If you have tar on your car, use some baking soda, yes any brand. Make some paste with a little bit of water and it comes right off. Its best to do before you wash the vehicle. I am however not accepting any liablity for any damage, if any should occur. I have used this on my white vehicles with no problem. Never had another vehicle to try it on. Maybe its like sand and helps get rid of it, but you barely have to do any rubbing. Possibly neutralizes the acids in the tar. Im sure its not as harmful as other products sold out there. JW Let me know what you think and if you try it. It makes it so much easier!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JWHybrid @ Jul 25 2006, 01:23 AM) [snapback]291849[/snapback]</div> You can also use WD40, easy on and easy off...no risk of damage to the paint. :blink: Happy Motoring
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hwalker911 @ Jul 25 2006, 07:36 AM) [snapback]291883[/snapback]</div> What about bugs? What gets rid of those pesky things? Dan
or more importantly, how about tree sap? My sister's civic got a ton of tree sap on it last year, and it's been hell trying to get that stuff off.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Jul 25 2006, 08:46 AM) [snapback]291920[/snapback]</div> Try GooGone - it'll cut through most organic sticky stuff. For bug guts/chunks, if you don't want to scrape it with a fingernail or a nylon dish sponge thingy, drape a soaked towel over the area (with the car in the shade so it doesn't cook), leave it for "a while" to soften them, and they'll usually wipe right off. Just be sure the towel is in contact with said guts/chunks. You can also do what I do, and ignore them 'till the next big rainstorm... The WD40 works well on tar, but so does kerosene or diesel fuel on a toothbrush, followed by soap and water. (Gasoline cuts it faster than almost anything, but it's not as safe. Insert normal disclaimers here...)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(glenhead @ Jul 25 2006, 09:11 AM) [snapback]291933[/snapback]</div> Unfortunately, it hasn't been much help on the tree sap... it was better than anything else we tried, though.
I believe baking soda is an abrasive. That being the case, its use in removing anything from the Prius paint would scratch the surface of the finish. Might be fine scratches, but over time could be damaging to that "showroom shine."
I remove stubborn tar or sap with lighter fluid (naptha). It's easy to find. Just wet a small spot on a paper towel and GENTLY wipe at the goo, changing the position of the paper towel frequently. If it's a big blob, spray a little directly on and wipe with a paper towel. DO NOT THROW THE PAPER TOWELS IN THE TRASH! They might spontaneously combust. Just let them sit out in the air for a couple of hours until they are dry. Yes, I know this causes VOC air polution, but so do the fir trees that drop their sap on my Silver Cloud. Baking soda is too abrasive. I don't want to use a strong detergent and remove the finish with the goo.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jul 25 2006, 10:00 PM) [snapback]292426[/snapback]</div> But now the bugs are back again........
If it was on your skin, rubbing alcohol will take off sap, and cooking oil will get the tar. You probably want to use the wet towel method to help soften even hardened sap. You should get sap off as soon as possible. As it hardens, it shrinks, and could possibly pull the paint up over time. Is bug and tar remover safe? IIRC the main ingredient is xylene.
