I recently purchased a 5-speed manual 2003 Protegé ES (Shimmering Sand Mica). I love this car! Today, using Meguiar's cleaner / wax paste, I tried to remove some bug and gunk from the molded front bumper and lower portion of the hood. I couldn't remove much of it with this Meguiar product. Even with elbow grease and my finger nail, the stuff seemed impossible to remove. The splattered bug gunk almost appears to have impregnated the color molding. Frustrating!!! Does anyone know of an over-the-counter product that works well to make the bumper look really clean? I did this work even after having taken it to the car wash. I can't believe that the only solution is to have to purchase a front mask. I have a Wal-Mart just a stone's throw from where I live, so if there's a product that they carry, feel free to suggest it. If not, I would appreciate knowing how all of you Protege owners keep your front bumper and hood looking like new! Thank you for any / all suggestions.

 

The best product I have found is Dupont No. 7 Bug and Tar remover. It works very well on the hood. As for the bumper, I would try to use the Dupont but if it doesnt work, resort to a polishing compound. Thats what I use and although its possible to scratch the clearcoat, the results are very good. Experimenting may help too.

 

Try using De-Solv-It. It comes in a small spray bottle and you can get it in the cleaning section of Wal-Mart. Other people have suggested Goo-gone, its made by the same people and is also at wal-mart.

I haven't had to use anything to get the bugs off since I waxed my car. I just wash it once a week and they come off pretty easy.

 

$2.77 armor all window cleaner melt that crap off the front of your car and doesn't smell like **** like the bug and tar remover. Go to wal mart get a bottle and spray the front of your car, let sit 5 minutes and wipe clean. Nothing works better. I drive to San Diego once a month and mt car is covered with bugs and crap. I have tried everything on the market and nothing works better than armor all glass cleaner. Good luck

 

glass cleaner is the bomb. i work at a movie theatre and we use that stuff for everything,
degreasing popcorn machines, counters, hotdog machines, glass, etc.
good stuff...lol

 

Try not to use harsh chemicals if at all possible. Wash the car really well ... try Orange Clean on the area (the stuff is great for MANY things) .. if its still there, clay bar .. just make sure you rewax the area.

I can give you a much longer way to do it but it will be a full detail guide on every inch of the car

Pe@ce

 

would any of this stuff work on removing tree sap??

 

Ive noticed that the Orange Clean takes care of ALOT of problems.

Pe@ce

 

I used rubbing alcohol. Small amount on a soft cloth, rub gently. Seems to have worked really well

I would like to see this one day

 

Shoot an email to intenseimage@aol.com and tonite ill send it to ya.

Pe@ce

 

http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/sho...threadid=27762



~HH

 

@Protege5Gurly - thanks, I have Emailed you

@hihoslva - that is too funny, I think if I had some I might have tried it

 

orange clean and goo gone are safe to use on painted surfaces then? do you need to wax after each use of orange clean?

 

Its safe to use on paint.. I wax over it after Ive used it just to make sure.

Pe@ce

 

the cheepest and certainly over the counter product you can use is WATER....THAT IS RIGHT WATER....I have yet to have this fail to get bugs off the front of any car....

when I am ready to detail...for starters I make sure the car is fairly cool by putting it in the shade....or in the garage....get some old towels and soke them in water....NOW, drape the towels over the front of the car covering the edge of the hood and down over the bumper.....and allow them to stay there for 30 minutes to an hour.....it will soften the bug goo so that it can be removed with a little elbow grease....and you havn't used any harsh chemicals on your paint.

Keep in mind...that if you leave bug guts on your paint too long it will damage it. As the bug guts start to decay they produce an acid that will actually ETCH your paint...and then there is a mark there for life.