Dealing With Your Car’s Pollen Problem

Anyone who suffers from seasonal allergies knows just how much of a hassle they can be to deal with. Coughing fits, runny noses, and itchy eyes are things millions of Americans deal with on a yearly basis and are all caused by the same thing: pollen.

Pollen is a worldwide issue for people, and it certainly can be for your vehicle as well. Like anything that touches your car (bird droppings, dirt and gravel, etc.) pollen presents unique challenges to car owners trying to maintain their vehicle’s paintjob.

What is Pollen?

Pollen is a powder-like substance made up of tiny grains a plant releases as part of its propagation process. A When you look at pollen under a microscope, it looks like this:

How Pollen Affects Your Car’s Exterior

Those microscopic spikes, even as small as they are, can cause permanent damage to your car’s finish. Because of the way they scratch the coat, you should never wipe pollen off of your car while dry.

What to Do About It

Regular washing with mild car-wash solution is the safest way to remove pollen that’s already settled on your car. For preventing any damage pollen might do, a couple coats of wax will certainly help.

To reduce the amount of pollen that falls on your car, keep it in a garage if possible. If not, avoid parking under trees as much as you can.

How Pollen Affects your Car’s Interior & Engine

The fine particles which make up pollen dust get caught in your engine and cabin air filters like anything else. An abundance of pollen in the air, however, means those filters get clogged more easily, obstructing airflow which affects engine performance and air quality inside your car.

What to Do About It

Check your air filters regularly, and replace if necessary. Leaving windows up and setting your car’s AC to recirculate air will help prevent cabin air filter buildup. Cars need to breathe, too!

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Solving pollen problems with your car is simple, but the most important step is to act quickly. The longer pollen is allowed to collect on or in your car, the more difficult it will be to fix. Working proactively by waxing your vehicle and changing your air filters before you’ve got pollen buildup will save you time and money in the long run.

Is your car already pollen-damaged? Do you have dings and dents that pollen collects in? Call the Bozeman, MT autobody experts at Big Sky Collision Center at (406) 585-2699 today!