Getting sap off paint.

[ejm3]

Not my car but hers.
At work she had an assigned spot to park, which is nice but it was under an unknown kind of tree that deposited sap on the car.

Not sure what kind of treees these are but the sap is unbelievable. It's ruining the paint and taking he clear coat right off. I've tried a number of things to get it off but nothing works.
Even some on the windshield is still there.

Any ideas to get rid of this crap?

She's not parking in that spot anymore at least but it's been probably 6 months and it still won't go away.

[P1et]

Have you tried using clay yet? Any pics you can share?

[TS135i]

Eucalyptus spray will do the trick.

[shah269]

WD40, no joke...it will work.

[rking117]

Originally Posted by shah269

WD40, no joke...it will work.

Be careful as this has solvents in it and can soften the paint.

[Adam135]

Tree sap will definitely eat through your paint if you leave it too long. It's possible the damage has already been done. I would recommend trying Stoner Tarminator: http://www.amazon.com/Stoner-91156-T...er+tar+remover

[ejm3]

I'll take a pic if the fog ever lifts around here.
Yes I fear some irrepairable damage has already been done to the paint.
Other than eblow grease the only things I've tried is something I had around the house call Bug & Tar Remover but its useless.
I'll check out soem of the items mentioned here, though WD40 sounds scary to use on paint.

[cpsquare8]

Originally Posted by shah269

WD40, no joke...it will work.

+1 but go slowly-let it soak in with a paper towel and go slowly-too many people get aggressive and ruin the clear. It also helps to get it a little warm - sun - no real heat.

[Dackelone]

^^I would NEVER use a paper towel on a painted surface. That's a no no.

I would try a clay bar first, then maybe Tarminator or 3M's all purpose cleaner. Use a new micro fiber towel... then throw it away after you are done removing the tree sap.

I have even seen people(detailers) use kerosene fuel as a wheel cleaner, maybe that would work too. ??? But I would be afraid of damaging the paint with kerosene. I think if the clay or 3M cleaner(s) don't work... maybe seek the advice of a pro detailer in your area.

[Edogg218]

Methanol. If you don't have any, you can use the "Heet" brand dry-gas in the yellow bottle, not the red bottle (red is the ethanol stuff). It's what I've used and body shops use, and it works perfectly on a microfiber.

[RimasRS]

Try petrol 93 or what ever it should help. Though could be to late because it can damage the clear cote. My friend had same thing on his Merc he had to repaint.

[x5mad]

I would use clay bar. Remember there are different grades of clay bar from fine to coarse. Sounds like you may need the coarse one but whichever you will need to polish afterwards (preferably machine polish) then seal with either wax or sealant.

[cpsquare8]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

^^I would NEVER use a paper towel on a painted surface. That's a no no.

I would try a clay bar first, then maybe Tarminator or 3M's all purpose cleaner. Use a new micro fiber towel... then throw it away after you are done removing the tree sap.

I have even seen people(detailers) use kerosene fuel as a wheel cleaner, maybe that would work too. ??? But I would be afraid of damaging the paint with kerosene. I think if the clay or 3M cleaner(s) don't work... maybe seek the advice of a pro detailer in your area.

You do not rub the surface with the paper towel -you are correct on that point-that would destroy your finish - you let it soak the Wd40 into the SAP and the paper towel is the best I have found to hold it in place - kind of like when you cut yourself shaving and put a piece to tp on it in reverse. It works on tree dropings to disolve most sap. Clay will never get the old hard sap off in my experience - works great if you get it imediately- sadly our trees on this side of the pond drop clumps that are very thick - it has never come off with clay - it just gets hard and lumpy. This technique is merely done to soften the sap and hold the solvent in place, then it comes off with nominal effort. You could also use cotton balls or a micro fibre - but they do not hold the Wd40 as well as a paper towel. Most sap falls off like honey when you get it soft and slippery - but some is really tough. The harder the tree the harde to remove in my experience.

[froop]

I believe all those red spots that are on your car after you park it under a tree are actually a result of the byproducts of bugs found in the trees rather than sap.

Either way, it's a bitch to remove. I had this problem badly on my last car, a mark V golf GTI.

I tried everything. Eventually, the only effective way I could remove it was actually with a scotch brite pad rubbing moderately. Make sure the car is completely clean first (apart from the marks you're trying to remove anyway). I can't remember if I used lubricant or water or nothing at all but probably safest would be to try with some lubricant first.

I didn't end up damaging my paint but theory would suggest you definitely could.

Try clay first though.

[RoadRunner///M]

No to petrol, it will eat clear coat!

No to clay, only use as last resort.

Suggest tar remover http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-T-5...ds=tar+remover

[froop]

Originally Posted by Ian///M

No to petrol, it will eat clear coat!

No to clay, only use as last resort.

Suggest tar remover http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-T-5...ds=tar+remover

I tried that exact turtle wax bug and tar remover but it didn't work for me.

Sounds horrible to scotch brite your car paint but surprisingly it worked flawlessly without scratching my paint. No guarantees though of course LOL. My AW paint seems to scratch so easily. Maybe VW paint is harder...

[RoadRunner///M]

Originally Posted by froop

I tried that exact turtle wax bug and tar remover but it didn't work for me.

Sounds horrible to scotch brite your car paint but surprisingly it worked flawlessly without scratching my paint. No guarantees though of course LOL. My AW paint seems to scratch so easily. Maybe VW paint is harder...

Ok, I use the AutoGlym product ... Never fails. Parrafin also works.

The eucalyptus oil in gum tree sap will eat into clearcoat. Having sealant on your paint will help wonders though.

[ejm3]

Originally Posted by Ian///M

No to petrol, it will eat clear coat!

No to clay, only use as last resort.

Suggest tar remover http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-T-5...ds=tar+remover

Yeah I tried this stuff and the sap just laughed at it. Did abosultely nothing.

[KingOfJericho]

Goo-gone?

[RoadRunner///M]

Originally Posted by ejm3

Yeah I tried this stuff and the sap just laughed at it. Did abosultely nothing.

Is the sap hard and brittle? I took some off a car years ago and I just had to be patient.... Keep applying more while gently rubbing for about 10 mins, it isn't a miracle one wipe over product.

[ejm3]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Goo-gone?

That's not a bad idea. Won't hurt the paint will it?

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by ejm3

That's not a bad idea. Won't hurt the paint will it?

I used it on my black S4 to get the residue left from a dealer badge and the V6T lettering and it didn't harm it in any way, but don't let that be enough of an indicator that it is not harmful. I immediately polished and waxed the areas as well.