Easy Tar removal

justin96039 · 07-25-2006, 01:23 AM

If you have tar on your car, use some baking soda, yes any brand. Make some paste with a little bit of water and it comes right off. Its best to do before you wash the vehicle. I am however not accepting any liablity for any damage, if any should occur. I have used this on my white vehicles with no problem. Never had another vehicle to try it on. Maybe its like sand and helps get rid of it, but you barely have to do any rubbing. Possibly neutralizes the acids in the tar. Im sure its not as harmful as other products sold out there. JW

Let me know what you think and if you try it. It makes it so much easier!

hwalker911 · 07-25-2006, 07:36 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JWHybrid @ Jul 25 2006, 01:23 AM) [snapback]291849[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

If you have tar on your car, use some baking soda, yes any brand. Make some paste with a little bit of water and it comes right off. Its best to do before you wash the vehicle. I am however not accepting any liablity for any damage, if any should occur. I have used this on my white vehicles with no problem. Never had another vehicle to try it on. Maybe its like sand and helps get rid of it, but you barely have to do any rubbing. Possibly neutralizes the acids in the tar. Im sure its not as harmful as other products sold out there. JW

Let me know what you think and if you try it. It makes it so much easier!
[/b]

You can also use WD40, easy on and easy off...no risk of damage to the paint.

Happy Motoring

Dan-Wolfe · 07-25-2006, 09:20 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hwalker911 @ Jul 25 2006, 07:36 AM) [snapback]291883[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

You can also use WD40, easy on and easy off...no risk of damage to the paint.

Happy Motoring
[/b]

What about bugs? What gets rid of those pesky things?

Dan

eagle33199 · 07-25-2006, 09:46 AM

or more importantly, how about tree sap? My sister's civic got a ton of tree sap on it last year, and it's been hell trying to get that stuff off.

glenhead · 07-25-2006, 10:11 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Jul 25 2006, 08:46 AM) [snapback]291920[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

or more importantly, how about tree sap? My sister's civic got a ton of tree sap on it last year, and it's been hell trying to get that stuff off.
[/b]

Try GooGone - it'll cut through most organic sticky stuff.

For bug guts/chunks, if you don't want to scrape it with a fingernail or a nylon dish sponge thingy, drape a soaked towel over the area (with the car in the shade so it doesn't cook), leave it for "a while" to soften them, and they'll usually wipe right off. Just be sure the towel is in contact with said guts/chunks. You can also do what I do, and ignore them 'till the next big rainstorm...

The WD40 works well on tar, but so does kerosene or diesel fuel on a toothbrush, followed by soap and water. (Gasoline cuts it faster than almost anything, but it's not as safe. Insert normal disclaimers here...)

eagle33199 · 07-25-2006, 10:50 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(glenhead @ Jul 25 2006, 09:11 AM) [snapback]291933[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Try GooGone - it'll cut through most organic sticky stuff.
[/b]

Unfortunately, it hasn't been much help on the tree sap... it was better than anything else we tried, though.

Charles Suitt · 07-25-2006, 06:21 PM

I believe baking soda is an abrasive. That being the case, its use in removing anything from the Prius paint would scratch the surface of the finish. Might be fine scratches, but over time could be damaging to that "showroom shine."

**Tideland Prius** · 07-26-2006, 01:00 AM

someone on this board told me peanut butter and it works quite well.

Bill Merchant · 07-26-2006, 01:58 AM

I remove stubborn tar or sap with lighter fluid (naptha). It's easy to find. Just wet a small spot on a paper towel and GENTLY wipe at the goo, changing the position of the paper towel frequently. If it's a big blob, spray a little directly on and wipe with a paper towel. DO NOT THROW THE PAPER TOWELS IN THE TRASH! They might spontaneously combust. Just let them sit out in the air for a couple of hours until they are dry.

Yes, I know this causes VOC air polution, but so do the fir trees that drop their sap on my Silver Cloud. Baking soda is too abrasive. I don't want to use a strong detergent and remove the finish with the goo.

Alnilam · 07-26-2006, 03:33 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jul 25 2006, 10:00 PM) [snapback]292426[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

someone on this board told me peanut butter and it works quite well.
[/b]

But now the bugs are back again........

07-26-2006, 01:58 AM	#9
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 4,100 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 18 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts Friends: 60	I remove stubborn tar or sap with lighter fluid (naptha). It's easy to find. Just wet a small spot on a paper towel and GENTLY wipe at the goo, changing the position of the paper towel frequently. If it's a big blob, spray a little directly on and wipe with a paper towel. DO NOT THROW THE PAPER TOWELS IN THE TRASH! They might spontaneously combust. Just let them sit out in the air for a couple of hours until they are dry. Yes, I know this causes VOC air polution, but so do the fir trees that drop their sap on my Silver Cloud. Baking soda is too abrasive. I don't want to use a strong detergent and remove the finish with the goo. __________________ Bill Bill.Merchant@PortlandHSD.info 2007 NL 5 Silver Wraith • 2005 BC 6 Silver Cloud Portland Area HSD Meetup Group: PortlandHSD.info Become carbon neutral: Carbonfund.org or TerraPass.com > < Follow me on

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07-25-2006, 01:23 AM	#1
justin96039 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	If you have tar on your car, use some baking soda, yes any brand. Make some paste with a little bit of water and it comes right off. Its best to do before you wash the vehicle. I am however not accepting any liablity for any damage, if any should occur. I have used this on my white vehicles with no problem. Never had another vehicle to try it on. Maybe its like sand and helps get rid of it, but you barely have to do any rubbing. Possibly neutralizes the acids in the tar. Im sure its not as harmful as other products sold out there. JW Let me know what you think and if you try it. It makes it so much easier!

07-25-2006, 09:46 AM	#4
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,283 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 35 Thanked 70 Times in 40 Posts Friends: 3	or more importantly, how about tree sap? My sister's civic got a ton of tree sap on it last year, and it's been hell trying to get that stuff off.

07-25-2006, 06:21 PM	#7
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,624 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	I believe baking soda is an abrasive. That being the case, its use in removing anything from the Prius paint would scratch the surface of the finish. Might be fine scratches, but over time could be damaging to that "showroom shine."

07-26-2006, 01:00 AM	#8
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	someone on this board told me peanut butter and it works quite well.