It is the midst of the fire season in the hot and dry parts of the United States and the threat of wildfire is always a concern. In these regions, the possibility of waking up to realize that your car is under a light blanket of ash is not uncommon. But how harmful is ash to your vehicle?

Ash in its simplest form is an abrasive and it can create fine swirls and scratches in the paint of your car. In addition, ash contains substances which could react with the moisture in the air (such as morning dew) and further damage your paint. What this all means is that it could be especially damaging if your classic car has decades-old original paintwork or if the paint is already damaged by daily contaminants.

The most important thing to do if you should find your car covered in any amount of ash is to get it off immediately while trying very carefully not to rub the ash against the paint.

Probably the best method is to gently blow off the ash. But unless you are The Big Bad Wolf, it will probably not be practical to try to blow a blanket of ash off your car. If you have an air compressor, it should perform the trick much better. Be careful to ensure that you are giving the air hose enough distance from the vehicle so it blows the contaminants off gently.

Another method would be to get the liquid car-wash soap ready and give your car a good bath. You want to be careful, however, that you are not running the risk of rubbing more ash into the paint of the car. If the air is still full of ash, this is probably not the best method for most people unless you can get the vehicle inside the garage and away from the open air. Also make sure that when you rinse the ash off the car, you are ready to wash the car immediately so that the ash and rinse water do not have time to chemically react with one another.

For those who are very particular about their paint, you can prepare the car to be waxed by using a clay bar to get any left over particulates out of the paint. The toughest parts are probably on the top flat surfaces of the car such as the roof and hood. A light wax can also help prevent future scratching from ash.

Although most interiors will be fine from the ash in the air, if you happen to have left your windows opened or top down, you should immediately vacuum the vehicle. Again, try not to rub the ash into the interior as it may stain delicate fabrics. If the smell of ash lingers afterward, try fabric-freshening products (such as Febreze).

Lastly, it makes sense to prepare for events such as this by storing your classic car under a car cover and in the garage if possible. You should avoid driving in these conditions as the particles can enter your engine through the intake and into your oil system. Keep in mind that some of the particles can get pass the oil filter, so if you must drive the vehicle, make sure you change the oil thoroughly after the skies have cleared.

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