How to clean glue residue off truck hood
 

I stripped 5 year old vinyl graphics off my truck hood yesterday . The vinyl was sun checked/cracked . Had to remove with heat gun and plastic putty knife . Fun job :D . Anyway I now have this glue residue to clean up .

I tried goof off citrus gel it didn't touch it . I tried acetone and that worked OK. The paint lifted in a few spots so repaint is needed . As of yesterday the glue was still sticky . So do I hit this with acetone ? Or do I use a sander and take it to bare metal ?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1749170114.jpg

Wd-40?

3m adhesive removing wheel

Can you repaint it yourself?

If yes, that may be your best option.

The glue laughed at WD40 . The glue appears to be drying now that the vinyl is removed . I am going to let it dry for a few days then attack with a sander . The graphic was installed between the two hood creases . So my plan is mask off the hood creases and then sand the center .

I think I can feather the spots where paint lifted and spot prime . Then sand the rest to remove the glue residue . Hopefully leaving a good base for repaint . I seriously doubt I can color match 24 year old paint . So I am thinking about painting the center section black . Thoughts ?

I think I can paint it myself , I took auto body shop class 50 years ago :D so should be easy :eek: . We shall see .

Since you don’t care about the paint, use a chemical stripper. Brush it on, drink a beer, come back and you can scrape everything off with a putty knife. It is NASTY stuff, use it in the open and wear chemical resistant rubber gloves. I learned the hard way that it will burn exposed skin.

I do somewhat care about the paint . I am hoping 95 % can just be sanded the remaining 5 % will go bare metal . That's the plan but plans don't always work out . Thanks for the tip .

I'd back that down to 3M adhesive remover.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-38984-Specialty-Adhesive-Remover/dp/B0054S5OOU/ref=asc_df_B0054S5OOU?mcid=d74c409b5582365caa30035 5ce685f73&hvocijid=13725461266852781999-B0054S5OOU-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw= g&hvrand=13725461266852781999&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqm t=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016003&hv targid=pla-2281435179058&th=1

The real Goof Off Pro that’s oil based might be a good intermediate then, it won’t strip paint. The citrus stuff is a joke.

Or Lacquer paint thinner.

I just used lacquer thinner on a paper towel along with a plastic scraper to remove a patch of old PPF and its adhesive from my 997. It didn't affect the paint, I preceded cautiously and it took longer than I expected.

Listen to the old guy

I’ve been removing the clear bra glue off my cayman for over year now. Most is gone but there are still remnants. Mostly a track car these days so not worried about looks. What a pain in the butt! No more clear bras for me! Best thing I’ve found is 3M adhesive remover. I’ve used spray and bulk liquid. Sprayed on surface, sprayed on blue paper towel, whatever, it’s so tedious I’ve tried it all used a steam cleaner with minimal success. I’ve used a plastic scraper with some success. Once again, it just sucks!

Something I didn't think of until David mentioned a steam cleaner, but a hot water pressure washer (rented) can take some of the heavier glue residue off and then use the 3M adhesive remover. I've used Xylene and lacquer thinner before but the 3M product seems to work the best. On thicker adhesives, I apply the 3M product, let it work for a little bit, take a plastic scraper and remove, then wipe with a paper towel soaked in the adhesive remover. For full disclosure, I'm typically working on powder coat paint but orange and gray paint on Bobcat machines is enamel and I haven't had any trouble to speak of with pain lift. YMMV

Those are awesome but can dent the metal with thinner panels.

I just sanded with 100 grit and got no where . I think the friction/heat is making the adhesive gummy . I used a 1/2 quart of acetone and really didn't do much . Off to the store to get lacquer thinner . This job sucks bigly !!!

Went at it with lacquer thinner and it removed what I will call the top layer of adhesive . Now what's left on the hood is the bottom layer of adhesive . It is a semi clear layer .

I will continue with the lacquer thinner to see if I can finally get down to the paint . May try the citrus cleaner again . This is some tough adhesive !

I know that I will NEVER ever install graphics/PPF or a wrap on any vehicle I own .

I am even considering doing that center section with black truck bed coating . She is my DIY truck and our tow vehicle .

Easy button: Go to the bone yard and buy a white hood off of an Avalanche or 1500 and call it a day. Gotta be a million white hoods from that era truck in the bone yards.