chillax

so i just moved to a new area, and have been parking under a tree. the weather got really hot and tree sap started falling onto my car. i can't remove it with just water and soap so i've got a couple questions:

what can i use to remove it myself? and...
if i take it to a car wash/detail shop...will they be able to get all the tree sap off? how much will they charge?

thanks

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

^^Are you sure it's tree sap? Sometimes it's insect excreta- which can be hard to remove. Looks like millions of tiny dots all over the car.

Sap or bug poop, either way, warm wash water helps, sometimes a "pre-wash" will soften it up. In essence you have to lather, rinse, repeat.

G3tR3DDY2GR3DDY

iTrader: (8)

na ive got the same problem... try laquer thinner that will definitely get it off but be sure to clean it off quickly and dont let the thinner set too long ( its paint thinner!) but ya that will definitely work... it got all mine off

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

Go to the Auto Parts store and buy some "Bug and Tar" remover. Turtle wax makes it. Just be sure to re-wax the affected area.
Personally I WOULD NOT use lacquer thinner on my car. Depending on the type of and flash point of, you could seriously damage your paint.
Mineral spirits would be a better choice over lacquer thinner.

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

Charcoal lighter fluid is the same solvent & same concentration as bug & tar remover. But I wouldn't use it all-over. It's for spot use.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

bug remover will help. after you use that, try taking a clay bar to the area and reapplying wax

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

OH, and before I forget: stop parking under trees.

G3tR3DDY2GR3DDY

iTrader: (8)

ok heres what you do.... set about a capful of white gas on any trouble spots.... take a torch and a full can of spray paint... set about 3 feet away from your car... spray the can of spray paint in the general direction of the torch and your car... then BAM! your done

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

www.autopia.org

JeremyG

Man, don't resort to solvents yet, unless you want parts of your clearcoat to eat away.

I'd strongly suggest a "Clay bar" (meguires or mothers). Follow the instructions, do the whole car and your swirl marks will disappear too!

lone_wolf025

I don't have an 8 but I'm always stuck parking under trees so I know how that can be. I've found that for light sap a wet rag works best, but when its really on there good that's when the clay bar comes in handy.

The best thing you can do after its cleaned, is to keep the car waxed. I'd go so far as to say put a couple coats on and wash the car whenever possible to remove the stuff. Also beware of the "helicopter" seeds. I have a nice spot on my hood where one managed to etch the clearcoat all around it. I have a nice outline of a helicopter seed with etching all around it on the middle of my hood and it drives me insane.

Oh and beware of bird crap...I have a few etched spots from that too...blasted birds...I'm gonna get them yet...

AcidAngel7477

yeah those birds are lame as hell..there crap has a type of acid in it that eats the paint...so as soon as it happens wipe it off..or you might end up with a ligher spot...on your car..witch would suck.

:AA:

lone_wolf025

I should see if I can dig up the pic I have of a nice sized etch spot I have from those blasted birds!

Edit- Here it is.

DOMINION

When I lived in Sacto Nor Cal, all the cars had tree sap on them. Unless you did not park under a tree. Nasty stuff. This is why I live in the desert.

voodootrip

<<<former auto detailer. depends on the severity of the sap. if it has not set then usually it will come off with some soap and water. (non-degreaser soap) if it has set and hardened you should use the laquer thinner. it will not strip it down past the clear coat or anything but on that same note i would not let it back in the sun. put it into a clean rag (this is assuming you have already washed the spot) and rub it gently until it starts to disappear. the bug and tar removers are the same thing just cut with something to make it less harsh. takes a hell of a lot longer to get off with those. after you take it off do a hand polish and then a quick wax. do not attempt to chip it off with your finger nail as it may have set into your paint and will pull it up with it, and do not use paint thinner.. that should go without saying but we all know people do not always follow directions clearly. (lessons learned from my military experiences) as for te bird poop as soon as you see it on your car get it off. the acids in bird poop will bake into your paint and stain your clear coat. nasty stuff. you can polish to make it better but after it has set your pretty much screwed.

AcidAngel7477

oh man, id be pissed..then id brake out my co2 bb gun and start the huntin..

:AA:

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

C02 is for High School Kids. Break out the 12 guage and show them what's up.

DefinitiveDetour

lone_wolf025

Personally I'd love to. But its kinda a no no in the city to be randomly blasting off shotguns. During the day its not much of a problem. But at night the birds come in to sleep and crap all over the car. I wake up the next morning to find it all over.

These days its not much of an issue, but if I get it more than one night in a row I take the hose to the trees and scare them away. As much as I hate the damage it does, it doesn't matter much. The hood, and almost every panel on the car has scratches that have to be painted to be fixed. Not to mention the hood isn't color matched to the body, but you'd never know unless you looked at under some halogen lights.

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

You don't know what a tree sap problem is until you've parked next to a sugar maple during sapping season, and the bucket fell off. Your car will look like a bug trapped in amber.

peterlemonjello

+1 for the clay bar. It'll remove the sap.