Does anyone know why rain drops don't spot a clean vehicle when left to dry, but sprinkler drops seem to etch the paint if not wiped off as soon as possible? I know some commercial places use gray water for irrigation, but this happens to me at houses where the water all comes from the same mains.

Steve

 

It's the calcium deposits that is found in tap water. Rain water doesn't contain the same chemicals and elements that are applied at wastewater treatment plants. I am sure there are more reasons, but this is the most prominent.

 

Thanks for the info - I guess I need to keep the vinegar handy!

Steve

 

vinegar will strip your wax off...keep wax handy too then

 

My heart bleeds for you guys that have hard water spots on your vehicles in January. I was going to take a pic of my rig yesterday to show the 1 inch thick SALT coating. No washing it for at least until mid-April.

 

Man, I'm jealous too. I HATE not being able to clean my truck right now. The blue has turned almost white. It's supposed to get to around 35 today so maybe I can spray it off the best I can. Still gets dirty on the way back home. I hate road salt.

 

Yeah, compared to what you guys up north have to contend with, water spots are lots easier to deal with. Actually, what I MEANT to post was: When you wash your truck/car at home with a hose and miss drying an area, the spots are easy to get off; when it's parked in the driveway and gets sprayed by sprinklers, the spots left are much tougher to remove. Maybe something to do with the water being sprayed thru the air before it hits your paint, evaporating some of the water so the deposits aren't diluted?

Don't know how rain got in my first post..........senior moment, maybe?

Steve

 

At least in Georgia a lot of sprinkler systems use what is called Ag water and is not going back into the water treatement system. When we design a new community at the development stage we always try to incorparate an existing lake/pond or have a man-made lake/pond to draw from. The problem you are facing may be due to the use of ag-water which derives a lot of content from area run-off and is designed to do so. Fertilizers are high in content on run-off ag-water and and if light industry is present you have another contributor to run-off contamination that actually may damage paint if too much exposure. This is mostly in the development of golf/tennis communities or light industry business parks where a large need for irrigation is present and cost prohibitive if you have to pay the sewage charge on used water. If this is the case, be careful where you park!
Tex

 

Tex -

I hear what you're saying, but this happens at homes where the house and sprinkler systems come off the same main. From prior experience, I know golf course overspray is REALLY bad news!

Steve

 

Might also have to do with the fact that most soaps are by nature surfactants and the residue left on the vehicle after a wash is somewhat protected as well as not having to sit and bake on all day before their being cleaned.
Tex