Tar Spots

Author
Discussion

R_U_LOCAL

Original Poster:

2,676 posts

207 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
quotequote all
I gave my car a wash today and noticed a lot of tiny tar spots all over the lower bodywork.

What's the best / least damaging way to get rid of them?

Thanks in advance.

Far Cough

2,192 posts

167 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
quotequote all
Polish is the least harmful way , WD40 is also pretty good but the detailers potion of choice is called "Tardis" which you spray on and it dissolves the tar spots. Google it to see the results. The only thing is that Tardis will remove any wax you have so that will need to be reapplied.

Concerned cat

367 posts

208 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
quotequote all
White spirit. Easy to apply. Just wipe on & leave to soak for a couple of minutes. Then with another cloth, wipe off. Cheap & effective. Far Cough, there isn't such a thing as polish.

ecotec

404 posts

128 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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^ as above white spirit works great - as recommended in saab handbooks

R_U_LOCAL

Original Poster:

2,676 posts

207 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
quotequote all
Thank you gents.

When the weather improves I'll try white spirit & then give it a coat of wax.

Blue62

8,746 posts

151 months

Monday 2nd February 2015
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Another one for White Spirit. Unless you wash a lot of cars you will find that Tardis rusts the inside of the can over time, making it useless. I think whatever solvent you use (petrol, white spirit) will remove wax and other protection, so I'd wait until the wort of winter is past before giving it a proper clean if I were you.

R_U_LOCAL

Original Poster:

2,676 posts

207 months

Monday 2nd February 2015
quotequote all
Blue62 said:
Another one for White Spirit. Unless you wash a lot of cars you will find that Tardis rusts the inside of the can over time, making it useless. I think whatever solvent you use (petrol, white spirit) will remove wax and other protection, so I'd wait until the wort of winter is past before giving it a proper clean if I were you.
That's the plan! Wash, white spirit, wash again, clay, polish & wax. I'll wait till spring.

Thanks for all the advice.

nickg123

582 posts

242 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2015
quotequote all
I'd stick to a product that's designed to do the job properly, Tardis by Autosmart, Tar-X by CarPro are both very effective and not hugely expensive for the amount you need to use.

PVD Approved - DMC Newbury

Edited by nickg123 on Tuesday 3rd February 11:59


Edited by nickg123 on Tuesday 3rd February 12:11

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2015
quotequote all
I asked the same question a while ago - CLICK - Intensive Tar Remover did a smashing job for me.

nickg123

582 posts

242 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2015
quotequote all
LordGrover said:
I asked the same question a while ago - CLICK - Intensive Tar Remover did a smashing job for me.
I remember the thread well :-)

PVD Approved - DMC Newbury


Edited by nickg123 on Tuesday 3rd February 12:11

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2015
quotequote all
Pssst. Your links are knackered.

Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
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LordGrover said:
I asked the same question a while ago - CLICK - Intensive Tar Remover did a smashing job for me.
I found Intensive Tar Remover to be very hard work - it took about an hour to de-tar my girlfriend's white Fiat 500. It needs doing again in the spring, so I will try TarX or ObliTARate, which both seem to get good reviews.

Blue62

8,746 posts

151 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
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My local Autosmart rep recommends a clean petrol rag rather than Tardis (which he sells). His view is that unless you're in the trade and having to turn cars around quickly you should save the money.

Be interested to know if anyone has tried Iron X, from what I've heard you leave it to dwell and then rinse before applying protection, sounds easy IF it works.

Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
I've used Iron X, but not on tar spots. The 500 had a lot of iron filing on the paint as it was transported by rail from the factory in Poland, after a couple of years the iron filings started rusting and became visible.

nickg123

582 posts

242 months

Friday 6th February 2015
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Blue62 said:
My local Autosmart rep recommends a clean petrol rag rather than Tardis (which he sells). His view is that unless you're in the trade and having to turn cars around quickly you should save the money.

Be interested to know if anyone has tried Iron X, from what I've heard you leave it to dwell and then rinse before applying protection, sounds easy IF it works.
Wow! I think AS would be horrified to hear that, I've seen plenty of cars with stains on plastic areas from spilling petrol down the car, a lad I know with a new Red seat Ibiza ruined his front bumper trying to remove tar with Petrol, obviously it's only really bad if an area has been painted but to be fair I'd say 7 maybe 8 out of 10 cars I get through the door have all had paintwork done so would never risk it.

PVD Approved - DMC Newbury

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Friday 6th February 2015
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Concerned cat said:
Far Cough, there isn't such a thing as polish.
Yes there is. I put it on my shoes occasionally.

tortop45

434 posts

159 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
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Just use petrol on a rag..........

Concerned cat

367 posts

208 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
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Mr2Mike said:
Yes there is. I put it on my shoes occasionally.
:-)

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
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White Spirit or Petrol, both cheap, but white spirit is safer I suppose.

Concerned cat

367 posts

208 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
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Wacky Racer said:
White Spirit or Petrol, both cheap, but white spirit is safer I suppose.
You & I omitted lighter fluid!!