Salt air on ECR and OMR: what it does to your car
Living near the sea in Chennai is hard on paint, brakes and the underside. A short guide for coastal car owners.
Chennai summer: sun, sap and bird droppings
From April to June, the sun does more harm to paint than the rain. What to do about it, and how fast.
In Chennai, most people worry about paint during the monsoon. In our experience, April to June does more damage. Here is what the summer does to a car and how to protect it.
The sun is the first problem. A dark car parked in the open on OMR at 2 pm can have a roof temperature above 70 degrees. Over years, ultraviolet light fades and oxidises paint, especially on red and black cars, and plastic trims turn grey. Park in shade whenever you can, use a breathable car cover if you park outdoors daily, and keep a coating or a sealant on the paint.
Bird droppings are the second. They are acidic, and in strong sun they etch into clear coat within hours, leaving a dull ring that needs polishing. Do not scrub a dry dropping. Soak it with water or a quick detailer spray for a minute, then lift it with a soft microfibre towel. Keep a small kit in the boot.
Tree sap from the neem and rain trees along ECR and in Adyar is the third. It hardens in the heat and pulls paint when picked off. Soften it with a little isopropyl alcohol on a towel, then wash the area. Finally, avoid washing in direct sun. Water evaporates before you can dry it, leaving hard mineral spots, particularly with Chennai’s borewell water. Wash early in the morning or after sunset, and dry with a clean towel.
