So my beautiful black truck is sitting outside in the parking lot while I am inside and safe. I have only been at work for an hour now, but my truck is covered with soot and ash from a forest fire burning near Fontana, Ca which is only about 10 miles away from where I work. You'd swear mount Vesuvius was errupting around here. The sky is dark with smoke blocking out the sun and the ash and soot are coming down like snow.

My question: How do I get this crap off my truck without damaging the paint? I'm sure the ash will scratch my truck if I just wipe it off. At home I have Meguiar's car wash soap, but i'm not sure if hosing down the ash will make the situation worse. Help! Thanks.

 

Take it to a do-it-yourself carwash... or use a high pressure washer if you have one, and just spray it off. That crap should rinse right off.... I'm in the same boat with the fire from Camp Pendleton. Haven't sprayed it off yet, but I'm not too worried about it.

 

ah ha! and there is a do-it-yourself wash less than a mile from home. damn these fires...

 

I hope you have put a good coat of wax on your truck to protect the paint. When the fires are out, you may want to clay your truck and then re-wax.

Brian

 

yeah, i did wax it about 2 weeks ago. hopefully the fire will be out soon so I can clay and wax.

 

Water, Water, Water
1, Flood the surface with SLOW flowing water first, then steadily increase the pressure to push the dirty water off. You need the water to "lift" the soot off of the paint, and the "current" to move the solution.
2. DO NOT rub the surface with towels, EVER!!! That is what puts the hairline scratches in the clear coat. After you've pushed the water with water, a soaked sponge, sitting on the surface with no pressure, can be used to push the water and soot solution, but its best if you lead the sponge with a slow-flowing water hose; to continue "lifting" the dirt.
3. After washing use a leaf blower to "blow-dry" the water off the truck. Second choice is a CLEAN chamois to squeegee (wipe) the water downward off the sides, and fore/aft off of the roof and hood.

This method is especially necessary for dark colors like Black and Maroon.

good luck.

 

Ash is raining down on me too, in HUNTINGTON BEACH!!! That stuff goes far.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) I don't have my truck just yet

 

I can't say in Texas I have a problem with ash and soot but we do have a lot of dust. My SCAB is black and somewhat of a B%$#@ to keep clean. I'll wash it in the morning and in the evening it has a light coating of dust on it so I bought a "Original California Duster" at Wal-Mart.........just go over the finish and it looks as it has just been washed again. I wouldn't use it though if has anything other than a light dust on it so you don't scratch the paint.

 

You might want to direct this issue to the "General Care" forum. I have gotton plenty of great info on washing and waxing from there. There are some really great people with some expertise on detailing there. Good luck.

 

Just don't mention Zaino or Mequire