Love Bugs!!!!

[mezzotech]

This does not necessarily pertain to FJ's but I did just purchase my FJ on Friday, May 05 in Baton Rouge. Well on Saturday, May 06, out came the bi-annual flight of the love bug. These useless creatures trashed my brand new FJ in just hours after purchase. In the past we have used those clothes dryer softener sheets. They seem like they may be a little abrasive. What do you local guys do to get rid of them without destroying the paint?

T'D OFF!!!

[ruebarb]

I assume you mean you have bugs guts all over your FJ. I'd wash the FJ and then use a clay bar, it will rub just about anything off the paint. You'll need to re-wax after using the clay bar.

[Rmplstlskn]

Thank God we no longer live in north-central Florida... a Love Bug haven!!!!!

I hate those useless bugs (although supposedly they eat mosquitos, which is a good thing)... They ate up my wifes YELLOW Jeep Wrangler paint.

The key is DAILY WASHING and REMOVAL of their guts!

I wet the guts down about a 1/2 hour before I do the hard work of scrubbing them off, and I keep them wet throughout that 1/2 hour. It softenes the guts up some for easier removal.

I used a sponge covered with a nylon-type, open weave covering. It was like a scouring pad but softer, not damaging. But it still took LOTS of rubbing and eye focus to find all their gut remnants on the paint. Every early evening that was my job...

I also found in the RV section of Walmart a BUG-REMOVER spray that worked VERY WELL. I used that on the worst areas (front grill, front hood, pillars, side mirrors, etc...)

Good luck and I'm glad I'm not you...

Rmpl

[RadoRoo]

+1 on the clay bar. Unless of course the love bugs have been on there a few days already, then the acid in the pieces of **** have already began to break down the paint.

[CajunFJ]

I agree. "The key is DAILY WASHING and REMOVAL of their guts!"

[TGREGG]

Rmplstlskn previously said:

Thank God we no longer live in north-central Florida... a Love Bug haven!!!!!

The key is DAILY WASHING and REMOVAL of their guts!

I used a sponge covered with a nylon-type, open weave covering. It was like a scouring pad but softer, not damaging. But it still took LOTS of rubbing and eye focus to find all their gut remnants on the paint. Every early evening that was my job...

Ditto on both those counts. I use a commercial bug remover and the sponge with nylon weave. You can even get a mitt with that design.

It's never good to leave any bug guts or bird droppings on a vehicle's paint for long.

[PaulThePhotographer]

TGREGG previously said:

Ditto on both those counts. I use a commercial bug remover and the sponge with nylon weave. You can even get a mitt with that design.

It's never good to leave any bug guts or bird droppings on a vehicle's paint for long.

Thats why I always leave a layer of good old Florida Dirt/Clay all over the FJC. j/k lol

[outside guy]

Mi9cro-fiber cloths are the real answer!! No abrasive qualities, by definition. You can spray the remains of the bugs with water and then hit with the cloth OR if they are stubborn, hit'em with Krud Kutter or Mean Green and then with the cloth! Works like a champ when I am down there trout fishing!

[live07fj]

There is also some "Bug and Tar" remover (black bottle at Autozone usually close to glass cleaners and waxes) that works really well with some elbow grease. You spray it on the problem area(s) liberally and let it sit for about 4-5 minutes and wipe off (non-abrasive cloth like everyone has pretty much suggested). Do it ASAP. The acidity of the bug guts will eventually begin to eat away at the paint. The same applies to bird poop . It really loosens the stuck guts well. But I definately feel your pain. I just washed my FJ today and there were about a billion bugs on the front of my ride. BTW down here...we call them "South Alabama F**k Bugs" .

[Bostonian1976]

what are these love bugs you speak of? Like ladybugs?