Road tar removal
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
Road tar removal
Does anyone know the best way to remove road tar from the paint on a yellow vette? The whole back bumper area is covered with tiny flecks of tar from all the road construction in Chicago the last few years and ordinary car wash soap does not seem to help. There has to be some product I can wipe on to remove the tar without hurting the paint or finish?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Does anyone know the best way to remove road tar from the paint on a yellow vette? The whole back bumper area is covered with tiny flecks of tar from all the road construction in Chicago the last few years and ordinary car wash soap does not seem to help. There has to be some product I can wipe on to remove the tar without hurting the paint or finish?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
Thanks.... gonna have to try the Grime Destroyer out on the yellow and see if that helps. Amazon has a nice little video about it at this link http://www.amazon.com/Surf-City-Gara.../dp/B001JT1D1Q
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
Too late now but with a coat of Rejex, 99% of those tar spots just fall off with a normal wash. That's what Rejex was designed to do. http://www.corrosionx.com/rejex.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,213
Likes: 18
Does anyone know the best way to remove road tar from the paint on a yellow vette? The whole back bumper area is covered with tiny flecks of tar from all the road construction in Chicago the last few years and ordinary car wash soap does not seem to help. There has to be some product I can wipe on to remove the tar without hurting the paint or finish?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 850
Likes: 10
From: Athens OH
I am in the process of knocking tar off mine as well. Over the counter product worked well on the paint, turtle wax brand, and wd-40 on a rag on tough spots. I used mineral spirits to clean out the wheel wells and black plastic without any discoloring issues. I bought mine used and guy must have drove through construction as well because it was coated with both grease and tar. It was pretty awesome to clean, heavy sarcasm. Luckily I don't mind detailing the vette, cigar, radio, dog laying next to me okay way to pass my afternoon.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years
Joe Kucinski
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
recommended by a clear bra installer is 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover, big red and white spray can. only have to use very, very little. will last a long time. if not at general auto parts stores, any body parts store will have, but I've seen it at the body repair section of Pep, Advance,etc.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,382
Likes: 5,259
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 75
From: Cleveland, OH
All the above are good suggestions but learning from my father, I always keep a small plastic gallon of kerosene in my garage and I use it for tar removal. Sometimes I'll mix it with a little water in a bucket and use an old clean rag. It works wonders. Keep it off clear bras and windows. It will not harm paint and it softens the big globs. Dad used to mix kerosene with water and wipe down his cars after he washed them. I never remember any rusty chrome. I'll be 71 in a couple of weeks and some of the younger guys may doubt this technique but many of the older members will tell you it works.
Last edited by nmerhaut; Apr 13, 2011 at 02:49 PM.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
I'd try one of the more gentle citrus based adhesive removers first such as Goo-Gone or Oop's. For more stubborn oil, tar, rubber marks (especially on my wheels) I use either the industrial Oop's brand remover or 3M makes an aerosol spay adhesive remover...both work well. I always wash off the area immediately after applying any 'remover' and sometimes I reapply polish to the paint.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,437
Likes: 3,628
From: Commerce Texas
All the above are good suggestions but learning from my father, I always keep a small plastic gallon of kerosene in my garage and I use it for tar removal. Sometimes I'll mix it with a little water in a bucket and use an old clean rag. It works wonders. Keep it off clear bras and windows. It will not harm paint and it softens the big globs. Dad used to mix kerosene with water and wipe down his cars after he washed them. I never remember any rusty chrome. I'll be 71 in a couple of weeks and some of the younger guys may doubt this technique but many of the older memebers will tell you it works.
