Road Tar Removal

[TXS2000]

OK. So my family is killing me on the detailing work I've done. Turns out my son decides to drive the Civic down a half paved road near our house while they are working on it. (We've been avoiding it for 6+ months while they rebuild it!) He decided he couldn't take an extra 10 minutes today! So anyway, the car is now loaded with tar. On the one side it is a fine mist. On the passenger side, it is as thick as dried on mud (like I've been out mudding). Any recommendations on removing a coating this thick??????

[Qship5]

If it is really thick, it is going to take time and a lot of tar remover / solvent to get it off. It will also likely come off easier if it is warm. You might want to try a section by spraying with Stoner Tarminator, letting it soak in, respray let it soak and respray again before trying to wipe it. (I've also had good luck using 3M adhesive remover to disolve road tar.) You can get it warm by either letting the car sit in the sun for a while or with a heat gun. (If using the heat gun approach, use caution and don't get it too hot.)

[TXS2000]

If it is really thick, it is going to take time and a lot of tar remover / solvent to get it off. It will also likely come off easier if it is warm. You might want to try a section by spraying with Stoner Tarminator, letting it soak in, respray let it soak and respray again before trying to wipe it. (I've also had good luck using 3M adhesive remover to disolve road tar.) You can get it warm by either letting the car sit in the sun for a while or with a heat gun. (If using the heat gun approach, use caution and don't get it too hot.)

Thanks for the advice. I've never used the Stoner product but I'll give it a try. I use their window cleaner and it works great. Also, you use the term "you" several times above. Please note that the "you" will be my 18 year old son who will learn why we don't do this or drive that fast through fresh oil/tar when we do make this mistake. :D :D :D

[Louis]

Ive been in the SAME boat with my old C5. It totally covered the car, mid door line down with tar. I used about 10 cans of WD40, and re-zaino'ed it with out issue. The WD40 took it right off and didnt harm the car at all.

[Qship5]

Thanks for the advice. I've never used the Stoner product but I'll give it a try. I use their window cleaner and it works great. Also, you use the term "you" several times above. Please note that the "you" will be my 18 year old son who will learn why we don't do this or drive that fast through fresh oil/tar when we do make this mistake. :D :D :D

+1

I would make my son do it as well...might even make him check the rest of the cars just in case there is any on them so he really thinks twice before doing it again.:D

[Ron@DETAILS,LTD]

Thanks for the advice. I've never used the Stoner product but I'll give it a try. I use their window cleaner and it works great. Also, you use the term "you" several times above. Please note that the "you" will be my 18 year old son who will learn why we don't do this or drive that fast through fresh oil/tar when we do make this mistake. :D :D :D

I recommend using a heat gun to soften it up, then use a flexible, plastic bondo spreader to scrape it off and it will not scratch the paint. The bondo spreader will flex to the shape of the car. Then, the chemical adhesive remover will remove the rest without a whole lot more work. If it is a white car, get it off sooner than later because the tar will discolor your car's clear topcoat.

I had a white Porsche GT2 in my shop that had a similar situation and the client left it on for a week before we got to it and it was too late. We had to paint parts of the car.

[TXS2000]

Quick update. My son did the cleaning of the car on Saturday. The Stoner Tarminator worked too well. It made it easy to get the tar off even in the thick places. All said and done though, he spent 6 hours removing the tar, buffing, polishing, and reapplying paint sealant. I think it was a good lesson for him! :whistle:

[Qship5]

Glad that worked out for you...err him.:laugh: I'm sure he will be more aware of where he drive from now on.