Stubborn Tree Sap..

[y3putt]

Hi Everyone..

Has anyone got any advice on how to get tree sap off..
It's my daughters car and she has obviously parked it under trees for months..I tried to get the stuff off her windscreen and ended up having to scrape it off with a razor blade it was that tough to move..
Obviously I don't want to be scraping it off the paintwork..I have tried a clay bar which didn't touch it..I have bought some Autoglym Extensive Tar remover..didn't touch it.. someone advised me to use WD40.. again didn't even touch it.. I really am at a loss on what to do next..??
I have a DA polisher but I am thinking that getting it warm will probably just spread it and clogg the pads..!
Has anyone got any ides at all ..its all over the car and the paintwork feels really rough and like the outside of an orange ...
Many thanks
Mark..

 

[JBell]

Try soaking a towel in hot soapy water the laying it on the car, you would have to do it in patches.

Windscreen wise try 0000 gauge wire wool

 

[DREAMER NO2]

I have had this problem with new caravans we sold at the dealership . Only thing i could get it off with was TFR Traffic Film Remover .But is very harsh .wipe it on with a sponge but make sure to was it of .This stuff will mark aluminium trim if left to dry.And do a little at a time then wash off ,.Just saying this would be my last thing i would use but will get the stuff off.

 

[Wighty]

Have a read up on chemical guys bug and tar remover . May do the job without any damage

 

[drmw]

as above - soapy water as hot as your hands can take should soften & remove it

 

[Crash1]

Tar remover will work

 

[w124nut]

as above - soapy water as hot as your hands can take should soften & remove it

Agree. I had the tree sap problem late last year and used hot soapy water to remove the sap. I then used paint cleaner making sure that all contaminates were gone, followed by a polish then a wax to finish off for protection.

It was a long job as I had my wife's car and mine to deal with.

 

[Rappey69]

If its an oak tree then the sap just washes off with rain or cold tapwater ..

 

[Craiglxviii]

Tree sap... use any alcohol to dissolve th resin chains. Hand sanitiser works just fine.

 

[Xtractorfan]

You could spray it liberally with some 'Ferry Liqsquid' and then brush it over and wash it off. This stuff is also good, used neat, to remove polish scrub marks from rubberised trim.

 

[JBell]

brush it over

PARDON!!!!!!!!

 

[y3putt]

Ok..firstly many thanks to everyone for all your advice..
Secondly..over the weekend I tried all the methods advised.....and guess what..
It still hasn't moved..
I got hot water with Fairy in it and soaked the resin...laying a towel soaked in it over an area.. I scrubbed as hard as I could with a bug shifting sponge without causing damage....but still the it is there...
I then clay barred over the area whilst warm..still nothing...
I will say it is not as rough, whether that is my scrubbing or it is coming off I don't know..but looking at the paintwork under light as well all you can see is like a surface similar to the moon..
I think it is going to have to be machine polished off..
I was thinking though of trying Cillit Bang..??
What's people's thoughts on this..??

 

[Craiglxviii]

Ok..firstly many thanks to everyone for all your advice..
Secondly..over the weekend I tried all the methods advised.....and guess what..
It still hasn't moved..
I got hot water with Fairy in it and soaked the resin...laying a towel soaked in it over an area.. I scrubbed as hard as I could with a bug shifting sponge without causing damage....but still the it is there...
I then clay barred over the area whilst warm..still nothing...
I will say it is not as rough, whether that is my scrubbing or it is coming off I don't know..but looking at the paintwork under light as well all you can see is like a surface similar to the moon..
I think it is going to have to be machine polished off..
I was thinking though of trying Cillit Bang..??
What's people's thoughts on this..??

Alcohol. Have you tried this? Surgical alcohol, or hand sanitizer which contains it. The alcohol dissolves the long chain bonds that form the resin that makes the sap sticky. Trust me, it'll get it off. But you'll need to wax the area afterwards though.

 

[DREAMER NO2]

You never used the TFR as i told you about , I know i did all the silly tricks i knew about at the time, even used Ciff in warm water , even methelated spirits on a rag . You can get Muck off in a spay bottle , its close but not so harsh .. After i used TFR you can see it streak and run off . EOM

 

[Xtractorfan]

PARDON!!!!!!!!

Hard to spread Fairy Liquid as you pour it from a bottle, so liberally brush it over the area and let it sit for about ten minutes.

 

[davemercedes]

I had the same problem about ten years ago - sap is a dreadful problem.

I searched for chemical firms nearby and one of them sold me 5-Litres of a "strong" car wash (i.e.: the type used to dewax cars that have been in storage). On the first go I thought it was a failure but I tried repeatedly and on the third go, the hard lumps really softened and washed off. I probably washed the roof and bonnet area with it about eight times before I couldn't see any left.

I can't remember the name of the product or the supplier now, which is no help I'm sorry, but tracking down a motor trade supplier who can probably recommend a suitable product is something you could try. I searched through my car "bills" box and I can't find an invoice which is annoying because I never throw things like that away.

Wish I could help more - best of luck!

 

[Craiglxviii]

Seriously. Hand sanitizer. Works a treat. Give it a go. It's a scientific fact!

or...

Another great pine tree sap remover is WD-40. Its mild solvent properties easily break down sap. The lubricant is safe on most types of paint. Spray it on and rinse it off with vinegar and water solution. Wash as usual.

 

[y3putt]

You never used the TFR as i told you about , EOM

Where would I get this TFR from..? Halfords..?

 

[Wighty]

Where would I get this TFR from..? Halfords..?

They do sell it , it means traffic film remover

 

[y3putt]

UPDATE...I tried everything everyone suggested even the Hand sanitiser and TFR and I think it moved the sap a bit, but not all..so the only thing to do was to get a professional to look at it..
I took my car to a local car paint specialist who took a look and commented that it was certainly the worse case of tree sap he had seen...so he had to get a chemical and a clay cloth and lots of elbow grease and it finally started to disappear..so it is booked in to have the whole car done now..
Thanks again everyone for your input , much appreciated