Dealing with Love Bugs

With all the discussion about how crappy/thin the Toyota paint is these days (I doubt it's any better with the other manufacturers), what's the safest thing to use to prevent love bugs from sticking? Some folks use WD40, others PAM cooking spray to name a couple. Is there any reason why this stuff would have a detrimental effect on the paint?

Any other ideas?

 

Wax your truck with liquid ice, meguiars hybrid ceramic, or something like that after you wash and next time you hit a bug it will wash off easy

 

Keeping a good coat of wax, and a quick wash of the front end every evening during the season(s) has always worked for me.
I've heard of the Pam trick, but having lived the better part of my life in Florida, I've never met a soul that actually used the method.

I would NOT use WD-40.

 

Wash or rinse often and don't let them bake on.

That's it. That's the best you can do.

No matter what you put on it's not gonna really do shit when you drive thru plague levels of insects every fucking day.

 

Wax with worfgang deep gloss.

And whenever I see bugs/bird poop I wipe off with meguiars ultimate waterless car wash.

 

If they are truly love bugs, KY gel.

 

Meguiars hybrid ceramic wax. Be sure to check out some youtube how to vids to understand the difference in applying the intitial coat verses subsequent coats.

You can stickbwet paper towels to areas where the bugs have stuck to soften things up so you dont have to scrub. Id say no to pam or wd40. Wd40 works well for tar though.

 

Like was repeatedly stated here, keep that paint protected under wax or what I have used since the 80s-sealant glaze. I use hot water...plain hot water applied with a micro fiber rag to easily and safely remove bugs. Bugs are mostly protein and will simply melt off with gentle coaxing with hot water.
BTW when I wash my vehicles, I always use hot water in the soap bucket and with the rinse. I've done this forever and my 18 year old Tacoma proves with its newness that mine is a good practice. I do it on my Lexus too and that one, naturally, looks better than when I bought it new in '16.

 

I also wash off the targeted areas every evening when I get home. I've heard that you have about 48 hours before the acid in their bodies begins to permanently discolor the paint. I've also heard that water and dryer sheets (fabric softener) will remove them quite easily. I just get out there after getting home and in 15 minutes or so the old bucket of Meguiar's wash does the trick.

 

Keep the forward-facing areas waxed and clean frequently. I have my favorite waxes, like everyone else, but keeping a good coat of whatever on there will make a huge difference.

I keep some quick-detailer and a rag with me so I can wipe stuff off when I get where I am going. Even a spray bottle of clean water would do the trick. I don't do this every time I stop somewhere, but not letting the bugs sit very long is the key to not letting their corpses etch your paint and to getting them cleaned off easily.

 

Hey all that deal with the love bug invasions, and others in other states that deal wi seasonal big problems.
I am doing an experiment on my 2014 Tacoma that you may be interested in. I purchased a few cans of Rust-Oleum Peel Coat. A peelable rubber coating. I taped off the lights, and side panels And then put a coat across my compleye front. Since this comes in multiple colors I was able to closely match my truck color. Not dificultwith a black truck. I will keep you posted on how well it works.
Figured I would Peel it off in a month and see how it worked.
Keys I think are to have a clean waxed surface to start. It's also important to remove the Peel Coat before six months have passed.

 

So is that their name for plasti dip?

If so, that may be the best idea for use, ever

 

How about road warrior plus coating?

 

I feel your pain. Was going from Melbourne to Holopaw down US 192 to look at property on Sunday and it was CLOUDS of them. Whole front of my car was black. Only thing that helped was a huge rain after and it was spotless. I have heard dryer sheets work great recently but would do some research as I haven't tried it. Some swear by it. Growing up, my dad always laid towels on the front end and dumped boiling water on them. Was a slow process but seemed to work..

 

Go get your truck a clear bra and a pair of panties for yourself

 

I tried the dryer sheet but my taco was too big for our dryer so I don't know if it really works.

 

Move to Colorado, we dont have bugs...

 

His and Hers or just his because they're selfish?

 

I just get used to a daily front end wash during their season, which is not long. Maybe for 2-3 weeks they are at their worst. I don’t drive on the highway daily so it’s not a huge factor. Just freshen your wax/paint sealant coat on the leading edge surfaces in the spring and end of summer (bumper, bottom of hood, front of roof, mirrors) and rainx your windshield. Once you do that, they come off with minimal scrubbing with car wash.

Lived in Central Florida 97% of my life, you just get used to them. I just hit the front end when I’m done for the day before I put it in the garage. A nuisance for a couple weeks but it’s worth your paint because 2-3 days in the sun is all it takes to pit your paint, they are extremely acidic.

If you think the truck is bad you should see the nose of my jet after a morning arrival to really any airport in Florida......I get a lot of odd looks from the terminal hanging out the side window scrubbing the windshield with a bottle of water and some drink napkins