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Avenue of the Giants Weekend Run - Sat. March 23, 2024

Saturday will be a very full day of cruising from Novato up through the Avenue of the Giants and ending at Eel River Brewing in Fortuna. Sun...

How To Protect Your Car From Volcanic Ash

Autoglym, a well-known U.K. detailing products manufacturer and retailer, has analyzed the composition of the volcanic ash from the from the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull and found it to be a potential hazard to vehicle paintwork, glass and rubber components. Thus, it released a set of instructions on how to safely remove the dangerous microscopic residues that have already been deposited on the car and protect the vehicle from future issues of this kind. These are:


1. Thoroughly soak car bodywork with water to loosen surface deposits 
2. Use a pH-neutral car bodywork shampoo solution to neutralise acidic fallout 
3. 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
4. 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 
5. 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 
6. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove all shampoo from the car 
7. Dry the car using a high quality microfibre drying towel or synthetic chamois 
8. 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 
9. Use a specialist automotive rubber treatment to cleanse and protect rubber seals, wiper blades and tyre sidewalls 
10. Wash frequently until the volcanic eruptions cease to minimise the risk of potential future damage
[Source: via autoevolution]