Motorists have been warned over damage to their vehicles if fallen leaves aren’t quickly removed.
Car care experts from LiquidTech are urging drivers to regularly clear leaves and debris from their cars or risk facing expensive repair costs.
Whilst the change of seasons can make for a scenic drive, fallen leaves can ruin bodywork, clog air filters and even cause electric fires.
Unsuspecting drivers could be forced to pay thousands to repair paintwork, blocked filters and damaged windscreen washer systems according to experts.
One of the most common and potentially costly issues is paintwork rot caused by allowing leaves to stay on the vehicle for too long.
Wet leaves can remain attached to bodywork and leach acidic tree sap that can damage paintwork leading to expensive repairs.
If left too long, paint correction will be required to repair the damage, with continued exposure to the tannic acid resulting in rust in the worst cases.
Trapped leaves can accumulate in many parts of your vehicle, especially around the windscreen.
Debris can clog windscreen washer nozzles, making driving your vehicle illegal until the problem is repaired.
A build-up of leaves under the bonnet can be especially costly if they clog the air filter for too long and damage it beyond repair so it needs replacing.
Leaves left to be dried by the heat of the engine can act as kindling for electrical fires with catastrophic consequences.
According to a spokesman from LiquidTech, leaf removal must be done carefully and with regularity to reduce the risk of costly damage to your vehicle.
He said: “October is the month when most leaves are dropped so we recommend starting routine leaf clearance from your vehicle immediately.
“It’s important to regularly clear leaves from the base of the windscreen and check under the bonnet to remove any debris that could pose a fire risk.
“Wet leaves can be a big problem as they stick to bodywork, damaging your car's paint leading to expensive repairs, such as a full respray.
“Avoid parking under trees if at all possible, especially if the vehicle will be left for a long time as leaves can accumulate quickly.
“Removing leaves from a vehicle must be done carefully to avoid further damage to the vehicle by either picking them out by hand or using a leaf blower.
However the spokesman advises motorists to be careful when choosing cleaning products to remove any tree sap and other residue on a vehicle.
He said: “To be safe, always choose the right cleaners and protectants for the job at hand, with a ph neutral decontaminant ideal for removing acidic residue from exterior surfaces.
“To further protect paintwork it is worth considering a ceramic detailer which can also reduce the number of times you need to wash your vehicle.
“To further protect a car's paint through winter, waxing before the bad weather sets in is highly recommended.”
For further information on choosing the right vehicle cleaners and protectants this autumn visit: https://liquidtechuk.com/
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