Does Acid Rain Damage Your Car?

acid rain car damageKey questions about acid rain: What is acid rain? Is acid rain harmful for your car paint? Is acid rain prevalent in the Lynnwood area? We’ll explain how acid rain damages cars and what you can do about it. The impact can leave a permanent blemish if you don’t take swift action.

What Is Acid Rain?

Despite the name, acid rain does not consist of highly acidic droplets that melt anything they come into contact with. The term simply refers to rainwater with high levels of hydrogen ions. Because of high levels of sulfur and nitrogen emissions in the air, water may contain sulfuric and nitric acids. Acid rain may become acidic to a small degree, but nowhere near burning levels.

Lynnwood, being a fairly sizable city, also contain traces of these emissions as well as other pollutants in the air. Vaporized contaminants also find their way into acid rain.

How Does Acid Rain Damage Cars?

Though not harmful to people, acid rain may leave watermarks on metallic surfaces. When the water lands on the car and evaporates, the deposits and acidic elements remain behind. This can weaken the paint and eat into the metal over time. The damage also extends to other car parts, such as the windshield, headlights, and grille.

How to Prevent Damage

You can’t always safeguard your car by keeping it in the garage. The best prevention measure is a frequent wash and wax. When acid rain leaves deposits on a dirty car, the deposits mix with the existing surface dirt and grime. The mixture of acidic deposits and other debris heighten the potential for permanent markings. Furthermore, a good coating of wax provides a protective layer that shields the paint.

We Restore Rain-Damaged Vehicles

If acid rain already did damage, bring your car to Henry’s Auto Detail for a restoration. Our vehicle detailing includes exterior care that addresses watermarks and spots. Car damage from acid rain doesn’t have to permanently ruin your vehicle’s appearance.

Car Paint Restoration in Lynnwood

Serving Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mill Creek, Woodway and south Snohomish County