Three Year-old Tree Sap

[capitolason2]

I have a friend who has some tree sap on the hood and top of his truck that has been there at least three years. The sap is like skin pimples and very hard.

I have been told that mineral spirits will soften the sap to where it can be removed.

Has anyone tried this method? If so what were the results?

Are there any other proven methods that will help me get that three-year old sap off that truck?

[Black Bart]

I would try a clay bar. I removed clear polyurethane off the paint of a car that was near where they were spraying it.
I don't think the tree sap would be any harder to remove then the polyurethane. I have remove fresh tree sap with nothing more than very warm soap water

[Guiser]

My friend just had this problem. He detailed his entire car, but there were several blobs of tree sap that he couldn't get off, they were hard as a rock. As it turns out the car was in the shade and the paint was fairly cool to the touch (when he worked on it and when he showed me the problem). We drove it to lunch and it sat in the sun for about 15 minutes. When we came out, the sap was gummy again and could be pushed around with our fingers. I would try using the sun or a hair dryer on it, worked for us.

Edit: We tried clay and it didn't even dent it, he was going to try some body solvent next, but if a little heat does the trick I would recommend using that method first.

- Ben

[LiquidBlack]

Myself, I would wash the car once or twice in a row, then clay, wash, and see where you are from there.