Getting Tar off

[jimed]

Just got back from a few days in Scotland; on the way home I was driving along a single track road and came across some caution roadworks signs so slowed down. Came round a corner and wondered why the road was wet then round another corner to find a lorry spraying tar all over the road prior to putting down chippings!! As you will expect by now the car had it along the sills and in tiny spots all over the place; I've now spent a few hours with tar remover and also turps and it is off the paint work but the Griff has some underseal or similar along the bottom of the sills and getting the tar off that also takes the black stuff off that should be there so any ideas how I can clean the bottom bit without having to redo the seal line? Suspect the only way it to take it all off and then redo it - what a pain though!!
Jim

[thainy77]

You could try a clay bar but i don't know how well it would work on there.

P.s. Turps on the car is not a good idea.

[morebeanz]

A product called Tardis, well known by most detailers, works an absolute dream on this without paint damage...

[Nicholas Blair]

I've used a small amount of petrol on a rag. No issues.

[SteveTusc]

Good old WD40 will get tar off.

[Chicken Pox]

all the above are likely to take the underseal off too, might be worth calling these chaps for advise:
underseal guru types

[grantT350T]

morebeanz said:

A product called Tardis, well known by most detailers, works an absolute dream on this without paint damage...

Seconded - Autosmart Tardis will sort out your problem. Should be part of your normal car cleaning routine if, like me, you have OCD....!

http://www.autoperfection.com/shop/AutoSmart-Tardi...

Usually sold in 5 litre cans - site above is one of the cheapest I could find.

look at www.detailingworld.com and put 'tardis' or 'tar removal' in the search box and you will get a whole load of info that will help you with your current predicament.

Best of luck.

[Big Al.]

Good ole Turpentine works wonders for tar even on leather upholstery.

[Argent]

AutoGlym do a tar remover.

A.

[Wedgii]

Tar and underseal are very similar chemically, being bitumenous in nature... so it follows that whatever will remove the tar may also remove any existing underseal. Using turps or white spirit will remove both, but should not affect affect the paintwork if it is cellulose or acrylic based. If you are careful and painstaking (even to the extent of using cotton buds) in removing the tar splashes, you can avoid removing bitumenous underseal.

[5.0ltr]

Argent said:

AutoGlym do a tar remover.A.

They do and it is useless I found, on the other hand,the Autosmart stuff is great tar just turns to liquid.

[B17NNS]

morebeanz said:

A product called Tardis, well known by most detailers, works an absolute dream on this without paint damage...

This ^^^ but I think it only comes in 5 litre containers.

Butter works as well I think.

[Targarama]

Big Al. said:

Good ole Turpentine works wonders for tar even on leather upholstery.

This.

Or white spirit. Either dissolve it nice and easily.

[Ironballs]

I've always found Meguiars quick clay will get rid of tar pretty easily and doesn't damage the paint

[NTEL]

Petrol every time!

[Bodmin]

......and a match

[NTEL]

Bodmin said:

......and a match

LOL........ don't need matches, Tivs set on fire all by themselves