Tiny black dots

[jksgoh]

gave my car a much needed was yesterday, and i noticed quite a number of small black dots on my car. they are mostly around the rear, especially the top of the rear bumper, but also on all the other panels.
i managed to get some of them off using a bug and tar remover and quite a bit of elbow grease, but some wont budge at all.
It was practically impossible to get a decent photo of them due to their small size.
with my car being AW, these small dots are quite annoying, does anybody have a solution to getting rid of these????
would claying get rid of these? (i've never clayed a vehicle before)

[jibaholic101]

clay sounds like your answer if tar remover wont work, sounds like they are in the finish, that is what clay is for.

[Dave]

those are
a-from tree
b- from your lawn ppl who use pesticides
c- freaky bugs


i had same issue with my old subbie

after summer went away but make sure u cover car or clean them off reg... they really damage the paint if u let them sit on it

[Lester]

A good clay bar teatament followed by a sealant/protector such as Zaino will help prevent this from happening. The paint will be like a teflon fry pan, and shite like bird crap, road tar, tree sap, bugs etc does not stick to the paint.

[Greg@DetailedImage]

I would also recommend using a clay bar. If that doesn't work try a product like the Stoner Tarminator. It dissolves tar safely and saves you a lot of scrubbing.

Greg @ Detailed Image

[KeithLM]

I once found a bunch of brownish/black spots on a car, they were real small and all over the front, and like you said near impossible to photograph. To me it looked like oil, I think what could have happened was that I drove behind someone that was burning oil and it just settled on my car. Clay bar was the only way to get rid of it.

Originally Posted by Lester

A good clay bar teatament followed by a sealant/protector such as Zaino will help prevent this from happening. The paint will be like a teflon fry pan, and shite like bird crap, road tar, tree sap, bugs etc does not stick to the paint.

I wish that were the case. I found some bird droppings on my car at lunch one day recently, that night I washed it off and there's some damage to the clearcoat. The Zaino was put on in May and it's only been washed a couple times since then.

[BlackjackMulligan]

Clay bar should work. Also, you can try Meguire's Paint Cleaner.....I've had good luck with that stuff too. Just make sure you wax and or seal after using it.

[soltz14]

i live in a rural area where the pesky black dots are especially problematic....it's from bugs and water.... clay is the only way to completely clean them off

[1speedbike]

I get them all the time! I think it's tree sap because I only get them when I park next to the trees on one side of the driveway. Tar remover, tree sap remover, regular car wash, and decal/adhesive remover all haven't worked for me without ridiculous amounts of scrubbing. I'll try the clay bars next I guess..

[jksgoh]

thanks for the info guys, will give claying a go prob in the next week when i have a bit more time.
just of note tho, after i went for a quick 10min drive there was a lot of similar looking black dots all over my rear bumper which were easily wiped off. so im guessing that these bond after time ....

[SLO]

I just finished a full detail and I still have the black dots that other AW owners have seen. I did a degreaser, washed the car, clayed, washed the car, medium polish, washed the car, final polish. Black dots are still there.

[jksgoh]

hmm... thats a bit concerning... havent had a chance to re do my car to see if claying works or not...
anyone else got some suggestions?

[Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!]

Originally Posted by Greg@DetailedImage

I would also recommend using a clay bar. If that doesn't work try a product like the Stoner Tarminator. It dissolves tar safely and saves you a lot of scrubbing.

Greg @ Detailed Image

Greg,

After claying is it necessary to re-seal the car? Many times I will clay just a couple of small pieces of tar from the fenders/front bumper while cleaning and then just wash off. Is this a bad method?