What is this??

[agp423]

Just saw it this morning... What is this? I tried wiping is with a MF towel, but it didn't work. I have to use my nails to scrape it off. Anyone know what it is and how to prevent it?

[Tim Lingor]

Re: What is this??

Morning,

It looks like either tar or pavement crack sealer. Not much you can do except not drive on fresh tar or a road under repair. I would use Meguiar's Gold Class Bug and Tar Remover and carefully wipe it down, then re-wax the area.

Tim

[Tom Weed]

Re: What is this??

looks to me like tar, just use a tar remover or WD40 to take it off, you will need to wax over it once it is cleaned off. Not sure how to prevent it other than not driving through it again.

[mike_svt]

Re: What is this??

Looks like road grime/grease/oily film. Are there a lot of freshly paved roads in your neck of the woods? I tend to see more of this stuff when I travel on fresh pavement, although my vehicles always seem to get a light coating of this (especially on the front door and rear bumper) after a weeks time. It can tend to be a bit gummy, so I usually use a terry cloth towel and some QD to bust through the majority of it, then follow up w/ a MF and some UQD.

[Tom Weed]

Re: What is this??

Tim, you beat me to it!

[Tim Lingor]

Re: What is this??

Tim, you beat me to it!

LOLOL By only 1 minute! Whew! That was a close one!

Tim

[agp423]

Re: What is this??

I didn't notice any freshly-paved roads in the half a mile I drove this morning... Maybe it has something to do with the Insane Shine I sprayed last night?

[mike_svt]

Re: What is this??

Could be dust/pollen mixed w/ tire sling....

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What is this??

I didn't notice any freshly-paved roads in the half a mile I drove this morning... Maybe it has something to do with the Insane Shine I sprayed last night?

If it was from the Insane Shine it would wipe off easily with a microfiber towel. What you describe - being able to scrape it off with your fingernail after finding that a towel wipe was ineffective - and the way it looks in the picture, odds are very good it's nothing more than a bit of tar or similar that was picked up. You don't have to drive over a freshly coated stretch of road to pick up this sort of goop; it's amazing the stuff you can pick up without ever seeing anything on the road. Heck, it could be something spilled by a truck hauling something that leaked a little and you were the unlucky soul to find it. Happens all the time.

As the others have mentioned, some bug & tar remover should clean that up for you, but you will have to wax the area after.