Removing Road Tar

Well, when I used to do hot-tar roofing during my summers in college, we'd get a small gasoline container and a rag to clean those trucks...tar is a hydrocarbon, you'll need some organic solvents.

 

I use gasoline, but you don't need to soak a cloth with it for it to be effective. I also rub lightly, only as strongly as necessary.

Citrus-based solvents will also work, but not as quickly.

 

Any petrolium distilate would work like WD-40.

 

All I ever use to remove road tar is Coke. Works great.Take a look at this:
http://www.sciforums.com/archive/index.php/t-5009.html

 

I hope you're joking. While Coke will remove it, it is because it is a mild acid. I doubt that it is good for the clearcoat. A better choice is a more neutral pH solution like the numerous Bug and Tar Remover solvents you find in an auto parts store. You guys still remember we have auto parts stores, right? Just checking!

 

I picked up my 06 superwhite package 6 last night, so the users manulal is still fresh in my mind. It acutally says to use turpentine to remove tar.

Regards,
Steve

 

Turpentine is great for tree sap but not very effective for road tar. There is no mention of turpentine in the 2004 Owners Manual.

 

2006 Prius Users Manual page 380.

 

I had some nasty tar behind my wheels and on the rocker panels, I tried everything to get it off and by accident I rubbed some turpentine on it and it came off like majic - hope this helps

 

I figure if the owners manual says to use it, it must be a pretty safe bet.

Steve

 

Kerosene does a great job, but wash off with soap and water afterwards, that is for spot cleaning. One can also wash the whole car with a bucket of water and just a couple of ounces of kerosene. Again rinse off with soap and water. Some people say that kerosene is bad for the paint, but I have never noticed any problems.

 

I have found that naptha lighter fluid (e.g., Ronson) is great for removing road tar and all kinds of goo, like what's left when you remove a price sticker. Just a few drops on a white cloth or paper towel (depending on what you're cleaning, paper is abrasive) and the goo is gone.

Be sure to leave the cloth/paper sitting out, when finished, so the naptha can evaporate. You don't want to toss it in the trash where it might self-ignite.

 

Pretty much any of the suggestions will take off the tar. They will also remove whatever wax/paint protection you might have had on that spot. Don't forget to rewax/Zaino/whatever that location after you are done.

In my case, it would be tar remover, spot wash with soap & water, rinse, dry, Zaino. I wonder how the dealer-applied "paint protection" holds up to tar remover?

- Tom

 

Don't have a Prius yet, but I was washing the car this week and trying to remove tar. I like the peanut butter idea. The only problem is my dog would be licking it off the car!

Andy

 

Apparently, peanut butter is an all-purpose cleaner http://www.pca.com.au/articles.php?rc=631

I going to give it a try on the tar.

Andy

 

It won't!

I personally use WD-40. Though it is cheaper to use kerosene (just about the same as WD-40), it may not be as available or convenient for some. All the others mentioned here work great as well. Just wash and rewax when you're done, and you're as good (or better!) than new.