How to clean bugs from radiator and intercooler?

[mowcowbell]

Hey guys, have a question. I did a little road trip yesterday and picked up a radiator full of grasshoppers. These are prairie grasshoppers which are huge compared to what most of you in the east will ever see. Most of them get to 3-4" in length, sounded like rocks hitting my grill when one impacted.



My question is this... I was able to spray out the grasshoppers from the radiator and intercooler, but how do I get all the dead bugs out from the inside of the bumper? Do I have to remove the belly pan plastic to gain access under the bumper? There isn't anything but small water drain holes.

 

[ahtoxa]

Oh yes, we have a ton of those here right now as well.

You'd probably have to remove the lower plastic belly pan, like you said, and get in there from there. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it.

Your subject is misleading, though. You asked about radiator and intercooler, but turns out that you're asking about the bumper.

 

[mowcowbell]

Thanks, I figured it would end up being more work than I thought. One tip I've learned is if I put a fresh coat of wax on the bumper before I take a road trip, the bug guts wash off much easier.

There are so many dead grasshoppers in there, I am concerned the debris may block the drain holes and cause issues.

 

[attrapereves]

I've got a ton of bugs on my car. I've thought about buying one of those bra protectors, but they make the car look uglier than the bugs.

My suggestion is to use soap and water, and a dryer sheet to scrape them off.

 

[Blue hedgehog]

I've got a ton of bugs on my car. I've thought about buying one of those bra protectors, but they make the car look uglier than the bugs.

My suggestion is to use soap and water, and a dryer sheet to scrape them off.

Mowcowbell was asking how to get the dead carcasses out from behind the grill.

If you want an easier way to remove bug guts from your paint, try Harley bug remover. Wet the paint, spray on, let sit and hose off. Stubborn dried on guts require either a second application or wiping with any car wash sponge, mit or microfiber towel. I use it all the time on my bike. Most guts come off with the wet, spray, hose method.

 

[Chevy2012sonic]

There's a sponge at Walmart for $1 called a big sponge. I have it and work amazing. All u do is wash ur car while its wet Scrub it with it and bam there gone


2012 chevy sonic

 

[attrapereves]

There's a sponge at Walmart for $1 called a big sponge. I have it and work amazing. All u do is wash ur car while its wet Scrub it with it and bam there gone


2012 chevy sonic

Is this in the automotive section?

 

[Chevy2012sonic]

Is this in the automotive section?

Yeah


2012 chevy sonic

 

[DJEmmie]

Ive been using turtle wax bug remover before washing my car and a sponge

 

[airheadbit]

I live in an area where ranchers are losing 60~80% of their crops to hoppers this year, while cleaning the bug crap off my 2017 RS I noticed I couldn't see my radiator from the pile up of dead bugs and birds. It took 30 minutes with a power washer to finally get the bugs out of the enclosed area where the radiator lives, I can understand why they would enclose the radiator to force the air thru and protect it from road trash (my 2005 Aveo just had its radiator replaced, the bottom 4 inches all the way across was damaged, the bottom pan was/is missing) but there needs to be some means getting 'stuff' out of that area!
FYI: The new full service car wash doesn't do squat for the front or rear of a Sonic RS Hatch Back. https://tommys-express.com/locations/id158/