Pollen seems innocuous, but if left unchecked, it can damage your car’s paint and even reduce gas mileage and engine performance. “Pollen season tends to catch drivers off guard because it doesn’t feel as urgent as winter hazards like ice or salt,” says driver education expert Lucas Waldenback. “But over a few weeks, it can affect visibility, air quality and even how easy your car is to maintain.” Here are some preventative steps to keep your vehicle and the air inside safe during pollen season. How Are Cars ‘Allergic’ to Pollen? Just like pollen can cause respiration problems in humans, it can clog your car’s air filter, reducing its ability to intake air. Pollen is also especially rough on paint. “It may seem soft to touch, but under a microscope, pollen actually has a spiky surface, and this can act like fine sandpaper,” says automotive specialist Matt Clamp. How Does Pollen Damage Cars? The most noticeable damage is to vehicle paint.…