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Extreme tar problem

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  • #1

    Extreme tar problem

    I dealt with a client yesterday who had driven her Suburban through a construction area. Apparently there was quite a bit of tar on the ground that was still wet. There are VERY large deposits of tar behind her wheel wells and even on the backs of her side mirrors and as far up as her windows. These are not small dots of tar but large chunks and many of them. The only thing I really found to be effective was a plastic scraper... and it really wasn't that efficient or safe. She left it on the paint for weeks and it took me 15 minutes just to clear a 3" area of tar. Is there a shortcut here or am I looking at a days work just to conquer this tar problem?

    Thanks,

    Patrick
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Extreme tar problem

    You need to use the proper product with your plastic scraper

    Use Body Solvent from the Detailer Line
    Matt

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    • #3
      Re: Extreme tar problem

      As suggested try body solvent. Maybe clay? I would assume you were planning on polishing after? How about APC+?
      Schotography

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      • #4
        Re: Extreme tar problem

        If you can somehow grab a hold of some Safe Degreaser I'd suggest using that. If not go ahead and use body solvent, but make sure to give it at least 3-5 minutes of dwelling times before you go to scrape.

        I once put swirls in my paint just to see what it looked like.
        I don't always detail cars, but when I do, I prefer Meguiar's.
        Remove swirls my friends.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Extreme tar problem

          Originally posted by RogueSpirit View Post
          I dealt with a client yesterday who had driven her Suburban through a construction area. Apparently there was quite a bit of tar on the ground that was still wet. There are VERY large deposits of tar behind her wheel wells and even on the backs of her side mirrors and as far up as her windows. These are not small dots of tar but large chunks and many of them. The only thing I really found to be effective was a plastic scraper... and it really wasn't that efficient or safe. She left it on the paint for weeks and it took me 15 minutes just to clear a 3" area of tar. Is there a shortcut here or am I looking at a days work just to conquer this tar problem?k
          My first job 40 yrs ago was at a swirl-o-matic car wash. Occasionally we'd get some especially nasty jobs. Back then we used dry cleaning fluid for tar... squirt it on with a dishwashing detergent bottle and leave it for a while and the tar would run right off. The EPA put the kabosh to that years ago.

          Before myriad commercial tar removers started popping up kerosene was the standard for tar removal. Apply it liberally and let it sit and the tar runs off. Reapply as necessary. Which leaves you a nice, greasy petroleum residue that takes a stout APC or Dawn detergent to get rid off. Stinky stuff to work with but what tar removers aren't? Crude but effective. YMMV.
          TL

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          • #6
            Re: Extreme tar problem

            Originally posted by TLMitchell View Post
            My first job 40 yrs ago was at a swirl-o-matic car wash. Occasionally we'd get some especially nasty jobs. Back then we used dry cleaning fluid for tar... squirt it on with a dishwashing detergent bottle and leave it for a while and the tar would run right off. The EPA put the kabosh to that years ago.

            Before myriad commercial tar removers started popping up kerosene was the standard for tar removal. Apply it liberally and let it sit and the tar runs off. Reapply as necessary. Which leaves you a nice, greasy petroleum residue that takes a stout APC or Dawn detergent to get rid off. Stinky stuff to work with but what tar removers aren't? Crude but effective. YMMV.
            TL
            ...and kerosene will not eat automotive paint?

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            • #7
              Re: Extreme tar problem

              I used to have a white car and do a lot of driving on newly sealed and tarred roads. It left plenty of tar on the car. The solution was a gallon of warm water in a bucket a handful of lux soap flakes and a cup of kerosine mixed in. Wash the spots with that. It doesn't eat the paint but I would make sure that I always rinsed quickly...

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              • #8
                Re: Extreme tar problem

                Originally posted by RogueSpirit View Post
                ...and kerosene will not eat automotive paint?
                Nope. It eats suds though. I've never seen anything kill a bucket of soap suds faster than when trying to wash kerosene residue off a finish.

                TL

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