Removing sap?

M

Mobilejay

Active member
I have a friend of mine that has sap on her car from those fabulous (sarcasm at its finest) pine trees. I am fortunate enough that I don't have to deal with these things with my clients cars. Are there any chemicals out there that will dissolve or help dissolve tree sap? Thanks in advance
 
Believe it or not, that "Nu-Finish" car polish does a decent job of removing sap and tar. It's available at most big box stores and automotive chains in the orange bottle.

I won't debate it's uses as a car polish, but it does fine for cleaning up gunk. Also removes bits of adhesive left behind by the cheap masking tape I use for my Autocross numbers.
 
Yeah thats the problem, she has had it on her car for over a week now. The weather here has been very hot so now it is like a rock on there. Sucks but I told her there isn't much that I can do with that. Will that Nu Finish put a dent in it if its solid on there?
 
MobileJay said:
I have a friend of mine that has sap on her car from those fabulous (sarcasm at its finest) pine trees. I am fortunate enough that I don't have to deal with these things with my clients cars. Are there any chemicals out there that will dissolve or help dissolve tree sap? Thanks in advance
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You are ahead of the game by knowing what type of sap it is.

It's turpene, only from those species of trees, which means to the informed to use the solvent that is based on that resin.

It's called turpentine, and works better than any other solvent, safely for desolving, removing such.

Just be sure and let it "dwell/work" to soften the turpene deposit.

Don't go getting all in a hurry, you know "rub-a dub", beiing impatient.

When you touch it with your finger nail, it will indicate that it is being desolved, just take your time, may have to re-wet with the turpentine, but it will break it down, without harming the clearcoat.

Once it may be wiped off, with a towel wetted with the turpentine, be sure and give the area you treated with a good washing of a carwash shampoo.

Grumpy
 
I recommend getting some of the cotton makeup applicators from the cosmetic isle of your favorite store. Soak them in alcohol (or turpentine for pine I guess) and just lay them on the surface of the paint. A good bit of dwell time and then you can wipe off most of the sap with the pad. Bonus is you don't trash your towels.
 
Never would have thought of turpentine, thanks guys for the tips. I will she if she has any and go from there. Thanks again.
 
There are other solvents which will work, but not as quick or well as turpentine, after all, it is made from the turpene.

A little one of those things one learns by being in the car care chemical business for longer than dirt.

And, the best part a quart of it can be purchased at almost any hardware/paint store, for not much money.

Sort of like using lacquer thinner to break down lacquer, go to the source of the base of what one wishes to disolve.

Grumpy
 
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