Volcano dust!

[MetalPetal]

Ok maybe I'm overly worrying , but I don't like the idea
of the fabric roof of my lovely new 500c being covered in volcano dust! Would I be over-reacting if I put a sheet over it? I'm ok down in Bristol hopefully but am driving up to Glasgow at the weekend. I'm sure fabric roofs are a pain to clean and want to be on the safe side

 

[Ffoxy]

Ok maybe I'm overly worrying , but I don't like the idea
of the fabric roof of my lovely new 500c being covered in volcano dust! Would I be over-reacting if I put a sheet over it? I'm ok down in Bristol hopefully but am driving up to Glasgow at the weekend. I'm sure fabric roofs are a pain to clean and want to be on the safe side

Lots of people in other places around the world get volcano dust on their cars... its just different this time because its a new thing to us.

It will just wash off... cover it up if you wish but my guess would be it wont hurt anything. The dust will be fine, could conceivably get into all things mechanical so as belt & braces cover the whole thing up.

My car up here in the Midlands will just have to take what comes...

 

[PlopHole]

Will it get into the engine, and make it cease up? I don't wanna crash!

 

[Blank2k2]

Ok maybe I'm overly worrying , but I don't like the idea
of the fabric roof of my lovely new 500c being covered in volcano dust! Would I be over-reacting if I put a sheet over it? I'm ok down in Bristol hopefully but am driving up to Glasgow at the weekend. I'm sure fabric roofs are a pain to clean and want to be on the safe side

Woo a fellow Bristolian!

I dont think the ash is going to be much of an issue cause its so fine/light it'll probably just swish off without any trouble even on fabric.... that said im sure dropping a sheet over it wouldn't be seen as over the top, if someone told me aload of dust was going to hit my car & i had a sheet handy i'd cover it aswell.

Will it get into the engine, and make it cease up? I don't wanna crash!

It'll take more than abit of dust to cease the engine mid travel, as far as im aware its going to be very light so not an issue (may change, never know.) but i'm sure if the dust hit dangerous levels you'd be well aware of it & would choose to stay home

as ffoxys said, dust "could" get into the mechanics and cause premature wear etc...but i think thats a low risk problem, cover it if you want to play it safe.

 

[johnson550]

As long as you keep below 20,000ft you will be okay so dont follow any planes.

 

[custard]

from what i read its super fine,finer than talcum powder
so it will most likely just rinse off

 

[volxstu]

if you do get a dusting then hoover it off. Looking at satalight imagry you would have more trouble in Bristol.
Also this ash is very high up so isnt really going to touch ground enough to cause any mechanicle issues.

 

[MetalPetal]

As long as you keep below 20,000ft you will be okay so dont follow any planes.

haha it's only a Fiat 500C that I drive - not chitty chitty bang bang ;-)

 

[Blank2k2]

Well there's certainly some dust around! our cars today are more dusty than my black TV stand.

it's hitting ground level in some places, and will drop more over the next couple of days.... but as said, its so fine its more like normal dust just more of it so its not going to affect cars, will be polishing mine again next week though assuming the volcano stops erupting.

 

[Lloyd71]

It won't affect your car unless you brush it off without using a decent wash mitt or soft sponge. It's a fine powder like talcum powder but way more abrasive. Rubbing it off your paint without a good, slick shampoo will leave horrendous swirling and scratching, despite it looking like it will be fine. It's very, very coarse.

The fabric roof should be fine though, just was it like you would normally.

Most people won't even notice a difference to the cleanliness of their car though, extra dust on cars at the minute is more likely to just be pollen or fine dirt being blown about due to the dry and windy weather in some places.

 

[panda4x4x4x4]

my car got covered in frozen pizza, frozen chips and frozen peas,

was told not to worry.........it's just the fall-out from Iceland

 

[Blank2k2]

my car got covered in frozen pizza, frozen chips and frozen peas,

was told not to worry.........it's just the fall-out from Iceland

 

[Andy Monty]

Mines smothered in dust but not sure if its from the campsite and car park it was in today

quick snow foam and rinse should cure it.....

 

[Blank2k2]

Mines smothered in dust but not sure if its from the campsite and car park it was in today

quick snow foam and rinse should cure it.....

Well mines covered in a very fine sand-like dust, even some even sparkles in the light so im pretty sure mines volcano dust, very abrasive!


hope a good shampoo will lift it off... or a light spray with the hose, im sure blasting it off like i was originally intending could go abit pear shaped after seeing how harsh it is.... though i did wax it just a week ago, should hope its well protected.

 

[Andy Monty]

well after its been parked at home all night the screen is covered again so it must be volcanic fall out


need to get my roof rack off asap as the rubber pads trap dirt in general against the paint..... :bang:

 

[pgdrans]

Would suggest you thoroughly rince the stuff off before even getting the shampoo out. you will probably not get any fine scratches, but I would to be safe.

 

[colin79666]

Mines been covered every morning. Not sure if its from the volcano or a more local source. Gave it a thorough clean a few days ago: https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/234653-grande-punto-spring-clean-2010-a.html

Given it a good going over the wax to protect the paint and am currently rinsing it twice a week (once with snow foam) to keep the dust at bay.