Getting tree sap off of paint?
 

Need a good product to get sap off, anyone? Thanks.

I have had luck with dishwasing soap, which of course removes any wax too. I follow that up with a cleaner wax or polish.

My go to has always been Ronsonol lighter fluid. Won't hurt the clearcoat but as Matt said it will take any wax with it. -J

Also Stoner Bug-be-gone, comes in a can. It will remove just about anything, including wax.

Goo Gone?

(Not Goo off, web search says goo off removes paint.)

I was going to try this on my car that has a small dab of asphalt on the side, but wife got a coupon for a detailing and they took care of it.

Over the years (many) I have used and or tried the following materials. I used WD-40 mainly on the race car to remove rubber streaks and tar spots and a Motol silicone spray on the rocker panels and fender areas before a race and things would not stick at all.

WD-40
hand sanitizer
denatured alcohol
mineral spirits
bacon grease or lard
finger nail polish remover

completely forgot about WD40, that stuff has many uses.

Thanks. I'll try WD-40, this sap is like super glue and I'm concerned with harming the paint. This is on a fairly new car.

I've used Pledge furniture polish with some success.

Pitch and tar remover sold at the FLAPS for just this purpose. Careful as the process of removing the sap can leave a bunch of scratches due to dirt that has stuck to the sap. You can avoid as much as possible by doing small areas and using clean rags/towels as you go.

Yes, you will have to seal and wax the paint afterwards.

How did you get sap on the paint?

Have you tried plain old warm water? When I was auto body painter our prep guys swore that warm water would breakdown and remove 90% of tree sap. If that doesn't work then as mentioned above tar & bug remover should get it done. However, the effectiveness can range widely per brand... Afterwards, follow up with couple coats of wax if in a visible area etc.

Ps. If this is on older single stage paint, be very careful you don't remove the color coat along with the sap... Seen it happen on older Volvo, Merc and Porsches...

So Speeder's starting threads on sap removal? Weren't you complaining of the lack of interesting topics on the forum now just a few weeks ago? Now this? :)

Before going chemical, why not just clay bar the car first?

It works great for me on tree sap.

http://www.waxforum.com/2009ProductImages/07240.jpg


Tim

I second Goo Gone. Cheap. Won't hurt your paint. Available anywhere. And it works on a lot of other stuff too.

http://moonstruckmuse.typepad.com/.a...b556970c-800wi

Try this.
Cleaners & Stain Removers

Just a light touch with one of these should do it.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1368647541.jpg

This is the time of year. Pines are dropping the stuff. Later, the Jacarandas will make a hell of a mess all over the city. I think there are a lot of street trees where Denis lives.

On my brothers block there are three HUGE (30-50 foot) pine trees.

They have a sign posted THESE TREES DROP SAP or something like that.

And oh yeah... the Jacaranda trees, very pretty but very messy... I learned the hard way not to park under one of those.

Parked under a pine tree. Is there another way?

Yeah, park under a jacaranda.

+1

I had pine sap on a VW Passat. Bought tar remover and it did nothing. Warm soapy water was a joke. Tried some concentrated orange cleaner and it came right off with little effort. Let it sit just long enough to do the job and then re-wax.

From what I remember, the idea is to make sure the car's paint is cool, soak a piece of cloth such as gun cleaning patches in whatever you want to use, put it on the sap and let it sit. Keep soaking it and let the cleaner do the work.
Now that I think about it I did use bacon fat many, many years ago and it smelled good too!

Surprising it took so long for someone to mention the clay bar, its the only safe way to remove sap and pollen.

Off topic a bit but I worked with a guy who's brother was part of the team that invented WD-40. It was an accident, they were trying to invent/develop a water dispersant and it was on the 40th experiment that they came up with WD-40, the lubricant. The same guy invented a machine that would analyze the atmosphere using light refraction or something high tech like that, he applied to take it on the shuttle, it went, he didn't, a version was destined for Mars.

Enough of the worthless information but the clay bar is sound advise. I used it on the wifey's car before I tried it on the 930 and it worked great. I took the chainsaw to the culprits.
Finn

I have some clay bar and I'll try it but this stuff does not seem like it will come of that way.

FWIW, this did not happen outside of my place but outside a friend's house where I go frequently to play tennis and hang out. Parking in the shade is always sought out with the strong sun here but this is ridiculous.

I can probably experiment on my schit box MB C36 before I try anything on this car. It has been under the same trees.

I like to use little 2x2 or 4x4 pieces of gauze. Soak them in whatever you are going to use, let them sit. Do it early in the morning when it is cool out, in the garage or shade of course. There are some orange based adhesive removers they have at the hospital that are very handy. Clay bar is more work, but will work.

Don't forget to wax it after, try a spot inside the trunk or under the carpet to see how it does with your paint, whatever you decide to use. I know, duh, obviously, until you forget.

Don't use finger nail polish remover!

It can contain acetone (the "good" stuff does anyway) - which of course will dissolve your paint!

Here's a photo:
 

Could not get a good picture but it's on the roof and windshield of the Mini:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1368673206.jpg

Said it before, and I'll say it again....peanut butter, let it soak on and wipe off

Yes. You have alienated Dougie's holy ghost and...sap happens, eh? :confused:

Straighten up and fly right, Denis...or, use simple kerosene :rolleyes: (I'm originally from the midwest - kerosene removes road tar and sap, Coca Cola removes rust from chrome).

Cheers,

David

Plain old rubbing alcohol does the trick.

Searched it and it seems like rubbing alcohol is the winner.

Pine sap removal? | Mercedes-Benz Club of America

^+1
That's all I use at the shop. It may take a couple of attempts but it works. Flip the rag often so you don't spread the sap.

This. Had a pine tree over the driveway growing up. This is what we used.

Thanks!! Rubbing alcohol it will be, especially since I actually have some a few feet away. I'll post results later in the day.

Alcohol is excellent, of course. And on a cool day such as today, it will work fine. The prepackaged stuff for this has other less volatile compounds to increase working time. Time is what you need, the sap does not tend to dissolve instantly.