What product to remove road tar?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,167
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From: What did the 5 fingers say to the face? SLAP!!
What product to remove road tar?
I know this belongs in the Car Care section, but I figured it would see more traffic here. I have a lot of road tar on my rocker panels. What product have you guys used that works to remove it. I'm leery of these kind of products because of the bug remover I used once. I ended up having to buff the whole front of the car to get out the scratches the bug remover left.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,818
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From: Alive and well in Burlington NC
Re: What product to remove road tar? (flyersfan1088)
I'll be damned if I can remember the name (I'm at work) but it's a blue gell that is wiped on, rubbed around then wiped off. I do this when I'm geting ready to wash the car.
[Modified by Steel Blue 91, 2:11 PM 6/9/2003]
[Modified by Steel Blue 91, 2:11 PM 6/9/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 2
From: Wake Forest, NC
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: What product to remove road tar? (lou sylvestri)
Well...
I use Liquid Glass as a poish on my cars, and it will take off bugs and road tar from your paint. Seriously... When I run into a stubborn patch, just make sure you have enough of the product on your applicator and rub it in. The tar or dried bug will come right off. After a full application of the product, you don't need to worry anymore, that stuff will just wipe off your paint with no effort...
I use Liquid Glass as a poish on my cars, and it will take off bugs and road tar from your paint. Seriously... When I run into a stubborn patch, just make sure you have enough of the product on your applicator and rub it in. The tar or dried bug will come right off. After a full application of the product, you don't need to worry anymore, that stuff will just wipe off your paint with no effort...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,167
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From: What did the 5 fingers say to the face? SLAP!!
Re: What product to remove road tar? (Timmy!)
Doesn't gasoline remove it really well too? Sounds bad but I think it really works.
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: timmins on
Re: What product to remove road tar? (ld85)
I got a major major major splashing from a truck at a road under construction site and was LOADED with mud and TAR, it was raining and he was flying, nailing every puddle like he didn't give a f*&#...I mean more poopiee that I could possibly imagine :mad :mad :mad I was pissed for the rest of my 5 hour drive and my black convertable looked horrible...
Anyways I was desparate and washing the car twice had no effect on the tar...so I bought a spray can of Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover...man I was impressed...so easy to use and wiped off very nice and left a nice wax shine...I'm a big believer in that stuff now...works for tree sap too...only like 5 bucks for the spray can...
And if it could make my black nightmare go away...it must work awesome on any colour...good luck, Dave :hurray:
Anyways I was desparate and washing the car twice had no effect on the tar...so I bought a spray can of Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover...man I was impressed...so easy to use and wiped off very nice and left a nice wax shine...I'm a big believer in that stuff now...works for tree sap too...only like 5 bucks for the spray can...
And if it could make my black nightmare go away...it must work awesome on any colour...good luck, Dave :hurray:
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: What did the 5 fingers say to the face? SLAP!!
Re: What product to remove road tar? (black88con)
Well I used the WD-40. It worked like a charm. Left a terrible looking smear, though. So I hit it with Mothers Showtime Instant Detailer. Here's another thing that took about 5 minutes that I've been putting off for over a year :banghead:
Thanks guys
Thanks guys
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Re: What product to remove road tar? (black88con)
WD-40 is the tried and true technique.
But Meguiars and 3M make scratch removers and those take it off as well, they did mine.
But Meguiars and 3M make scratch removers and those take it off as well, they did mine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati OH
Re: What product to remove road tar? (flyersfan1088)
I know we used kerosene when I worked at a full service car wash years ago. Fine for other peoples cars, but not mine! :D
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Re: What product to remove road tar? (flyersfan1088)
I've used both Mineral Spirits and WD-40 to get road tar and bugs off. If you have a large chunk of road tar that has dried hard, use the Mineral Spirits to soften it up and then use WD-40 to finish the area off. Try not to rub very hard as anything that is caught up in the chunkcs of road tar will scratch the finish. Better to soak the area and let it sit for a few minutes then softly wipe with a clean cloth.
Gasoline is pretty harsh on the finish and on your hands but it works too. If you have to use gas, make sure it's in a ventilatd area and not next any flames.
Both of these will remove wax, so you will have to re-wax the area.
[Modified by c4cruiser, 4:18 PM 6/9/2003]
Gasoline is pretty harsh on the finish and on your hands but it works too. If you have to use gas, make sure it's in a ventilatd area and not next any flames.
Both of these will remove wax, so you will have to re-wax the area.
[Modified by c4cruiser, 4:18 PM 6/9/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,858
Likes: 2
Re: What product to remove road tar? (flyersfan1088)
Road tar makes me long for a black car. On a white car, it is pure torment trying to keep the rocker panels looking relatively clean on a weekly basis, if the car is driven at all. :mad
