Cleaning the car....HELP!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,956
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis In
Cleaning the car....HELP!
My car is going on display at the National Corvette Museum so it has to be spotless. I need cleaning help. What is the best tar remover for those little tar marks just behind the wheel openings? I have tried several but none work really well. Also what is the best thing to get scuffs off the door sills? I have tried several cleaners including alcohol and vinegar. Thanks for the help.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Stoner's tarminator for the tar..
Those little scuffs on the sills may be scratches in the clear coat.
If they are, hey will need a scratch removing polish and a random orbital buffer. Whcih polish and which pad is impacted by how deep the scuffs are...
Try posting in the car care section on this aspect... a lot of detailing gurus hang out there.
Those little scuffs on the sills may be scratches in the clear coat.
If they are, hey will need a scratch removing polish and a random orbital buffer. Whcih polish and which pad is impacted by how deep the scuffs are...
Try posting in the car care section on this aspect... a lot of detailing gurus hang out there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,064
Likes: 1
Cruise-In 9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
Several years ago, I had the misfortune of getting on a country road right after they had tarred the road. My car was thickly covered all along the sides of the car. The advice I was given at the time was to use diesel fuel. With plenty of elbow grease added in, all of it came off.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,956
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis In
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
Tar's nothing.
Wait until you drive your black vette down a road where they just painted the white lines.
Wait until you drive your black vette down a road where they just painted the white lines.
For the door sills, it's not the paint but the interior molding that is scratched from shoes.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
One of those Mr. Clean "erasers" will work good on the scuff marks on your door sills. Just do it lightly and they should come right off. As far as the black marks on the fenders, I use 3M Wax and Adhesive remover - as you should be taking the marks off before you wax.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 438
From: Tucson Arizona
I have a white Grand Cherokee that was laoded with tar, this stuff worked awsome, once it's sprayed on it would start to, in lack of a better word, start to melt it. this stuff worked better than anything else I've ever tried, you can pick it up at Walmart for like $5 or $6, and of course you will have to re-wax afterwards
Ozzie
Ozzie
Last edited by chevyvette1; Dec 10, 2006 at 04:28 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,049
Likes: 1,244
From: Central Ma
Originally Posted by 98IndyPacer
I use WD-40 to remove tar. Works great!
I had great luck with wd-40 also, you just need to wash and Zaino afterwards. I also used Mr clean erasers last year and they worked great.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,205
Likes: 310
From: Lino Lakes MN
I had a lot of tar on my dd, I used those moist orange hand wipes in a tube, can't remember the name brand, worked great! No damage to the paint, minimal effort, and no loss of shop towels.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert Arizona
I have used a product called "Bug & Tar Remover" it is made by the Lifter 1 Company - I bought it at Autozone. I unfortunatley have had to use it on our Tahoe repeatedly and on my 01 Coupe 3 times. Just follow the directions, spray it on , let it soak in, and most of the smaller spots will simply wipe off. The thicker/bigger ones amy take a little effort, or a second shot. No damage to the Clearcoat and it is Lemon Scented. I have to admit, I do spot wash and wax the area after every application. Black and Yellow spray can to be specific.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 349
From: Layton Utah
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
One of those Mr. Clean "erasers" will work good on the scuff marks on your door sills. Just do it lightly and they should come right off. As far as the black marks on the fenders, I use 3M Wax and Adhesive remover - as you should be taking the marks off before you wax.
I had some pretty bad scuff marks when I first bought the car and the Mr Clean erasers were the only thing I could get to take them off. By the way, go the car car section and do a search on any topic your interested in cleaning and detailing the car. There is a lot of good stuff there.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,425
Likes: 24,608
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I've used WD-40 or just some paste wax to remove tar. The scuff marks may come off with the use of a Magic Eraser.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Originally Posted by beary58
Peanut butter works great on tar. I know it sounds silly, but I read about it somewhere and tried it. Great stuff, but you need put it on after lunch or you may be tempted to........
