Volcanic Ash – bad for your car’s paintwork

Volcanic ash on the back of our test Range Rover Sport

Autoglym has issued a 10 point list on dealing with volcanic ash on your car. Just in case you’re too stupid to work it out for yourself.

Who says we don’t do consumer advice at Cars UK?

We know that the Government claims every jet will fall out of the sky if they fly with even a cup full of volcanic ash in the atmosphere. The argument goes that all that dust and stone and rubbish will get sucked in to the engines, melt and then solidify to trash the engine. Sounds logical. Sort of.

But it does seem a bit too Elf ‘n’ Safety. The arguments are based on a BA jet in the ’80s that lost all 4 engines and fell 20,000 feet. What they aren’t saying is that that jet flew through a plume of volcanic ash as it came from the erupting volcano. It’s a bit like saying there’s a madman running round Iceland with an AK47, so lock your doors in London and don’t go out until Big Brother tells you to.

And now we’re being warned that volcanic ash is bad for the paintwork on our cars. Which I think we could work out for ourselves. Still, it gives Autoglym an excuse to shove their name in the press on a topical subject they know something about. And get some publicity. Like this.

But they have a point. Volcanic ash is unpleasant stuff and if you just wipe away you’ll inevietably scratch your paint. So as Autoglym have gone to the trouble of a ‘Do & Don’t’ list on volacanic ash and cars we thought we’d publish it in case you’re too daft to work it out for yourself.

Removing volcanic ash from car paintwork

Thoroughly soak car bodywork with water to loosen surface deposits

Use a pH-neutral car bodywork shampoo solution to neutralise acidic fallout

Use a number of smaller buckets rather than a single larger bucket to minimise the risk of ash particles being reapplied to bodywork on the sponge from contaminated water

Keep the car wet with clean water while washing with a sponge – this keeps the surface of the paint lubricated to reduce the risk of scratching from any dust that remains on the bodywork

Pay special attention to wiper blades – which may scratch the windscreen when sweeping ash across the glass surface – and side window seals – which may harbour dust that scratches windows as they are wound up and down

Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove all shampoo from the car

Dry the car using a high quality microfibre drying towel or synthetic chamois

Apply a quality polish or high definition wax in order to provide a durable, long-lasting layer of protection, preventing further contaminants adhering to paintwork, and forming a barrier against acidic deposits

Use a specialist automotive rubber treatment to cleanse and protect rubber seals, wiper blades and tyre sidewalls

Wash frequently until the volcanic eruptions cease to minimise the risk of potential future damage