Ford uses synthetic bird poop in new phase of auto paint testing

MANILA: Aaaahhhh bird poop, the mortal enemy of motorists who've just had their vehicles washed and waxed. It literally drops from out of the blue and always attacks in the most ill-timed fashion.

Bird droppings cause vehicle paint to expand and weaken under extreme heat even if parked under such trees. When car paint cools, it contracts, and bird droppings may get stuck on the surface.

In an attempt to solve the problem of bird droppings on car paint, Ford conducted tests involving synthetic bird droppings. The artificial bird droppings were created in a European laboratory in an attempt to accurately mimic the various diets and distinct acidity of real bird droppings.

Synthetic bird droppings were sprayed on test panels. Afterwhich, the test panels were aged at different temperatures of 40° C, 50° C and 60° C in an oven to simulate car paint under excessive heat. This enabled the paint corrosion protection to be pushed beyond limits.

Synthetic pollen and phosphoric acid combined with soap detergent were also sprayed on test panels before being subjected to aging at 60° C and 80° C for 30 minutes.

The synthetic bird poop test also tested versus air particulates like sticky tree sap and pollen, which also harms vehicle paint.

Paint samples were also tested through different methods like exposure to extreme winter road grime inside a high humidity salt chamber, fuel staining simulations from vehicle service stations, and the emission of ultraviolet light up to 250 days in a light laboratory to assess external weathering.

Through the fine-tuning of additives, resins, and pigments making up the glossy car paint, Ford experts can make sure that its vehicle paint has the ideal composition to withstand the effect of bird droppings and certain pollutants, regardless of the weather.

When removing bird poop from vehicles, Ford recommends the use of safe cleaning agents. A little application of WD-40 spray on car paint, for instance, can take away dry bird poop. The car owner only needs to allow the WD-40 substance to settle for one minute; then it can be rinsed and wiped away using a soft cloth.

If there is no WD-40 spray at home, Ford also suggests the combination of four tablespoons of baking soda on a quart of hot or warm water. After shaking, the solution can be sprayed on dry bird droppings. The bird droppings should be allowed to be immersed in the fluid for about five to ten minutes before rinsing with a hose.

Car wipes also exist for the removal of dried bird droppings. They are environment-friendly, and the all-natural poop-cleaning solution neutralizes and destabilizes the uric acid from bird poop.

For windshields loaded with bird poop, Ford recommends the use of club soda or Seltzer water on the windshield wipers. Nevertheless, club soda should not be used for the removal of bird poop from car windows and paint since it is highly corrosive on rubber, wax, and vehicle paint.

Photo from Ford

Also read: 10 Maintenance Tips to Extend the Life of Your Car