Effects of gas on car paint job?

[afropick]

Question for you guys, I was about to run out of gas, so a friend at work and I went to fill-up my gas can. The funnel I have though, wasn't long enough to work properly, so we made a makeshift one. Just about all of the gas made it into the tank, but unfortanetly, quite a bit spilled down the side of my car. I've seen others spill a little gas on the car before with no harm done, but what about in this case?

I wanted to try to wash it off immediately, but my friend said I should let it air-dry. I just don't want to have it mess the paint up. It's a crappy 2000 black Daewoo Leganza, but it looks pretty nice and gets me where I have to go. Anyone have any suggestions/advice?

 

[snakesnfrogs]

It shouldn't have any effect unless you do it on a consistent basis---once won't hurt it. Just wash it off

 

[1967mustangman]

Yeah long as you don't let it sit on the paint you should be just fine.

 

[Amused]

Yep, wash it off, but you MUST use soap when you do. DON'T go get the window washing doohicky at the gas station and rub it on the car to clean the gas. Those things are abrasive, meant for glass, and have grit in them from thousands of other cars. Also, DON'T use a paper towel. It's too abrasive as well. Simply rinse it off, or go wash it like you normally do.

If you do this once or twice, it shouldn't hurt your paint. Today's paint jobs are a lot less vulnerable to gasoline damgage than paintjobs from years ago.

Gas will remove your wax, so the best thing is a good wash, followed by waxing that spot, or the whole car if it needs it. When you can get around to it, of course.

 

[Moohooya]

As those guys said. I use the window cleaner to wipe it over with if there are no towles, but I don't press at all hard due to the dirt in them. I figure that way it will at least ditute the gas and some of it will run off.

My car is 4 years old now, and the paint under the fill still looks great. The hood as lots of small chips from the road, and so do the side mirror housings. I've had lots of small spills, when I take out the fill nozzel and a drop or two gets onto the paint.