After having parked my car in a newly constructed airport parking garage, I came back to find something had dripped through a crack in the ceiling of the structure and left considerably thick film on my car. On a glass window surface, I tested soap and water, mineral spirits, two types of latex paint remover (i.e. goof off), and household chlorine bleach. None were effective. But plain white 5% vinegar dissolved the film if I let it soak or scrubbed on it with a cloth.
My question: is an acid of the strength of vinegar a risk to automotive "paint" (the top layer is probably "clear coat").
Answer
That is a valid question, because acid rain has been known to damage paints, particularly high-gloss, i.e. clear coat. Best would be to test the effect of vinegar on a hidden area, and double-check under bright light from different angles. Your idea to test on glass is good, because it shows how long a soak is needed.
If it appears unaffected, rinse afterwards with a weak solution of baking soda or ammonia, and then rinse again with plain water to remove any remaining acid.
If damage is slight, can car wax effect a good repair?
If vinegar does damage in the test spot, you might look at various car polishes or even cutting compounds, and then wax (or reapply a gloss coat, which may mean refinishing a large section of bodywork to get it to match).
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