Funny Pale Of Green

[Bazile]

Why does a car bodywork turn a green colour after it's been left standing for a while ?

[Mamyalynne]

Depends where it's parked I imagine, spores from nearby trees causing mould perhaps?

[Baldric]

///Considering most cars (external) are made from aluminium///

No they're not.

[melv16]

The only aluminum car I can think of is a lotus Caterham.

[Chipchopper]

Algal growth.

[bhg481]

Nor is the paint enamel.

[Baldric]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressed_Steel_Company#British_Leyland_and_BMW

Today three major Pressed Steel factories are still in operation. The Cowley plant is now where BMW's Mini is assembled, known as Plant Oxford. At the old Swindon plant the BMW subsidiary Swindon Pressings Limited, or Plant Swindon, produces parts for the new Mini. Lastly, Pressed Steel's former factory in Castle Bromwich now forms part of Jaguar's main assembly plant.

[bhg481]

Can I ask Bazile to be more specific about the green colour? Is it a change of colour of the paint or is it a coating which can be washed off? I suspect he was referring to the latter in which case, as Chipchopper suggested, it's probably algae. My caravan gets green in places over the winter but it can be washed off.

[Bazile]

sorry , i should have made that clearer

Yes bhg481 , it's a coating which looks as if it will take a lot of scrubbing to get rid of

I didn't think of algae

So how does it get unto the body work - is it as mamy says , the spores that is carried in the rain ?

[Mamyalynne]

It can be from a number of sources, is it in a damp,cold garage or car port?

[douglas9401]

No chance it's a green car I suppose.

[bhg481]

I think it's just wind-carried spores. Depending on how you define "a while" it may not be too difficult to get off. Our caravan is left out all winter and the algae tends to be mainly on the north side. After the few months of winter it comes off with normal shampoo with a little help from a toothbrush in some nooks and crannies. If the car has been sat for a long time it might be more difficult.

[Bazile]

It's been out in the open for donkeys .

Douglas -i'll check later

[Chipchopper]

Algae will grow on most surfaces, even glass, if not cleaned especiall if its left in the shade for some time.
Regular car shampoo will get rid.

[Mamyalynne]

Leave it a while and turn it into a visitor attraction.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g294265-d2149128-i88964740-Gardens_by_the_Bay-Singapore.html