Ford invented artificial bird poo to help keep your car’s paint pristine in the real world

While getting hit by bird poo may be a sign of good luck (who even invented that?), bird poo landing on your car can be a lot less lucky for its paintwork.

Among the many tests car companies do to ensure vehicles work and run well, Ford has created a synthetic bird poo test which takes things to the next level. Although the image of hundreds of crows sitting on power lines and fences ready to bombard cars with poo like some kind of Alfred Hitchcock film crosses your mind, the reality is that it’s the lab where the work of artificial bird poo shines bright.

The laboratory-developed synthetic droppings are so realistic that they can accurately reflect the differing diets and acidity of bird droppings. The solution is then sprayed on car panels with sample pieces aged at 40° C, 50° C and 60° C in an oven to replicate real world usage and conditions of where a poo covered car may be parked.

They also spray phosphoric acid mixed with soap detergent, and synthetic pollen on panels before aging them in ovens at 60° C and 80° C for 30 minutes. The test guards against airborne particulates such as pollen and sticky tree sap which are also major contributors to nature’s graffiti work of your car.

While science has come to the rescue of car paint, it is always recommended that you do some of the scrubbing yourself just to be sure says André Thierig, Core Engineering Paint manager at Ford of Europe.

“With so many cars parked up at the moment as people stay at home, it’s likely birds are leaving their mark more than usual. It’s wise to remove it before it gets too baked on, but our customers can at least take some consolation in the work we do to keep their paint protected.”

Since we are in a science story, here are some interesting science facts about bird poo. Bird poo is often white and black, but it’s not all poo. The white part is uric acid, the bird equivalent of urine, formed in the urinary tract. Poo is made in the digestive system and while both can be secreted at the same time, it happens with such speed that the two don’t have time to mix. Except for all over your freshly washed car…hope you had the sunroof closed.

The advice for any car owner is to regularly wash the vehicle with a sponge and lukewarm water containing neutral pH shampoo, and gently remove any substances from the paintwork immediately. Waxing once or twice a year helps ensure new paint finishes can better resist any harsh attacks, while staying shiny for longer. Also when looking for somewhere to park your car, avoid parking directly under trees or light poles as birds do love to sit and launch an attack from a height.

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