Tree Sap Removal from Automobile

I seek out parking spaces that deposit the most tree sap. After 12 years and 180000 miles of hard driving in hot summers and salty cold winters, the only rust-free spots on my car (98 Ford Escort) are the ones covered by the thickest accumulations of tree sap.

Since turpentine is derived from tree sap, it should be a good sap removal solvent. BE CAREFUL since it might not be good to your clear-coat. Good luck!

Rubbing alcohol removes pine sap nicely. Don't know what it will do to your clear coat though.

When I take my car in to have it detailed, they have a product that removes sap and tar and other gunky stuff. You might try asking your local car wash what they use.

I've had good luck with alcohol with no adverse effects on my paint (or clearcoat).

It even worked better then a commercially available Bug & Tar remover that was supposed to work on sap as well.

Shawn

Try DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide. But wear gloves.

WD-40 is one of the best all around lubricants and an amazing solvent. Wish I had invented this product or Velcro. WD-40 has many uses besides lubrication.

Place a paper towel on it. Soak it in kerosene or #2 fuel oil for 24 hours. Wipe it off.

Won't hurt paint or gel coat.

Same technique for bird droppings.

L.J.

Liquid laundry detergent similar to "ALL" work well to get the stuff off me , I would think it would work on a car as well.

it's worth a try before ruining your paint.

how about TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate)? It works on houses.

There's a product called Goo Gone that works very well on adhesives from decals and labels and is also quite gentle on the finish. I've used it many times and it always works. WD-40 is another good solvent for tree sap and tar.

I use a product from walmart called 'Super Clean'.It does well on about any oily based substance, and does not seem to affect my clear coat. It should be deluded with water on first try or used on a out of the way place due to the different paints and coats..I use it on my 76 Caddy and works well...

Had to give the WD-40 a GA. Does work with small and thin sap.

A soft cloth damped with kerosene works well for me. Initially sop the sap (sounds funny) and let set for a little while. Remove as much as seems easy to come off, but don't get aggressive. Repeat as necessary.

However, when one allows the sap to harden, it becomes more difficult. If in a high glob, I usually begin with using a razor scraper to get the top part off, and of course carefull not mar the paint. I've also found that if the sap is ignored and not removed for some time it will damage the paint/clearcoat.

Good luck!

Try using a detailer's clay bar & lubricant spray (Mothers, Meguiars, etc...). The clay provides a shearing action for contaminants embedded in and/or stuck on the surface.

I use undiluted Murphy's oil soap.

here is a good list:

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/trees-shrubs/how-to-remove-tree-sap.htm

Thank you all for the replies…

On my end, I scoured the internet, visited two local body shops, and called a prominent classic car detailer… Where the internet findings resulted in solutions spanning the entire spectrum of plausible, and not so plausible, solutions… the body shop resulted more towards 'bring it in and for a fee, we'll get it off for you'… and the classic car detailer lead me to a recommended solution, along with a back-up plan.

Their recommended solution, was in-line with many suggestions found here… WD-40 and depending on the age of the vehicle, a claying. Since my vehicle is pretty new, claying is not needed at this time and the WD-40 worked perfectly.

For CR4's future reference, their pack-up plan was to point me to a web-site where I could find additional options if the WD-40 didn't work… They said the site is not just a marketing tool for various products, but also contains some very helpful 'how to' type instructions for the do-it-yourself car-care types.

I perused the site for about an hour and found all kinds of useful advice and instructional information, just have to look past the marketing slang as you read. But, I did notice that they just don't market a single manufacture's product, and the ones they do are on the 'more reputable' side. So a useful tool in both regards, I suppose.

But, the WD-40 worked for me… so GA guest! It's a shame you don't register.

JavaHead

Try mayonaise. I have used it to remove sap from my skin and shoes.