Any good tips on tar removal
Any good tips on tar removal
Author
Discussion

turk1

Original Poster:

219 posts

190 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
Went through some road works last week and thought nothing of it,then washed my car yesterday and the drivers side (arches) (side skirt) and the edge of the rear bumper is covered with tar,and i dont just mean spots, its like someone has painted it on. Any tips on what to use?

X-UFO

267 posts

219 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
Halfords Bug and Tar remover. I've used this a few times and it works a treat. quite surprising how good it is.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

nsm3

2,831 posts

227 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
I find that when washing the car, apply some MER on a soaked cloth - this shifts it pretty well for me?

I did the same with my Ducati in the Pyrenees last Sept - the magnesium engine covers etc were plastered in tar, but the MER (plus some elbow grease unfortunately!) did the trick.

The good thing I find with MER is that as a polish rather than a remover, it doesn't leave you with a "flat spot" that need re-polishing after?

BliarOut

72,863 posts

270 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
Margarine yes

goldblum

10,272 posts

198 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
WD40.Seriously.

Maersk

1,091 posts

182 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
Tardis.................. spray on, wash off. Autosmart product.

PJI

308 posts

237 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
Autoglym tar remover

Crease

583 posts

200 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
carb cleaner/brake cleaner.

spray on, watch it run down the bodywork, wipe off smile

followed by a claybar

done this to pretty much all my cars, with no problems

turk1

Original Poster:

219 posts

190 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
goldblum said:
WD40.Seriously.
I have read somewhere about WD40 and people do swear by it,I just did'nt fancy spaying it all over my painwork.

nickfrog

25,419 posts

248 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
Tardis is the standard for tar removal.

tracydeedance

802 posts

210 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
I use Valet Pro Citrus tar remover as a car valeter & detailer.

Hope this helps

Cliff.

Steve Baker

134 posts

242 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
Tardis is the standard for tar removal.
+1

Magic919

14,574 posts

232 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
Tardis for me too. Works a treat.

goldblum

10,272 posts

198 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
turk1 said:
goldblum said:
WD40.Seriously.
I have read somewhere about WD40 and people do swear by it,I just did'nt fancy spaying it all over my painwork.
As ever,small area first.Spray it on,wipe off with soft kitchen roll 2 secs later.Repeat if necessary,then wash as normal.

I've used it on my windscreen to lift motorway crap off it..spilt diesel etc..works a charm.

cayman-black

13,268 posts

247 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
White Spirit.

turk1

Original Poster:

219 posts

190 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
cayman-black said:
White Spirit.
Is that not bad for the paintwork?

g7jhp

7,034 posts

269 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
PJI said:
Autoglym tar remover
+1

Pugley

687 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
+ 1 White spirit for sure.

Its the solvent in many car polishes and is also the solvent for tar.

It comes from same refinery process that produces, petrol, paraffin, diesel, oil, tar and apart from water is the most commonly used solvent on the planet (which is no coincidence as all of the solvents listed above, apart from water, will dissolve tar) teacher Why dont they teach anyone this at school anymore?

Until the EU got its hands on the paint industry it was used in almost all household paints and varnishes. It seems low VOC's are going to save the planet, halt global warming and stop our winters being so hot! eek

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

240 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
white spirit or petrol.
Small amount on a cloth and work on the tar until gone.
Then just wash the are off as normal.


cayman-black

13,268 posts

247 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
Turk1 see other are now saying the same. I have two white cars and one in a light grey ,all show the slightest bit of tar, plus iam very fussy. White spirit on a soft clean cloth takes the tar off with no effort and no damage to paint what so ever.