Road tar removal?

[m topls]

Okay all you detailers, what's the best/safest way to remove the slimy road tar from my green roadster? It's the kind that if you touch it, it just smears around more. While my red car was laid up, I was driving the green car for a couple of weeks and got alot of that road tar gunk on the rocker panel on one side of the car. Do I need to remove that stuff before I hand wash the whole car and if so, what should I use? Thanks in advance for any tips.

[goofygrin]

clay bar.

[SAFE4NOW]

I've used 3m adhesive removal on my own car, this past weekend.

I am curious what the detail guys say as well...

Steve

[imaj]

3M adhesive removal is the best product for removing anything sticky. (Adhesive, Tar) The great thing about it is that it does not hurt the clear coat. Plus, it works really well for removing anything you throw at it. +1

[m topls]

3M adhesive removal is the best product for removing anything sticky. (Adhesive, Tar) The great thing about it is that it does not hurt the clear coat. Plus, it works really well for removing anything you throw at it. +1

Thank you for the tip! I am not really a clay bar type of person (don't own one and don't know proper way to use it), so I will try the 3M adhesive removal.

[Vandit]

Clay bar probably won't be the best product for this type of work anyway. A claying removes the mostly unseen contaminants that are embedded in the car's paint, not obvious road grime.

If you want to gauge how badly your car needs to be clayed, stick your hand in a ziplock bag and run it lightly over a horizontal area of paint such as the trunk, roof, or hood. If there's contaminants on there, you will definitely feel them using that technique.

Claying is really simple, just do it in small sections and use the included lubricant/detail spray very generously. Do it on a freshly washed car. Horizontal surfaces are the areas that collect the most contaminants.

The difference in paint smoothness from a waxed car vs a clayed/waxed car is night and day. Plus, giving the wax a clean surface to bond to will help it be more effective in protecting your paint.


Oh, and moving back to the tar removal and using an adhesive remover to clean it up, make sure you follow it up w/ some fresh wax, as the remover is likely to strip the wax from the car.

[Vandit]

Here, I uploaded a vid I took awhile back while claying my car that demonstrates the audible difference between a clayed and an unclayed section of my car's hood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cBQ_I1vXEM

If you've never clayed your car, you're going to be blown away by how much crap the clay is going to pull from your paint.

[RaceMX-M3]

I use Goof Off for anything that won't come off after a normal wash.

[mpulse]

I use Goof Off for anything that won't come off after a normal wash.

Thats what I use too!!! Goof Off = MAGIC

[Invisibra_Norm]

3M adhesive removal is the best product for removing anything sticky. (Adhesive, Tar) The great thing about it is that it does not hurt the clear coat. Plus, it works really well for removing anything you throw at it. +1
This is great at removing lots of sticky stuff. But you do not want to leave it on the car & let it dry, be sure to wipe it off with alcohol/water or soap/water mixture.

[Qship5]

3M adhesive removal is the best product for removing anything sticky. (Adhesive, Tar) The great thing about it is that it does not hurt the clear coat. Plus, it works really well for removing anything you throw at it. +1

+1 on the 3M adhesive remover! It will remove any type of greasy, sticky stuff from the paint. Just make sure to reapply wax or sealant after using it.

[Qship5]

Another good option is Tarminator from Stoner. It is an aerosol that does a great job of cleaning up tar and other sticky stuff. After washing the area, just spray it on, let it sit for 30 seconds and wipe with a soft cloth. Repeat if necessary.

[mordor110]

Thats what I use too!!! Goof Off = MAGIC

Yeah that works good on tar and sticky stuff. I just make sure I put a couple of coats of wax back on the area I used it on afterwards.

[Mr. Hollywood]

I use the stuff called "Bug andTar Remover." :dontknow:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc226/Kllymartin/060461dd.jpg

[mordor110]

Yeah I've got some of that bug & tar remover too and it works good. It got packed away when I moved and haven't got to that box yet I guess LOL.

[BlackSheep]

I use Goof Off for anything that won't come off after a normal wash.

That stuff works fine on my Vette and Impala, but when I used it on my Vans, it softened the clear! Be careful with it on the Mercedes Scott, my Vans are Mercedes as well... Maybe something in the Mercedes clear that doesn't mix well with the goof off.:dontknow: