Terminator ruined my brand new car!

Scottwax said:
If you can't feel it, you ought to be able to polish it out if you get right on it.



Personally, bug/tar removers are a last resort of me. I'd prefer to clay or polish off bugs and tar.
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Forgive my total newbie & tangential question here, but I have been confused about the whole polishing-off tar process. With clay, when contaminates come off and get stuck in the clay, you manipulate the clay to get to a fresh spot which you then apply to the car. But when you are polishing, I don' t understand what happens to the contaminates that are removed. I keep thinking that the stuff that is removed would embed in my pad and then I'd end up introducing scratches or swirls as I moved along. Is the answer to check your pad after you go over something nasty and pick it clean or what? That still seems risky, especially as some things would be hard to see.



I know lots of polishes promote their ability to remove bugs and tar, but I just don't follow the logic. The fact that you, Scottwax, endorse the process is enough for me to go forward and try it, as your work is just mind blowingly good. But I still would love to understand why (or how) it works if any one can explain it simply.
 
Scottwax said:
If you can't feel it, you ought to be able to polish it out if you get right on it.



Personally, bug/tar removers are a last resort of me. I'd prefer to clay or polish off bugs and tar.
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^^ yup what he said, those bug/tar remover chemicals can be VERY dangerous. I clay/polish them off all the time :) works like a charm!



Would a body solvent be the same type product? should I be wary of that as well?



Auto Body Solvent
 
I have a foam pad cleaner that works well with getting the "guts" out :) and a good soaking after polishing in a good citrus cleaner and scrubbing on the grit guard for good measure :) its all about clean up after you do that
 
Certainly bugs can be clayed off, but tar may have sand stuck in it so be careful claying off tar. I've had good luck using Tarminator on rubber off the race track as well as tar on road cars, but I've never left it sit on the surface for long.
 
Well I think I was able to polish it out with my PC and Meguiar's Cleaner Wax. I put the halogen on it but it just didn't really show the affected area very clearly. I'm going to take it out in the sun tomorrow and take a look again. I'll let you guys know. The Tarminator is going in the garbage... I'd rather buy a separate clay bar just for removing bugs.
 
Yes, like most others have said on here the cleaner wax (as you have seen) will most likely do the work. Post some closer pictures of your progress if you can.
 
AL-53 said:
Tarminator contains Zylene....it will soften paint if left to long...this is the third car I have seen where it did damage....its a nice product..but its a crap shoot if the paint or plastic trim will get damaged on certain cars..



There was a post here about a year ago were the person sprayed it on a new cars trim...and it stained and softened the plastic..I believe the company paid to have it fixed...



AL
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Tarminator will definately damage trim. Power polishing doesn't have an advantage in that regard, however.





TH0001 said:
Sorry dude but I think the damage is permanent. I used that stuff on a newer minivan and left it sit for a couple hours (I honestly forgot about it) and when I came back I washed the car and noticed the same type of marks (only I could almost feel mine).
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Tarminator shouldn't be left on the paint for more than 30 seconds. I wouldn't leave glass cleaner on my paint for two days!
 
DB350Z said:
The Tarminator is going in the garbage... I'd rather buy a separate clay bar just for removing bugs.
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If you happen to live near the Fremont area, I'll pick it up from you. I know it's not exactly an expensive product, but ... well, I'm just cheap I guess.
 
docrice said:
If you happen to live near the Fremont area, I'll pick it up from you. I know it's not exactly an expensive product, but ... well, I'm just cheap I guess.
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I'm in San Jose, have anything to trade for?



I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote Terminator and not Tarminator for the thread title. Anyone know why the forum won't allow me to edit the main title?
 
DB350Z said:
I'm in San Jose, have anything to trade for?
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I'd almost say inbox me, but I never check my messages here. My contact info is on my site. Let me know if you're looking for anything in particular. Maybe I might have something...
 
