Removing sap from paint
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
Dried sun baked sap can be as difficult to remove as paint spatter. Try one of the clay bar systems on the market, they work wonders for removing contaminants from paint... 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
What? Spray the entire car with WD-40? 
Try using glaze remover. It has several names, like "Kleeno".You can get it from a auto paint supply shop. But you'll have to wax the car afterward. (But that'll make it easier to wash off the sap next time...)
Oh...and try it on an inconspicuous place first!
Try using glaze remover. It has several names, like "Kleeno".You can get it from a auto paint supply shop. But you'll have to wax the car afterward. (But that'll make it easier to wash off the sap next time...)
Oh...and try it on an inconspicuous place first!
Last edited by page62; Aug 19, 2004 at 11:27 AM.
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Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
WD-40 is not a good thing to use on paint. Remember it's a penitrating oil and ALL paint surfaces are poris wheather it's Baseclear or Lacquer. The end result will be if you ever need to paint that surface in the future you have a mess of fish eye craters, or at the very least a pale yellow streak may show up on lighter color paints .Tree sap is oraganic and removal should be the same, soap and water first followed by a paint cleaner like Zymol cleaner. Tar Bug is decent in small areas as well as mineral spirits. End the process with a good washing again and a coat of polish.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Originally Posted by Ken74Conv
What is the best way to remove sap from the paint without harming the finish?
Brett
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Oakton VA
I've had good luck with commercial tar and bug remover. It's safe on paint. In my experience, it takes patience. Keep the spot wet for a while and rub the loose stuff off occasionally. It probably won't come off in one swell foop. If you end up with a "ring" where the edges dried harder than the center, try polishing compound or a "cleaner wax".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 6
From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
An alternative to WD40 is Ballistol. It can actually be put in your car wash bucket along with soap. We AREN'T talking about spraying the entire car in WD-40 BTW. It's for indivudual sap areas. If I wanted the whole car coated I'd dip it instead. 
Also, WD40 is actually not a "penetrating oil" like Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster. It's much more lubricant than penetrant. If you wanted to paint an area that was shot with WD40 or any other lubricant/oil, the correct way is to PREP it first. Unless your name is Bubba
Dep
Also, WD40 is actually not a "penetrating oil" like Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster. It's much more lubricant than penetrant. If you wanted to paint an area that was shot with WD40 or any other lubricant/oil, the correct way is to PREP it first. Unless your name is Bubba
Dep
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Originally Posted by DJ Dep
An alternative to WD40 is Ballistol. It can actually be put in your car wash bucket along with soap. We AREN'T talking about spraying the entire car in WD-40 BTW. It's for indivudual sap areas. If I wanted the whole car coated I'd dip it instead.
Also, WD40 is actually not a "penetrating oil" like Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster. It's much more lubricant than penetrant. If you wanted to paint an area that was shot with WD40 or any other lubricant/oil, the correct way is to PREP it first. Unless your name is Bubba
Dep
Also, WD40 is actually not a "penetrating oil" like Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster. It's much more lubricant than penetrant. If you wanted to paint an area that was shot with WD40 or any other lubricant/oil, the correct way is to PREP it first. Unless your name is Bubba
Dep
I would like to hear the explanation given at a forum members repair shop when they explain how someone told them to use a "Lubricant" on their paint to remove sap. I've worked too long in the automotive industry at the manufacturing level to hear all of the great and informative suggestions most of which were good ideas when dirt was new !. Don't take me wrong, opinions are like ***' everybody has one, but don't send out information that could damage someones classic. DJ Dep, no need to cop an attitude about my reply, your post has some good content and useful information.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 6
From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by mrcorvette79
I believe using WD-40 on your paint would qualify for membership in the Bubba club I would like to hear the explanation given at a forum members repair shop when they explain how someone told them to use a "Lubricant" on their paint to remove sap. I've worked too long in the automotive industry at the manufacturing level to hear all of the great and informative suggestions most of which were good ideas when dirt was new !. Don't take me wrong, opinions are like ***' everybody has one, but don't send out information that could damage someones classic.
DJ Dep, no need to cop an attitude about my reply, your post has some good content and useful information.
I would like to hear the explanation given at a forum members repair shop when they explain how someone told them to use a "Lubricant" on their paint to remove sap. I've worked too long in the automotive industry at the manufacturing level to hear all of the great and informative suggestions most of which were good ideas when dirt was new !. Don't take me wrong, opinions are like ***' everybody has one, but don't send out information that could damage someones classic. DJ Dep, no need to cop an attitude about my reply, your post has some good content and useful information.
I have used WD40 for MANY years to take crap off my car, including tree sap and road tar. Spray it on. wipe off the junk, and use a cleaner/wax if you are all that worried. Road oil gets all over a car when it's driven on the street so any COMPETENT paint shop better take that into consideration BEFORE they start spraying.
No attitude...but lets apply the answers to real world situations.
Unless people are racing their Vettes at NASCAR events, body damage and repaint should be a pretty rare event.
Dep
