Get Ten Years Of Tree Residue Off Car Paint

[jyl]

I’m cleaning up a 2000 Volvo XC70 that was parked under a redwood tree and sat there through PNW winters for ten years.

On the positive side: “free car” with 117K miles for my son, whose old Jeep XJ has some disadvantages, and my elderly friend is happy that her late husband’s car is going to a young man she adores.

On the negative side: sitting for so long, things deteriorated and I’ve spent more than the car is worth to get it running again.

Anyway, the car is now running well, almost everything works and the things that don’t are trivial and should be easy fixes (rear hatch shows “open” warning light when it isn’t, etc). The interior including leather seats is in good condition and is cleaning up nicely. It no longer smells musty.

On the exterior, the paint survived well BUT there is one big issue. *On the horizontal surfaces (hood, roof) ten years of tree debris and water have left a sort of lacy residue that isn’t coming off.* I don’t think it is etching of the paint, you can see and feel the stuff as a raised rough layer. It’s not blobs of sap.

I’ve tried soap, brushes, 409, Goo Gone, clay bar, orbital buffer with cutting compound, no effect.

I think my next step is to try a sanding block with 600-2000 wet-dry sandpaper.

Does that make sense? Would you try something else first? Some magic chemical?

[KFC911]

I've used non-acetone fingernail polish remover on a rag with a bit of rubbing and had good results on stuff like that...

Works on my toenails too

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Can you post some pics, birdseye and up close?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Can you post some pics, birdseye and up close?

No ... I have boots on

[wdfifteen]

Start with least aggressive solvent, be patient, escalate as needed. Soap and water then mineral spirits. After that anything you use may attack the finish. Go to abrasives next, polishing compound, then rubbing compound. As a last resort, go to acetone, lacquer thinner, and paint brush restorer in order. Be aware after you unleash chemical Armageddon you can really eff up the paint.

[jyl]

Here are pics of the hood.

So, because I’m an impatient boy, I took some 600 wet to a spot, then used the orbital with cutting then polishing pad/compound. It looks like I can get the stuff off through sanding, and then get the paint back to what it should look like, and naturally it feels smoother when that’s done. However, that’s a bunch of work - I’ll have to do about 1/3 of the hood and a lot of the roof.

[jyl]

Here are better pics, in shadow and as close up as my phone will focus

I’m no longer confident the stuff is “on top of” the paint. I’m thinking it could be damage to the top layer of the paint or clear coat. I don’t know much of anything about auto paint.

[speeder]

Try WD-40. Really. Then graduate to other solvents, hopefully not too aggressive.

[Bob Kontak]

Try some vegetable oil. Put some on a spot. Let it sit for 15 minutes and rub it with a soaked rag. See if it starts to come off.

I'm not joking. There was a big thread last year and several folks said this was effective (as well as the WD40 speeder mentions)

You have to have a residue on it though or it chewed into the paint a bit and could be removed out of the depressions like the last two pics?

No more sanding for a little bit, please.

[fanaudical]

I have no experience with redwood trees. WD40 is effective for a wide variety of sticky removal chores. If that doesn't work, try each of these in a small test patch:

- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer - Let it sit, don't let it dry out. Alcohol is a good solvent for most sticky stuff from trees. An alternative would be to try isopropyl alcohol straight.

- White vinegar (straight) - Acetic acid may take it off.

- Pine Sol - Straight - It's a terpene based cleaner and may soften the residue.

I think any abrasive action will damage the paint.

[LWJ]

Not an expert. What that looks like to me is the end result of some sort of crap falling on a car. Being left there. And an algae type thing growing from the organic residue.

How to solve? I really don't know. I like the progressive solvent ideas above.

[jyl]

I’ve got some veg oil on the hood and we’ll see how that goes!

Hey, what’s a good Volvo version of Pelican - parts and forum?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

good pics, I've never seen anything like that. It looks like that whatever fell onto it has ultimately burned into the clear coat over years based on your description. 600 is pretty aggressive to start, I'd work at it with 1000 and go down to 800 if needed.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by speeder

Try WD-40. Really. Then graduate to other solvents, hopefully not too aggressive.

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Try some vegetable oil. Put some on a spot. Let it sit for 15 minutes and rub it with a soaked rag. See if it starts to come off.

I'm not joking. There was a big thread last year and several folks said this was effective (as well as the WD40 speeder mentions)

You have to have a residue on it though or it chewed into the paint a bit and could be removed out of the depressions like the last two pics?

No more sanding for a little bit, please.

IMO those are the two best answers.

Griots and others have sap removers and I think goo gone can be used as well. Rubbing alcohol might do the trick too. But as mentioned, start with the least aggressive.

[rfuerst911sc]

I agree with the advice above regarding WD40 and/or cooking oil . My only suggestion would be an eraser wheel . These are typically used to remove pin stripe tape and similar vinyl graphics . IF it works it would be slow . Good luck let us know the results .

[Scott Douglas]

If a clay bar hasn't touched that sanding is going to be your only way forward. Yes, it's work. Start at 1000 wet and go up to 2000 wet, then polish from there. Took my son three hard days to get my old 912 to where it was a black mirror.

[jyl]

I want to hire your son!

[Scott Douglas]

Funny, that's what the body shop manager said when I took my 912 by the shop to show him what kind of paint job my son was going to be expecting on his repaired Accord. They replaced a fender someone took out in a parking lot hit and run while he was playing baseball up at UCSB. The manager said he had guys who'd worked for him for 5 years that couldn't do a paint correction that good.

[Tobra]

If you are an artist, it makes it easier to turn out a piece of art

[fanaudical]

Wow, Scott - That is incredible. That should be in the "Show us your best art shot" thread.

JYL - Let us know how that turns out. You have enough "sample space" there that you could attempt several small patches at the same time.