Tar Remover!

blader · 22nd June 2008, 17:39

Just a quickie everyone!

What's the best tar remover?

My 407, which hopefuly is going in part-ex for a 2.2 EX, is covered in tar spots and gets significantly worse this time of the year, when the tar on the roads softens in the warm weather.

Are there some tar removers that are better than others and more importantly, does any of them actually damage the paint or laquer?

Cheers!

Dimplyred · 22nd June 2008, 17:45

WD40 will remove tar, I've always used white spirit though and it's never harmed the paint. I always wash the area off afterwards and re-apply some wax.

robbo51 · 22nd June 2008, 18:07

Ditto...White Spirit

Jack The Lad. · 22nd June 2008, 18:35

Fully agree.
White Spirit, -- dab on the tar spots, leave for a minute, for it to soften the spots and wipe off, without need for rubbing.
Perfect for preparing surface, prior to applying side decals too.

Nemesis · 22nd June 2008, 19:40

WD40 - The answer to everything. Except maybe cheering my wife up. Any suggestions on what could help there?

Munro · 22nd June 2008, 20:08

I have been experimenting with tar spot removal as well.

In addition to the previous posts, a couple of other tips (most of these I picked up on civinfo):

Clay bar. I use Meguiars smooth clay kit (there are plenty of other similar products

Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit from Halfords Price £23.99

An old Credit card slid over surface with cold running water to flush away the debris. This usually knocks the tar spots off whole and is great for knocking the smaller ones off that are difficult to see. It works best in cold weather. Make sure you only do this just after you have cleaned the car.
Once you have got all the tar spots off, wax your car regularly. The wax stops them sticking so hard / makes them easier to clean off
Whatever you do don't rub at them with a cloth. The tar contains grit / sand which acts like sandpaper and will scratch your car

I would experiment in an inconspicuous area first to make sure you are happy with the technique and it is not scratching the paintwork.

PJS · 22nd June 2008, 22:15

AG Tar & Glue Remover or Autosmart Tardis

robbo51 · 22nd June 2008, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJS

AG Tar & Glue Remover or Autosmart Tardis

White Spirit is far cheaper and works just as well.
So..Whats the point?

robbo51 · 22nd June 2008, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemesis

WD40 - The answer to everything. Except maybe cheering my wife up. Any suggestions on what could help there?

Take the make up off???

blader · 22nd June 2008, 22:36

Thanks for the replies!

White spirit looks favourite due to cost.

I'll trial it on the 407 before it's part-exed. That way I don't mind so much if I mess it up.

Jack The Lad. · 22nd June 2008, 22:48

You won't mess anything up mate.

"Take the make up off".

simon1 · 22nd June 2008, 23:26

Mer - great for removing bugs, tar, etc as well as of course waxing the car.

robbo51 · 23rd June 2008, 07:07

Mer is a polish not a wax and contains some abrasives.
I wouldnt remove tar spots with it.

Unknownsoldier · 23rd June 2008, 08:04

I use cheap Wilkos Tar remover (actually cheaper than white spirit, thats 1.73 a bottle IIRC and this is 99p

), and I just spray it on liberally before I wash the car off, and leave for 5 minutes.

Tom

PJS · 23rd June 2008, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbo51

White Spirit is far cheaper and works just as well.
So..Whats the point?

I'm not sure or convinced white spirits is paintwork friendly, but then I'll often resort to the Auto Clay rather than any chemicals at all.
I've heard of white spirits causing hazing - but if used via say a cotton earbud, then I suppose there's less likelihood for that to occur.

Unknownsoldier · 23rd June 2008, 10:12

Also whit spirit is highly flammable so if doing a large are be careful you don't spark anything against the car, especially if the paint works hot! And...... it's awful on your skin over long periods.

Tom

Jack The Lad. · 23rd June 2008, 18:16

We were not thinking of washing the whole bl--dy car with it Tom.

One half egg cup of white spirit will do all the tar spots on the entire bodywork.

PJS · 23rd June 2008, 18:19

Well why didn't you say so in the first place!

Unknownsoldier · 23rd June 2008, 18:28

Exactly, anyways, I buy bumper packs of white spirit and like to get my moneys worth

Tom

robbo51 · 23rd June 2008, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJS

I'm not sure or convinced white spirits is paintwork friendly, but then I'll often resort to the Auto Clay rather than any chemicals at all.
I've heard of white spirits causing hazing - but if used via say a cotton earbud, then I suppose there's less likelihood for that to occur.

Ive been using white spirit to remove tar spots for 30 years, never heard of hazing, but I wax again immediately, that's why

22nd June 2008, 17:39	#1 (permalink)
blader Wheelnut Join Date: 24th May 2008 Location: Rotherham, UK Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Tar Remover! Just a quickie everyone! What's the best tar remover? My 407, which hopefuly is going in part-ex for a 2.2 EX, is covered in tar spots and gets significantly worse this time of the year, when the tar on the roads softens in the warm weather. Are there some tar removers that are better than others and more importantly, does any of them actually damage the paint or laquer? Cheers!

