The title of this post may seem to have nothing to do with automobiles at all, but this fungus is a major problem for those who have it. And most folks who have it don’t know what it is or where it comes from, how to get rid of it, or how to prevent it. I’ll shed some light on the subject.
The Artillery Fungus is a wood decaying fungus that likes to live on moist landscape mulch. It is very common across the USA, especially in the East. It grows to about 1/10th of an inch across and is round in shape. The Artillery Fungus shoots its spores toward sunlight up to a few feet, and with the wind has been known to reach the second story of houses. In the absence of sunlight, highly reflective surfaces – like light colored cars and white siding – will do. It commonly grows on dead trees, limbs, and rotting wood and prefers a cool, moist, and shady area. Which is why we will often see one side of a vehicle covered in the Artillery Fungus, while the other side is free of it. (Special thanks to Professor Donald Davis Ph.D. from Penn State Universities Plant Pathology department)
So now that you know a bit about it, how do you get rid of it?
Once the fungus is on your vehicle, it sticks like super glue. Many, many methods have been attempted at removing it from chemically stripping to power washing the surface. Most folks see limited results and learn to live with it.
If the fungus has just recently shown up on your vehicle – just recently being within a couple of weeks – wetting the surface and using a plastic razor blade at a 45 degree angle and scraping each one off should work. (Do not dig the blade into the paint and make sure each time you use the blade the surface of your paint is lubricated) You may be left with a brown stain where each spore was embedded which will come off with the use of a clay bar or a moderate abrasive polish.
If they have been on your vehicle for a while, your in for a lot of work. The same method with the plastic razor blade should be used as step one, however the spores will now be rock hard. Once the top portion of the spore is gone you’ll still be left with the brown stain. But as with any form of fungus left to sit for a while, it has likely grown into your single stage paint or clearcoat making the clay bar process useless. Machine compounding at this stage is likely necessary. I say machine compounding because a decent layer of clearcoat or paint will need to be removed, where hand compounding just will not work. If doing this on your own, taking your vehicle to a body shop and having a paint thickness test done before compounding is highly advised.
With the vehicle back to spotless, protecting your vehicle is paramount to avoid the hassle again. Add a quality wax or sealant to your paint. Multiple coats twelve hours apart would be ideal. If the spots return, remove them immediately with a clay bar and – if necessary – plastic razor blade. A consistent, thorough application of wax should always be on your vehicle. Removing the infected mulch should be a consideration as well, or park in a closed garage.
As always, we can be reached at any time if any questions arise.
