Lovebug suggestions from AAA

[mickeybaby]

We will be driving to The World on May 31 and staying for a week or so.

I went to AAA today to order my TripTic and got the Tour Books for the states we will be traveling through. I was flipping through the Florida Tour Book and looking at the fast facts page. It had a little section on love bugs! It stated that if you were driving in Florida during the months of April/May and September/October to be aware of the lovebugs. It suggested you put a cover over your radiator grille to keep the bugs out. It also suggested that if the sticky bugs were left on your car that they could corrode the finish.

I am not really bothered by the bugs being around, I just don't want to do any damage to my vehicle that I plan on having for a long, long time!

Do I need to do anything special with my vehicle? I doubt it would cross my mind to wash it after driving the 1000+ miles down before parking it in the parking lots all week. Should I wash off the lovebugs from the highway before lettting it bake in the heat all week?

Do you guys have any thoughts/suggestions? Thanks!

 

[spfldfan]

We were down there several years ago in May when the Lovebugs were suppose to have been the worst in a long time. We had no damage done to the vehicle. I would say if you don't wash for months on end after the trip it is possible spots could be left. The biggest annyoance was all the bug juice on the windshield. They did get annoying flicking them off the baby but they cause a person no harm.

 

[sammielynn]

I would wash the car if you have love bugs that have hitched a ride. The juice from these bugs are corrosive. Had a rental once that had the little buggers over an inch thick on the bumper. I went and washed it off, they smelled and were disgusting.

 

[vicki_c]

I used to live in FL and all my neighbors and co-workers were adamant about not leaving them on the car because they said it would ruin the paint. I can't tell you the result because we tried to run the car through the car wash at least once a week during love bug season or within a day if we drove anywhere far on the highway during love bug season.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Before the trip I would wash and wax the car before you go. Then while there every so often go to a do it yourself car wash and use the high pressure wand to power wash the buggers off.

The wax my DH has used for a few years that really help keep dirt/bugs off the car is "Ice". It is easy to apply and within no time you can have the whole car done. It even says you can use it on plastic and rubber so its safe for all surfaces.

 

[NotUrsula]

In lovebug country it is traditional to put a VERY heavy coat of paste wax all over the car to protect the paint, a lot of people just leave it unbuffed between washes for the duration and make it a point to double-coat the front end. (Some people swear by ReJex polymer coating, but I haven't tried it myself.) Also, put bug-remover washer fluid in your tank; it has some non-stick in it to help make it easier to clear the windshield.

You can put a bra on the car if you like, but it won't be sufficient by itself; you still should use a good thick paste wax and plan to run it through a car wash if necessary. If you just have a few you can wipe them off using dryer sheets.

You don't want to let accumulated LB corpses sit on your paint in the sun; the protein in them does nasty things to the paint as they decompose. (Note that live LB don't harm paint, so it's OK if they light to their hearts' content on your parked vehicle; it's only the squashed ones that you have to worry about.)

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

We are a family that hand washes are cars routinely and know that the love bugs should not bake on your paint while in WDW.

We bring along some extra rag towels and use ice cooler water to at least gently remove what we can at our gas stops down to WDW and then we try to do it again once we arrive. That hot Florida sun also makes them tought to get off if they have baked for a week. It is easier to clean them up promptly. We just put the old towels loosely in plastic grocery bags and wash them when we get home. The florida heat dries them while they sit in the back of the car. No mold so far!

Yes, we also quickly wax the front bumper, the lights, and the hood before we hit the road. We always use Rain-X on the windshield and the added benefit is that it is easier to clean off the windshield as well.

 

[larry80]

Back in 2007 I drove down we took 192 on our way to Vero Beach.

My car got so plastered with the love bugs that I couldn't even see out of my windshield and no matter how much washer fluid I sprayed nothing would help.

Luckily I made it to a gas station and used their window cleaner to get some off so I could see. When I got to a station with a car wash I went thru and it barely touched the bugs.. we had to find one with a manual hose we could use.

My entire front of the car was covered, couldn't even see my license plate anymore.

Next time I'll be sure to get a bra for my car.

 

[NotUrsula]

Back in 2007 I drove down we took 192 on our way to Vero Beach.

My car got so plastered with the love bugs that I couldn't even see out of my windshield and no matter how much washer fluid I sprayed nothing would help.

Luckily I made it to a gas station and used their window cleaner to get some off so I could see. When I got to a station with a car wash I went thru and it barely touched the bugs.. we had to find one with a manual hose we could use.

My entire front of the car was covered, couldn't even see my license plate anymore.

Next time I'll be sure to get a bra for my car.

This is where the heavy coat of wax and the bug-solvent washer fluid come in -- they buy you a bit more time before the damage will start, but they also make the finish more stick-resistant, so that the bugs will wash off more easily.

Some people swear by spraying the car with original formula PAM cooking spray, but that is also difficult to get off, and the only way you are going to remove that lovely Love Bug/Pam Spray coating is with a high-pressure hose and a detergent cleanser, preferably Dawn or Joy dishwashing liquid.

 

[Capt_BJ]

hard core car freak trick . . .

being an owner of a 'show car' that I drive to shows in FL, I'll share a trick we use....

masking tape . . .

if you really want to protect your paint for the drive, cover the front end with good ol' masking tape.

When you get home, peel it off . . .

We apply twice - once on the way up ... peel off for the show and re-apply for the drive home.

If in doubt - tape it.