Protecting paint against ash damage

[richard]

Any suggestions on how to protect against ash damage? Wash daily?

[Steve Grosekemper]

Ash contains lye (potassium hydroxide).
When it gets wet the lye starts attacking the paint in earnest.
If the car is outside with ash and morning dew, wash it immediately.
Put a good coat of wax on the car after a good washing.
Rinse the car thoroughly before taking a cloth to the surface.
Ash is also abrasive
Do not use the wipers without good washers as it will scratch the window.
In about a month you will need to replace air and A/C particle filters.

Keep it covered if you can and run the climate control on recirculation.
911's 78-89 only have recirculation on the A/C.
924/944's up to 85 don't have it at all.
generally 86 Porsches and later have switching (other than those mentioned above)

[mrondeau]

Steve, Great information to have. Thanks!!

[LUCKY DAVE]

Good advice, but don't most of us have "other" vehicles as daily driver/beaters? Ones that have paint we don't care much about?
Personally, I flog a Suburban like an unwanted stepchild. The Porsche is for weekends, and only leaves the garage in nice weather..

[kurquhart]

Good advice, but don't most of us have "other" vehicles as daily driver/beaters? Ones that have paint we don't care much about?
Personally, I flog a Suburban like an unwanted stepchild. The Porsche is for weekends, and only leaves the garage in nice weather..

I drive my 997S every day, rain or shine; 60 minute round trip commute. On the other hand, my pickup only leaves the driveway when I need to go to Home Depot or tow my trailer.

[Steve Grosekemper]

Good advice, but don't most of us have "other" vehicles as daily driver/beaters? Ones that have paint we don't care much about?
Personally, I flog a Suburban like an unwanted stepchild. The Porsche is for weekends, and only leaves the garage in nice weather..

I drive my 997S every day, rain or shine; 60 minute round trip commute. On the other hand, my pickup only leaves the driveway when I need to go to Home Depot or tow my trailer.

Same here, My 911SC is my daily driver and gets better than 80% of my overall vehicle usage.
Porsches are for driving and F-150's are for going to Home Depot and towing the Porsche to the track...
(Note: 10ft. long 4x4 posts fit in a 911 Cab better than in a shortbed F-150) - So Porsches are good for certain trips to HD as well.
Oh Ya.. better wash the ash off that brand new truck paint this weekend...

[Jad]

I use the Targa quite often, but usually only in nice weather so for the fires it became a garage queen. However, being a nice shiney BLACK car, it was very obvious that the garage didn't keep all the ash off the car. It needed washed to protect the paint without even leaving the garage.

[Dan Chambers]

Great advice, Steve.

Just one comment: as of this writing fires are still burning, and water supplies have been hampered by damaged pumping systems or loss of electricity to the pumping units. For the sake of fighting fires, please use good judgement and conserve water and electricity use when and where possible until all the fires are out.

Although the worst is over, the battle still rages on .....

Godspeed to the firefighters.