car cover smears

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Aug 8, 2008 | 06:01 PM

pdege

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 182

Likes: 0

From: Savannah Ga.

car cover smears

I have a couple of cars I keep covers on. When I remove them I can see small smears on the glass and on the paint. They will rub off with a terrycloth towel. The covers are different brands. The smears almost look like raw wax. Search turned up a 2002 post which has been deleted I guess.

What is this car cover poop I'm facing?

Aug 8, 2008 | 06:36 PM

DBL001

Pro

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 661

Likes: 5

From: New Jersey

do you wash and let it dry thoroughly before covering? Also very small specks of tree sap or other contaminate could be the culprit

Aug 8, 2008 | 06:47 PM

hotwheels57

Race Director

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 10,554

Likes: 33

From: Not on either liberal coast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBL001

do you wash and let it dry thoroughly before covering? Also very small specks of tree sap or other contaminate could be the culprit

That's a good point. Never put a car cover over a car that isn't completely clean and dry.
At the very least, if you don't wash it before covering it, at least use a spray detailer to remove the contaminants from the surface.
Could it be from the tires? If you use any type of tire product, that usually wipes off onto the cover in the form of those ugly black rings, which you then drag across your painted surface.
You might need to learn another manner to remove your car cover. I fold up the passenger side and drivers side onto the roof/hood/trunk lid, then roll the front to the back.
Fold dirty side onto dirty side and clean side onto clean side. Fold it on/off in the same manner every time.

Last edited by hotwheels57; Aug 8, 2008 at 06:50 PM.

Aug 8, 2008 | 06:52 PM

DaBoz

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 3,139

Likes: 2

From: Whidbey Island WA

Car cover + dirt = best way to scratch/swirl your paint.

Aug 8, 2008 | 07:40 PM

steve8

Race Director

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 11,069

Likes: 1,289

From: Central Ma

The only time my indoor cover goes on is when it is clean to begin with.
Tire dressing, dirt, weather stripping lube, etc.
All bad.

Aug 8, 2008 | 07:49 PM

pdege

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 182

Likes: 0

From: Savannah Ga.

Don't use tire dressing, cover stays on a couple of days at a time, no tree sap, put on early eve. Car in garage or under shed=same result. If it's a very damp morning a lot more smears show up.

Aug 8, 2008 | 08:14 PM

OIF2XVET

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 2,120

Likes: 24

From: Leavenworth, KS

I have had a similar thing happen after covering in the same coditions. Its WAX. you don't notice it until its damp and a little humid. In normal conditions you can't even see it.