Advice on removing tar spots

Kashkai

Hi all,

Last weekend I decided to give my car a good wash and wax. However there are a large number of tar spots on her. Whats the best way of getting rid of them? I've used Autoglym Tar remover in the past with mixed results. On a silver jeep I once had, I got fed up waiting for the "tar to dissolve and run" (as the bottle said) and I used a bit of elbow grease to remove the tar spot. Unfortunately, this left a lot of scratches on the paintwork.

What an I use to get rid of the tar so I can give my car a good polish?

Thanks

mike65

Petrol works better than anything else. Just don't smoke while you use it

CamperMan

I have used WD-40 to get tar spots off the car.. and petrol..

vectra

I mix 2 parts petrol to one part White spirits.
Let it soak and wipe it off/
. Polish it after.

MarkR

Holts Tar Remover is very good. Get it in most places. Gray can.

biko

If you do use solvents of any kind, first have a go behind a bumper or similar to make sure there won't be any dulling of the paint. One poster learnt this the hard way, although some polish sorted it.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=73431891

toshy321

I always use some petrol always does the trick for me

Kashkai

Thanks lads.

I'll give the petrol a go but the way fuel prices are rising, I might have to siphon some out of the wife's car:D

randy hickey

I once had a works van completely covered with a nice fine mist of tack coat.
Got my hands on some citrus based tar solvent, loaded it into one of those little 1L hand sprayers, and just kept spraying from top to bottom. In a matter of minutes, the van was spotless- no abrasive wiping involved.
It was an orange-coloured chemical made somewhere here in Dublin as far as I can remember.
I'll have a rummage and see if I can get the name for you.

listermint

Auto Smart Tardis works wonders

fletch

http://www.cleancar.ie/autosmarttardistarremover-500mlsample.html

randy hickey

Aha! Found it! It was Naturesolve Citrus Solvent Cleaner made by North Chemicals Ltd. here in Dublin.
Tis brilliant shtuff altogether!!

challengemaster

Tardis or Holts seem to be considered the best.

Kashkai

randy hickey wrote: »

I once had a works van completely covered with a nice fine mist of tack coat.
Got my hands on some citrus based tar solvent, loaded it into one of those little 1L hand sprayers, and just kept spraying from top to bottom. In a matter of minutes, the van was spotless- no abrasive wiping involved.
It was an orange-coloured chemical made somewhere here in Dublin as far as I can remember.
I'll have a rummage and see if I can get the name for you.

The exact same thing happened to my wife's Grand Scenic last year. I had spent the day scrubbing it inside and out (its our kiddie mobile so it was filthy) and I had it sparkling. Two days later, out she goes up the road where the Council are about to lay a new road surface and she goes through the mist of tack coat. I could have cried when I saw the state of her car which was covered in the sticky tar like substance. I never bothered washing it again.

Thanks for pointing me in the direction of that stuff btw:)

MetzgerMeister

MarkR wrote: »

Holts Tar Remover is very good. Get it in most places. Gray can.

White can, black & red writing and a black lid

Mar4ix

sunflower oil. does the job. put some on kitchen towel, apply on small surface , wait for 10 -15 min, than with dry towel clean off... wont be off straight away, need bit rub with dry paper , but does the trick. .... i didn't believe myself, until i tried.

GowlBag

I use Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit. Takes a long time and a lot of effort but removes ALL surface contaminants ready for a couple of coats of wax.

puppetmaster

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

White can, black & red writing and a black lid

Diamond stuff.

http://www.buy4now.ie/woodiesdiy/productdetail.aspx?pid=3384&loc=P&catid=13.14