How to get oil off the car

C

citizen arcane

New member
I`m posting this because when I did a google search not much turned up that helped my situation. I work at a refinery (the kind that processes crude into daily products) and was parked downwind from a decoking unit (the last step of processing) that blew hot oil on my car. Now this is quite different than hot tar from the road along the lower part of the car, as it was 800 degree oil blown from a 100 foot structure perhaps an eighth of mile up wind from where I parked. So I had pin head sized spots of oil on most all the car - not totally covering the car - sort of atomized in appearance spread over the surface:angry:

So I try my standard regimen of Goo Gone, Goof Off, WD40 and baby oil.... one of which removed this in the past.....well none applied with sacrificial mf`s budged it this time. I then clay barred and that did the trick but I knew it would be a long process doing it and would go through at least two bars to finish the job. So went to the auto parts store and bought a can of Stoner Tarminator, followed the directions, did half panels and removed 98% of the stuff. Then did a Dawn wash, claying the glass (wasn`t confident enough to use Tarminator on glass) then a topping of Duragloss 501/601 with a white pad and PC.... and that brought my car around to where I normally keep it. Hurrah!

Keep it clean,
CA
 
Nah. I actually sold a black Mustang and bought a silver one just because of messed up circumstances when parking at work. I bought a high dollar cover for the black one.....they`re are a big pia to use. This really has only happened a few times through the years but still sucks when it does occur.
 
ValuGard`s "A" comes to mind as it oughta be safe for Auto paint/materials.

Potent degreasers like the ones used in the first step of Paint Over Rust processes will work great, but I dunno if I`d use `em for this.

Wonder if P21s Total Auto Wash would be potent enough...
 
I`ve also read of kerosene, mineral spirits, 3M general adhesive remover and diesel used without any ill effect - I`ve never used any of these - but listed what didn`t work. Just came here to post how well Tarminator did work for me and my other steps to restore the paint. Did a search on the threads here and this product is seldom mentioned although it seems like it may be readily available (I`m buying a few more cans today and stash away)B)

Keep it clean,
CA
 
It`s usually a split vote between Tar-X and Tarminator. I`ve never used Tarminator , but Tar-X is my go-to for tar. Glad to hear Tarminator did the job for you.
 
citizen arcane- I`m a big fan of the 3M Adhesive Remover (though I would NOT use it for this application). Did you get the aerosol or the non?

SO many people seem to like the Tarminator...never used it myself though.
 
Based on your opinion I wouldn`t use or advocate 3M`s use either - once again, just something I read. But can attest again to Tarminator in the aerosol can - as always read and follow the directions.
 
One of the best and cheapest "solvents" for oil is gasoline itself. Now it is not healthy to use, nor is environmentally friendly. It DOES work to dissolve tar and oil on paint or chromed metal, but I would be reluctant to use it on plastic, vinyl, and definitely NOT rubber.

I am more "concerned" about the company that spews oil/tar into the environment without EPA or state department of natural resources/environment "intervention". Just saying......
 
citizen arcane- I`ve never had any problems on paint from using the 3M, but I just dunno about doing the whole car with it and/or letting it dwell for a long time. Just because it`s been fine for me, well...YMMV! and all that and better safe than sorry. Especially since the Tarminator works fine for you. Kinda funny that I`ve never used it for anything...

Lonnie- IME gasoline leaves a nasty film of its own...might just be the gas in my area.
 
Before putting yourself out the time and money getting things clean have you approached the company to make it right. My father worked at a plant that produced acid and they had a similar incident that resulted in pain damage to a bunch of cars in the lot. They covered the cost of having them repaired / repainted. If it effects enough people, they might be willing to make it right for you.
 
I don`t get the gasoline thing....every time I`ve had gasoline on a vehicle it left its own mess that needed cleaned up. Didn`t evaporate away cleanly, left a residue.
 
Interesting that you call it a decoker; I`ve always heard it called a Coker. Extract every last drop you can in the column, then a jetter runs through to clear out the coke; or at least that`s the system I`m used to seeing, though the plants I`ve been to are relatively old and process extremely heavy crude, so the process may differ elsewhere.
 
Accumulator said:
I don`t get the gasoline thing....every time I`ve had gasoline on a vehicle it left its own mess that needed cleaned up. Didn`t evaporate away cleanly, left a residue.
Click to expand...

Gasoline is cheap and dangerous naphtha would have been a better choice, but naphtha, paint thinner(mineral spirit), Varsol(mineral spirit & naphtha) is much more expensive which make the whole idea pretty stupid when you can get paint prep for around the same cost.
 
EdLancer- Yeah, agree. I always reach for some Paint Prep solvent instead of the popular stand-ins, but then I have such stuff on-hand and I suppose a lot of households don`t.

Heh heh, I`ve never rubbed WD40 or naptha on a vehicle in my life. Never reached for the can of Mineral Spirits either, though I do sometimes wonder why not...oughta use it for something.
 
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