I recently used tarminator to remove some super weatherstrip adhesive, it clouded the paint badly and actually removed some to the bare plastic. I used it exactly how the can told me how to use it and it still did damage. Good thing the part is kind of hidden where it lays.
 
UpNorth said:
But when you are polishing, I don' t understand what happens to the contaminates that are removed. I keep thinking that the stuff that is removed would embed in my pad and then I'd end up introducing scratches or swirls as I moved along. Is the answer to check your pad after you go over something nasty and pick it clean or what? That still seems risky, especially as some things would be hard to see.
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Good question. The polish and pad is physically 'grinding' away micro layers of clear/paint -- So you are removing paint here, not just pulling the contaminat off/out of the paint. Like say, clay does.



Much more agressive process.



Now, for the pad to have the bugs/tar in them -- That is a valid concern.. If it is such that you cannot get with surface cleaning, then polishing is the only answer. You will need to polish down until it is removed. If a few more marrs/swirls are introduced in the area no big deal. Replace or clean the pad -- Then correct the fresh area with a light polish. Then your home free.



I know lots of polishes promote their ability to remove bugs and tar, but I just don't follow the logic. The fact that you, Scottwax, endorse the process is enough for me to go forward and try it, as your work is just mind blowingly good. But I still would love to understand why (or how) it works if any one can explain it simply.
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I know my explanation isn't the greatest, it is just for lack of knowledge personally. I just know it is safe, and will work. Though it isn't overly cautious to clean/change the pad after you have removed said defect.
 
UpNorth said:
I know lots of polishes promote their ability to remove bugs and tar, but I just don't follow the logic. The fact that you, Scottwax, endorse the process is enough for me to go forward and try it, as your work is just mind blowingly good. But I still would love to understand why (or how) it works if any one can explain it simply.
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I first get as much off in the wash process as possible. When you polish off the bugs, the remnants are certainly not as hard as the paint and the pressure from the pad and abrasiveness of the polish pretty much grind the leftover bug guts into nothing.
 
Neofate said:
...The polish and pad is physically 'grinding' away micro layers of clear/paint -- So you are removing paint here, not just pulling the contaminat off/out of the paint. Like say, clay does...
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I really don't want to confuse you, but claying IS an abrasive process too. "Pulling out" contamination is not an exact description. Clay rather abrades the contaminates away, but yes, in a more gentle way. Its stickiness helps to pull certain things though.
 
Well the Meguiar's Cleaner Wax with the PC seemed to have taken care of the issue. I took a look at it under the sun and it looks alright. Maybe I'm not looking at it from the right angle but I'm assuming it's gone.



That was scary though, it created that runny effect that you see in the photo as well as a bunch of small dots around the area. I'm pretty sure it wasn't wax residue from the dealer prep because I don't recall seeing it prior to using the bug spray and the surface was smooth. I'll have to be more careful going forward... from what I hear Infiniti paint is pretty soft.



Thanks guys.
 
Neofate, ScottWax & Bence - thanks so much for your explanations and advice. I have a much clearer picture of how the tar/bug removal via clay or polish process works. I can't wait to try it once it warms up here.



I am so grateful for this forum and the generosity of its participants.
 
Danase said:
What was it that was on the paint where you used Tarminator?
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I'm not sure. It's kind of a long story but I'll break it down real quick.



I bought the car and upon delivery it had a chip on the passenger side door. The dealer agreed to have their body shop repair it the following weekend. Within that time frame I managed to scrape the right side of the bumper on the entry way to my garage when pulling in. So I had the body shop fix that as well when I brought it in for the chip on the door.



So finally after all that mess I had the car back and it was in pristine condition. At that point I gave it a wash, clay bar, and wax. I'm not sure what the dealer used but I'm pretty sure they waxed part or some of the car since I saw wax residue on some of the plastic moldings. I don't think that what I saw was caused by Tarminator causing the dealer's wax to turn into a runny mess as it was not possible to remove it without using a polish.
 
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