How to Deal with Scratches on the Front Lip of a Car?
3 Answers
Here are the methods to deal with scratches: 1. If the scratch is not obvious, you can wash the car, apply coarse wax first, then polish it in a circular motion with fine wax, and finally wipe off the wax. 2. If the mark is more noticeable, you can use a touch-up paint pen to spray the area, then apply fine car wax. 3. Waxing is the most well-known method of car paint maintenance. Generally, car wash places offer waxing services. The paint after waxing looks shiny as if oiled, but it has a strong odor because the main component of car wax is petroleum extract. 4. Glazing improves upon waxing. Glazing uses high-molecular polymers and petroleum-based solvents as the main ingredients. Like car wax, it is prone to oxidation and acidification and has a pungent smell. However, glaze is harder than wax and can protect the car paint from minor scratches for a certain period.
I once accidentally scratched the front lip against the curb while parking, leaving quite a few marks. As an ordinary car owner, I first cleaned the scratched area with car wash soap to check if it was just a surface paint scratch or if the plastic was damaged. For minor scratches, I can gently polish them with toothpaste using a toothbrush and then apply car wax for protection. If the black plastic is exposed, I would buy a touch-up paint pen to dab on the spot, which becomes quite inconspicuous after drying. The repair cost is low, just a few dozen yuan to DIY, but deep damage should be avoided, otherwise, professional repair shops are needed for repainting or part replacement. Now when parking, I pay extra attention to slow down and check the rearview mirror to avoid hard impacts. In short, such minor damages don’t affect safety, but timely treatment can extend the car's lifespan.
As a car modification enthusiast, I find front lip scratches quite common, especially on ABS plastic components. Minor scratches can be easily fixed yourself: first rinse off dirt with clean water, then gently sand smooth with fine sandpaper (1000 grit), and wipe clean with a damp cloth. Next, spray matching touch-up paint or apply fun decals to cover - both concealing and adding personality. But do check if mounting screws and brackets are loose - use your phone to take underside photos for inspection. If deformed, address it promptly to prevent rattling at high speeds. For prevention, consider installing underbody protection plates or carefully navigating bumps at low speed. Overall, the repair difficulty isn't high; the key is preventing scratches from expanding and causing rust or water leaks.
