Dear Tom and Ray:

My curious 10-year-old daughter thought it might be interesting to see if she could actually fry an egg on a car roof on a hot day. Since we had several days above 100 degrees this past summer, she waited and then picked her target: my silver, 1984 Toyota Corolla. The experiment was a semi-success, as the egg did, indeed, semi-cook. It became a tough, resinous goo, only part of which could I remove at the local "blast and wash" using a steady stream of soap, water and quarters. How do I get the remaining egg experiment off my car? -- Bob

Ray: Sounds like the egg might have interacted with the paint, Bob. In which case I'd recommend a landau roof.

Tom: The problem is that she didn't use any shortening. She needs to use shortening the next time -- or you need to order your next car with a "nonstick" roof.

Ray: The first place to try, Bob, is a "detail" shop. Those guys are experts in interior and exterior cleaning and polishing. They might have some products that are stronger than standard soaps and might be able to dissolve more of the egg without eating through the paint of your little Corolla -- or at least not all of the paint.

Tom: If they can't remove the egg to your satisfaction, the next step would be a body shop, which can buff out the roof with rubbing compound. That will probably work.

Ray: Or if all else fails, you can just add some bacon and a side of home fries and tell people that your daughter is a performance artist.

What's the best way to warm up your engine in the morning? Find out by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 2000 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Back to the December 2000 index