Tar off the car

In Canada we have a product, comes in a yellow can, it removes bugs too.

You spray the white foam over the tar spot, wait a few seconds, and it comes right off.

It's a bit of a journey to Canada for me I'm afraid.

smear it with butter.
Used to work when my mum wanted to get tar off me when I were nobbut a lad.

quote:

Originally posted by bob mccluckie:
smear it with butter.
Used to work when my mum wanted to get tar off me when I were nobbut a lad.

Salted or un-salted?

quote:

Originally posted by nap-ster:
Now that they are getting round to filling up the potholes there seems to be a plethora of tarmac about. I've just washed the car and it is full of little tar specs, especially around the arches/sills.
Has anyone had any success with any of the tar removal products on the market? I've tried elbow grease and a big tin of whoopass with not much joy so far.

Just use White Spirit and then give it a good polish afterwards with something like Autoglym.

Cheers
Steve

You just reminded me I need to do the same to my 04, 186,000 mile Ford, just passed its M.O.T. again today with flying colours, wow-ho!

I will be using Auto Glym intensive tar remover as it has worked well in the past, most likely not done it since last year, some 40,000 ago I guess.

Methylated spirit (Meths) is a good cheap alternative that works well.
You may also be surprised how some liquid car waxes can remove tar (such as Autoglym), the solvents used to keep the wax liquid also soften road tar...

Vim

Go listen to some music and think of something else to worry about.

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
Go listen to some music and think of something else to worry about.

The problem with that is that it will still be there tomorrow.

Vim????

quote:

Originally posted by nap-ster:

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
Go listen to some music and think of something else to worry about.

The problem with that is that it will still be there tomorrow.

Vim????

I wouldn't try Vim. It is abrasive and will remove some of the clear-coat. There are plenty of commercial tar removers out there, just try one of those. Way back when I used to give $h!+ about cars, I would use car polish.

Solvents? Vim? White Spirit? Mon dieu. If you value your paintwork you will do none of these things, if you don't then why not go the whole hog and just use a brillo pad, some wire wool and drive it into a brick wall immediately afterwards for added effect?

The proprietary tar removers will work, otherwise a thorough working with a decent (pref carnauba based) car shampoo and perhaps a clay-bar for the stubborn bits will do the trick and no further damage. No implication-free shortcut to hard work alas.

I have a couple of tins of "tar remover" that I bought about 10, possibly 15 years ago from Mercedes. It works a treat, just pour a small amount onto a cotton cloth and gently rub affected spots or panel. Leave for a few minutes and wipe off. Job dome.

But

I'm not sure if Merc still do car-care products like they used to. I haven't been able to get leather cleaner or wheel cleaner for a couple of years and their screen wash, shampoo and polish etc is all sourced from Meguires.

Probably worth a try. If they still do tar remover, its bloody good stuff.

Cheers

Don

Petrol. Best of all. Just remember not to light your Capstan Extra-strength whilst applying.

sandpaper.

I leave it there, as it saves the paint from chippings!

I last polished a car in 1981.

ATB from George

Whatever product you use, don't rub too hard, otherwise you'll damage the clear coat and even get down to damaging the paint.

Sell the car and get a bike.

Why not just paint the car all over with tar? Saves on paint/polishing etc.

Personally I get my car washed twice a year whether it needs it or not - usually triggered by not being able to see out of the windows.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr John William Martin:
Why not just paint the car all over with tar? Saves on paint/polishing etc.

Personally I get my car washed twice a year whether it needs it or not - usually triggered by not being able to see out of the windows.

You're a man after my own heart John. I take the view that the layer of dirt on my car protects it from excessive exposure to damaging ultraviolet radiation and airbourne pollutants.

Gold Class Bug N' Tar Remover from Meguiar's

I'm sure any of the proprietary products will work - just remember to apply a good quality polish to the panel(s) affected when you have removed the tar.

Peter

quote:

You're a man after my own heart John. I take the view that the layer of dirt on my car protects it from excessive exposure to damaging ultraviolet radiation and airbourne pollutants.

The car wash is usually as the result of an ultimatum from SWMBO, and is usually courtesy of the carwash machine at the local Morrisons. Personally I would just wash the windows/lights. I do, however, vacuum the inside once a month and clean pff that film that seems develop on the inside of the windows.