Paint safe tar removal

C

Craig_K

New member
Lately I have been getting vehicles in with heavy tar and/or road grime build up, mostly on the lower panels behind the wheels and on the tailgates/hatches. It is a well known fact that mineral spirits, kerosene, WD40, etc will work just fine. My issue is when doing just a basic wash, detar, decontaminate (clay bar), and wax or seal on dark colored vehicles. How are you guys removing tar and road grime build up without damaging the vehicles finish when the customer does not want a polish? I know products like Tarminator, Tar X etc will do this. Are they the only options or is there a more cost effective option?
 
Poorboys bug squash is effective on tar. I would say not as effective at tarminator but still effective.

Ive never tried it myself but I imagine a steamer would make tar removal pretty quick and easy
 
Tarminator, Wax & Grease remover, Tar X. Wax & Grease remover being the most cost effective but not as efficient as Tarminator. Tar X is good but cost can be prohibitive.

If using a solvent, spray on and let dwell. May take multiple applications for certain road tar depending on age and makeup. You will mar the clear horribly if you do not let the solvent work and proceed to wipe over and over with a MF towel soaked with the excess solvent. Always wash the treated areas after the tar is removed (a rinseless/ waterless will work here also.)

Best regards,
-Gabe
 
One caveat to using Tarminator is to be aware of plastic on front grills or after-market rust-or-chip coatings applied to lower rocker panels as the solvents will discolor or "soften" them, leaving them a dull grey instead of black. You may need to test a small area before going willy-nilly everywhere and ruining a grill or have the coating rub off on a microfiber cloth or worse, into your wash media.

That leads to another question, what do you use to wipe off the tar with?? A "cheap" microfiber towel dedicated for use to removing tar that you throw away or some thing else? If you are like me, you HATE getting tar in your wash media (microfiber chenille noodle pad/wool pad/boar hair bristle brush/grout sponge). Or does the tar dissolve enough that the soap-and-water remove it without this concern?
 
Not to be "that guy" but the OP did mention hes looking for more cost effective alternatives to tarminator and tar x.

Then again, everyones response may be an indication that there really isnt any better options
 
ShaneB said:
Not to be "that guy" but the OP did mention hes looking for more cost effective alternatives to tarminator and tar x.

Then again, everyones response may be an indication that there really isnt any better options
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When I was a young-ung, we used gasoline or mineral spirits, because that was cheap and available. I later moved up to bodyshop PPG Wax and Grease Remover DX440 (wicked stuff) but new VOC regulations have literally killed good solvent-based cleaners. Still could used gas in a pinch though... (just saying.)

What are we going to do when the government mandates electric autonomous cars and outlaws gasoline?? Dont vote for BS... wait, THATS what Rohkh is alluding to!
 
On the (very) rare occasions where I use a solvent (and thus have to redo the LSP), I generally use ValuGards New Car Prep, which is 100% safe on any automotive surface I can imagine it getting on. Its cheap enough IMO, but yeah different people have different thresholds of significance when it comes to cost.
 
Lonnie said:
When I was a young-ung, we used gasoline or mineral spirits, because that was cheap and available. I later moved up to bodyshop PPG Wax and Grease Remover DX440 (wicked stuff) but new VOC regulations have literally killed good solvent-based cleaners. Still could used gas in a pinch though... (just saying.)

What are we going to do when the government mandates electric autonomous cars and outlaws gasoline?? Dont vote for BS... wait, THATS what Rohkh is alluding to!
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I was alluding to bug squash.
 
OTC wise the turtle wax brand tar remover is quite effective and only $5 a bottle at walmart or target

Tarminator is in the same price range however and works better

BS is a good choice but would have to be used at straight dilution to remove most tar- and although I love me some BS- its just not as effective as Tarminator IMO- I prefer to use BS as a prewash only diluted out and Tarminator for all other applications
 
ShawnF350 said:
BS you were..lol
I always dilute.
Have you ever used it straight?
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Yep. for some really heavy pine sap that was left to bake on a friends car for most of summer. That worked along with a bunch of other stuff.

Also tried it for removing reload problems. That didnt work....... :(


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Those photos of the Escape look like a lot of cars that live here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Its just an outdoor hazard you learn to live with and try to avoid, but its not always possible. Pine pitch is very caustic on clear coats and will etch it quite deeply if left on for any length of time, especially in the summer sun. The pitch will turn to rock-hard glue. Like I say, not much you can do if you need to park your vehicle under a pine tree because thats the ONLY space available when you want to go boating at a crowded lake marina or attend an outdoor concert at a backwoods bar up Nort.
 
Lonnie said:
Those photos of the Escape look like a lot of cars that live here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Its just an outdoor hazard you learn to live with and try to avoid, but its not always possible. Pine pitch is very caustic on clear coats and will etch it quite deeply if left on for any length of time, especially in the summer sun. The pitch will turn to rock-hard glue. Like I say, not much you can do if you need to park your vehicle under a pine tree because thats the ONLY space available when you want to go boating at a crowded lake marina or attend an outdoor concert at a backwoods bar up Nort.
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They kept telling me that they were going to give it to me right after it happened. So then 3 months later.........
 
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