22nd June 2008, 20:08	#6 (permalink)
Munro Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 10th August 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 27 Thanked 24 Times in 20 Posts iTrader: (0)	I have been experimenting with tar spot removal as well. In addition to the previous posts, a couple of other tips (most of these I picked up on civinfo): Clay bar. I use Meguiars smooth clay kit (there are plenty of other similar products Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit from Halfords Price £23.99 An old Credit card slid over surface with cold running water to flush away the debris. This usually knocks the tar spots off whole and is great for knocking the smaller ones off that are difficult to see. It works best in cold weather. Make sure you only do this just after you have cleaned the car. Once you have got all the tar spots off, wax your car regularly. The wax stops them sticking so hard / makes them easier to clean off Whatever you do don't rub at them with a cloth. The tar contains grit / sand which acts like sandpaper and will scratch your car I would experiment in an inconspicuous area first to make sure you are happy with the technique and it is not scratching the paintwork. Last edited by Munro; 22nd June 2008 at 20:54.

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This thread is about: Tar Remover!, it's in Cleaning at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Just a quickie everyone! What's the best tar remover? My 407, which hopefuly is going in part-ex for a 2.2 EX, is covered in tar ...

22nd June 2008, 17:45	#2 (permalink)
Dimplyred Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 24th August 2007 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 5,681 Thanks: 21 Thanked 211 Times in 204 Posts iTrader: (0)	WD40 will remove tar, I've always used white spirit though and it's never harmed the paint. I always wash the area off afterwards and re-apply some wax.

22nd June 2008, 18:07	#3 (permalink)
robbo51 It's my fault! Civinfo guru Join Date: 1st July 2007 Location: Bingley, W.Yorks Posts: 3,874 Thanks: 66 Thanked 75 Times in 72 Posts iTrader: (0)	Ditto...White Spirit

22nd June 2008, 18:35	#4 (permalink)
Jack The Lad. Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 28th August 2007 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 1,906 Thanks: 8 Thanked 23 Times in 23 Posts iTrader: (0)	Fully agree. White Spirit, -- dab on the tar spots, leave for a minute, for it to soften the spots and wipe off, without need for rubbing. Perfect for preparing surface, prior to applying side decals too.

22nd June 2008, 19:40	#5 (permalink)
Nemesis Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 9th March 2008 Location: Wearside, UK Posts: 127 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader: (0)	WD40 - The answer to everything. Except maybe cheering my wife up. Any suggestions on what could help there?

22nd June 2008, 22:15	#7 (permalink)
PJS Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 27th May 2006 Location: Belfast Posts: 479 Thanks: 0 Thanked 21 Times in 18 Posts iTrader: (0)	AG Tar & Glue Remover or Autosmart Tardis

22nd June 2008, 22:36	#10 (permalink)
blader Wheelnut Join Date: 24th May 2008 Location: Rotherham, UK Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the replies! White spirit looks favourite due to cost. I'll trial it on the 407 before it's part-exed. That way I don't mind so much if I mess it up.

22nd June 2008, 23:26	#12 (permalink)
simon1 Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 10th December 2007 Location: UK Posts: 362 Thanks: 4 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader: (0)	Mer - great for removing bugs, tar, etc as well as of course waxing the car.

23rd June 2008, 07:07	#13 (permalink)
robbo51 It's my fault! Civinfo guru Join Date: 1st July 2007 Location: Bingley, W.Yorks Posts: 3,874 Thanks: 66 Thanked 75 Times in 72 Posts iTrader: (0)	Mer is a polish not a wax and contains some abrasives. I wouldnt remove tar spots with it.

23rd June 2008, 08:04	#14 (permalink)
Unknownsoldier Esox Lucius Rules!!!!!!!! Civinfo guru Join Date: 22nd September 2007 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 2,818 Thanks: 81 Thanked 32 Times in 30 Posts iTrader: (0)	I use cheap Wilkos Tar remover (actually cheaper than white spirit, thats 1.73 a bottle IIRC and this is 99p ), and I just spray it on liberally before I wash the car off, and leave for 5 minutes. Tom

23rd June 2008, 10:12	#16 (permalink)
Unknownsoldier Esox Lucius Rules!!!!!!!! Civinfo guru Join Date: 22nd September 2007 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 2,818 Thanks: 81 Thanked 32 Times in 30 Posts iTrader: (0)	Also whit spirit is highly flammable so if doing a large are be careful you don't spark anything against the car, especially if the paint works hot! And...... it's awful on your skin over long periods. Tom

23rd June 2008, 18:16	#17 (permalink)
Jack The Lad. Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 28th August 2007 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 1,906 Thanks: 8 Thanked 23 Times in 23 Posts iTrader: (0)	We were not thinking of washing the whole bl--dy car with it Tom. One half egg cup of white spirit will do all the tar spots on the entire bodywork.

23rd June 2008, 18:19	#18 (permalink)
PJS Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 27th May 2006 Location: Belfast Posts: 479 Thanks: 0 Thanked 21 Times in 18 Posts iTrader: (0)	Well why didn't you say so in the first place!

23rd June 2008, 18:28	#19 (permalink)
Unknownsoldier Esox Lucius Rules!!!!!!!! Civinfo guru Join Date: 22nd September 2007 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 2,818 Thanks: 81 Thanked 32 Times in 30 Posts iTrader: (0)	Exactly, anyways, I buy bumper packs of white spirit and like to get my moneys worth Tom