most of the 
wax is gone. I recommend a well known wax such as Simoniz liquid wax.
Try to avoid thick liquid waxes as they are harder to remove.

       good luck !

   -----
   scott    (sew@philabs.philips.com)
                                         
Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech