Getting Your Car Ready for a Kiwi Summer

UV, bugs, sap and salt: what to deal with before the season starts

Summer means more driving, more time parked outside, and more of the things that are hard on a car: strong UV, bugs, sap, bird droppings, hot tar and salt air. None of it is hard to manage, but it’s much easier to protect a car before damage starts than to correct it in autumn.

Here’s a practical rundown of what to watch for and what to do about it.

UV: paint, plastics and interior

New Zealand’s summer sun is intense, and it works on every surface of your car.

• Paint. UV breaks down the clear coat over time, which leads to fading and a dull, chalky finish, especially on flat panels like the roof and bonnet. A wax, sealant or ceramic-based spray adds a protective layer to take that wear. Apply it after a wash, and reapply as the product label recommends.

• Exterior plastics and rubber. Unpainted trim fades to grey. A trim dressing with UV protection brings back colour and slows the fading.

• Interior. Dashboards, vinyl and leather dry out and crack in the heat. Use a sunshade when parked, a UV-protectant dressing on the dash and door trims, and a conditioner on leather seats. Park in the shade when you can.

Bugs

Insect remains are acidic, and the sun bakes them onto the paint, so they get harder to remove each day. Remove them the same day if you can.

Lay a wet microfibre cloth over the area, or use a bug remover, and give it a few minutes to soften the residue. Then wipe gently. Never scrub it dry. The front bumper, bonnet edge, mirrors and the base of the windscreen are the usual trouble spots.

Tree sap, pollen and bird droppings

Sap hardens as it dries, and bird droppings are acidic enough to mark paint if they’re left, particularly in the heat.

Soften first by laying a wet microfibre over the spot for a minute or two, then lift it off rather than wiping it dry. For stubborn sap, use a dedicated remover on a cloth. Avoid using a fingernail. Where you can, avoid parking under trees that drop sap or berries.

Road tar

On hot days, fresh chipseal can soften and flick tar onto lower panels, sills and wheel arches. A tar remover on a microfibre cloth will dissolve it. Wash the area afterwards and re-apply protection, as tar removers can also strip wax or sealant from that spot.

Salt air and beach trips

Salt speeds up corrosion on exposed metal, and you don’t need to park on the sand to pick it up, as coastal air is enough. After a beach trip or time on coastal roads, rinse the underbody, wheel arches and lower panels with fresh water, then give the car a full wash within the next few days.

A weekend summer prep checklist

• Wash and dry the car properly (our two-bucket guide covers how)

• Spot-treat any tar, sap or bug residue

• Apply a wax, sealant or ceramic-based spray to the paint

• Dress the exterior plastic and rubber trim

• Protect the dash and vinyl, and condition any leather

• Keep a sunshade in the car

• Keep a small spray bottle of water and a clean microfibre cloth in the boot for bird droppings and bugs on the road

Where to find the gear

Logan Distribution is the Official NZ Distributor of Chemical Guys.

Chemical Guys car care is available through selected retail partners, including Repco and Supercheap Auto.

Check our Where To Buy page to find stockists.