Dried on insect debris removal from PPF

Dried on insect debris removal from PPF

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Discussion

T1berious

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

162 months

Thursday 14th September 2023
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Good morning,

I'm hoping someone here can help. A recent road trip to Spain has the front of the car plastered with insect debris, I did what I could while out there's only so much you can do. High temps didn't help.

Anyway, I've tried Gyeon q2m bar and grime remover and done my regular foam and 2 bucket wash but there's still marks on the PPF.

Is there any recommended products that are tough on bug residue but work with PPF?

Cheers in advance,

T1b

SteBrown91

2,569 posts

136 months

Thursday 14th September 2023
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Are you sure its not the ppf thats been damaged that you are seeing, and just needs to be "self healed"? Rather than something still stuck to it?

Ultimately baked on bugs need mechanical cleaning to get off, so you will need to get in there with a sponge witg a bug remover net thing on the back.

T1berious

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

162 months

Thursday 14th September 2023
quotequote all
I think it's the left over marks from the bugs as I'm still seeing marks on the headlight housings.

I'm hoping the rain over the next few days "loosens" things up.

Failing that, I'll give it another going over with a more soapy solution.

Fingers crossed

SteBrown91

2,569 posts

136 months

Thursday 14th September 2023
quotequote all
Normally with bugs ive got most off by coating the front of the car (dry) in a strong citrus APC mix, then layering over snowfoam over the top, then jetwash, and generally anything that still sticks doesn't take too much effort at the wash phase.

T1berious

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

162 months

Thursday 14th September 2023
quotequote all
SteBrown91 said:
Normally with bugs ive got most off by coating the front of the car (dry) in a strong citrus APC mix, then layering over snowfoam over the top, then jetwash, and generally anything that still sticks doesn't take too much effort at the wash phase.
That sounds like a really good idea, what Citrus APC do you use? Only APC I've got handy is Surfex HD.

somouk

1,425 posts

205 months

Thursday 14th September 2023
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Infinity Wax insect strip or a strong Citrus mix should sort it.

I use a similar technique to above, let it sit for a bit and not in sunlight.

T1berious

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

162 months

Thursday 14th September 2023
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Cheers chaps, I'll order up some Citrus APC

Belle427

9,737 posts

240 months

Thursday 14th September 2023
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Surfex HD is one of the best APCs around.

SteBrown91

2,569 posts

136 months

Friday 15th September 2023
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T1berious said:
That sounds like a really good idea, what Citrus APC do you use? Only APC I've got handy is Surfex HD.
Ive never got on with surfex tbh - used it a few times and didnt think it was as good as a citrus one for exterior grime and bug removal.

I have autobrite direct's citrus but tbh most are broadly similar - I just mix them up nice and strong (circa 20% concentrate to water)

RGG

409 posts

24 months

Friday 15th September 2023
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Whatever liquid agent you decide to use;

Soak it into a microfibre cloth and drape onto the affected areas - this results in far superior cleaning but also takes the pressure off yourself to get the job done before the product can fully do it's thing.

Leave it to soak for some time, no need to rush it now.

This will greatly help the process.

Possibly do this on a test area first if it's a product you've not used on your PPF before.


roscopervis

353 posts

154 months

Monday 18th September 2023
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With PPF, it’s important to follow the manufacturers instructions. Surfex HD is excellent as an APC, but it is often used at too strong a mix as it is extremely powerful and is a degreaser essentially, not a bug remover, so using a dedicated but gentle bug remover would be the best step.

As someone has mentioned, let the product soak under a microfibre so you don’t need to exert pressure to remove. The bug guts are acidic so they may etch the PPF. If so, some gentle heat should bring the uniformity back.


T1berious

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

162 months

Monday 18th September 2023
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Cheers for the advice, I'm going to give that a go. Now have the citrus APC so will be going over it if I have a window later on.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers

T1b

T1berious

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

162 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
OK.. an update...

Mixed up some Citrus APC, Soaked some disposable microfiber cloths and gave the area a misting and applied on the affected areas. Left it 10 minutes and tried to shift the dried in bug splatter.

There was an affect but not as much as I'd hoped. I'd used the 1:100 ratio as per the instructions but maybe should have gone 10:100.

As I know the next few days are pants weather wise I wanted to get this done and dusted today so cleared of what I could with ONR and had another go but this time with Poor Boys sh*t remover. (I got this for bird splatter).

Soaked a microfiber and got to work, this turned out to be really affective especially on the headlight covers.

Got rid of 99% of the splatter marks. Think I'll try again after the next dry spell.

But really pleased and wanted to thank you for the advice.

Hopefully, going at it again with a higher ration Citrus apc will give better results as the Poor boys is kind of emergency use only and left in the car for that reason!

Cheers,

T1b

SteBrown91

2,569 posts

136 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
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T1berious said:
OK.. an update...

Mixed up some Citrus APC, Soaked some disposable microfiber cloths and gave the area a misting and applied on the affected areas. Left it 10 minutes and tried to shift the dried in bug splatter.

There was an affect but not as much as I'd hoped. I'd used the 1:100 ratio as per the instructions but maybe should have gone 10:100.

T1berious

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

162 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
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SteBrown91 said:
Lolz