Hi NELOC Fam,

So it's been hot as issh in Philly and I decided to park underneath a tree for the past 2-3 days. I hand washed my car today and notice drops of tree sap from hood to trunk on my dark blue car that is not coming off!

How the heck do I remove it without going to the detailer? My car was just detailed 2-3 months ago and I really don't want to spend another $150 for the detail. I did a search in the detail forum and there is just way too many suggestions and difficult steps with tools and products that I don't have. Any simple suggestions? I wanted to ask you guys first....

 

i would use a lambs wool wash mitt and meg gold car wash it should come off. Scrub a little hard the lambs wool wont strach the paint

 

Buy a bug & Tar remover, spray it on let it sit for a minute or so then wash the car with yeah, a lambs mit, and some good car wash. It should come off, don't press overly hard on the sap spots but at the same time "focus" more on them.

Hope this helps. GL.

 

I was actually just reading about wd-40 and its thousands of uses

 

usually a nice wash will get it off. or a good claying will also help Thai. if you come out to the rutgers thing ill share some tips .

 

that actually doesnt work. only reason i know this is because they recently cut a tree back in my area and by doing so, it is now leaking sap and when the wind picks up, well you get the idea.

my sister had it all over here trailblazer and i had it all over my beater. after trying many things (including bug and tar remover) it still stayed on. best thing to use is rubbing alcohol. i wouldnt advise using it on the paint though because im not too sure what it will do to the paint if anything. i used it on my windshield to remove the sap and it came off perfectly.

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the feedback. I took the car to this hand wash car wash on 12th and Spring Garden in Philly, they always do an awesome job on my car but the tree sap didn't come off. I actually notice it more now than when the car was dirty. The sap has a orange-ish color to it.

I'm going to try both the bug & tar remover on the paint and clay bar. I'll use rubbing alcohol on the front and rear windshield.

Now after I use the bug and tar or clay bar, do I need to wax the car or wash it again? I've never waxed the car on my own, I always have someone do it for me.

I really have to get this crap off the car ASAP cause the car sits baking in the Sun all day while I"m at work and I hate to have this stuff eat through my paint by the time Summer is over.

Hey Joe. What Rutgers thing are you talking about? When is it? We live close to Rutgers. Maybe I'll stop by and say hi.

 

I have used rubbing alcohol both on the paint as well as on the windows to remove excessively stubborn spots of tree sap with no adverse affects. I did not wash my entire car with this, just dabbed it on a papertowel/microfiber towel and concentrated solely on the spot itself. Then washed the car again when I was finished. You guys know that a black car shows EVERYTHING.

As others have stated, a good wash mitt along with a quality car wash should remove the sap. Clay bar will also do the job, however, be prepared to spend some time doing this as the clay bar step is effective, but not too fast.

Thousands of uses, yes, but I personally not do use it for this, on paint. Have to be very careful with where you use that stuff. Yes it does work, however the long term results may not show up for some time.

 

yes you need to wash your car before and after claying the car.. then you need to wax it to put a protective coat over the paint..

 

thats good to know. my buddy works at a body shop and is the one who told me to use the rubbing alcohol to remove the sap. sap is pretty sticky and a normal wash will not remove it.

if the alcohol will not damage the paint, i would suggest doing what was mentioned above and putting a small amount on a fiber towel and remove it from the body. once off i would spray the area with quick detailer to remove any left over alcohol on the paint.

 

I have heard this several times but never seen any evidence that wd-40 is harmful to paint. i have used it many times along the bottom panels of my cars for this exact purpose. I have never had any adverse affects from it. the only thing that can happen is if you rub too hard (with any compound) you will damage the clear coat. its just a water displacement lubricant.

 

I'm not too keen on the rubbing alcohol method. I might as well pour an entire gallon of alcohol on my car then cause I have hundreds of spots on the car.

I know if I do the clay bar it will take me a LOOONNG time to get it off. Man this tree sap thing is pissing me off. I picture it just seeping into my paint while my car is sitting in the parking lot exposed to 100 degree Sun...ugh, my poor baby.

 

i've used regular dish detergent before its a little stronger than car wash soap, and it worked with a good mitt that wont scratch. though it will strip the wax off so you would have to wax it afterwards.

good luck with it thai, i have to park under a tree in front of my house sometimes and its annoying.

 

i wouldnt use dish detergent too often, its not good for the paint. it strips the polymers off the paint and it also speeds up the oxidation process.

 

Thai check your facebook. I messaged you on how I take it off my car.