Eggs and car paint

Factual Questions
1

Seems it’s common knowledge that throwing raw eggs on a car will ruin the paint job. I’m told it causes pitting of the paint that cannot be buffed out or repaired.

I assume there must be some chemical reaction between the egg and the paint, but is that true? If so, what sort of reaction is it? (I’m thinking, if I can eat the things for breakfast, how corrosive can they be?)

Does it matter if the egg is washed off before it dries? Does it matter if the car has a clear-coat over the paint?

(Just idle curiosity here… no intent to egg anybody’s car. :slight_smile: )

2

Your stomach is already filled with a corrosive acid that will damage the paint on a car so I woldn’t worry about scarfing a few cackleberries.

I wasn’t aware that eggs would pit paint but egg protiens can adhere to things with extreme tenacity. Ever try to get dried egg yolk out of fabric? Milk protiens are the same way so it’s been used as the base for a very durable paint for centuries. Ordinary paint stripper which turned other paints to goo won’t touch it.

3

Seems like the sulfer and enzymes can get through the clear coat and remove the paint.

Vinegar and water at 50/50 mix is recommended to remove the egg. Timing is critical.

4

Well, I got a lot of anecdotal evidence that it does happen, based on people wanting to know how to undo the damage.

Google search eggs+car+paint

(I didn’t spot anything that seemed scientific in the first batch of links, but you would probably do better adding a word or two to the inquiry.)

At the Ask Dr. Paint site he says this

For cars he recognizes the problem but directs you to an auto paint shop for advice.

5

As to whetheer clear coat helps, it didn’t help this guy on his 97 Camero
http://users.adelphia.net/~zoey1201/Exterior%20Pictures.htm