How to remove tree sap from a car roof
Discussion
My Brother's Golf has been parked up for a year and a bit and a tree has kindly decided to grow ever closer to the car and has resulted in the car being completed coated with crap.
I gave the car a quick wash this weekend but the roof and tops of the doors are all covered in tree sap. The only thing I had to hand at the time was Dodo Juice Lime Prime which wasn't touching the stuff. I've got some AG Tar remover that I could have a go with but was wondering if anybody had anything else that would remove the stuff?
Believe it or not there was some shiny paint under here once.
I gave the car a quick wash this weekend but the roof and tops of the doors are all covered in tree sap. The only thing I had to hand at the time was Dodo Juice Lime Prime which wasn't touching the stuff. I've got some AG Tar remover that I could have a go with but was wondering if anybody had anything else that would remove the stuff?
Believe it or not there was some shiny paint under here once.
Three possible solutions.
1. The car needs cleaning with something stronger than shampoo.
2. The surface needs to be clayed which may help.
3. Once clayed, the roof could do with a decent machine polish.
A strong mixture of All Purpose Cleaner mixed 4:1 water to APC may be one solution or spray on some Traffic Film Remover by a hand pump, again mixed.
Have you ever used autoclay to remove detriment from a cars clearcoat?
Do you know anybody with a DA or rotary polishing machine?
1. The car needs cleaning with something stronger than shampoo.
2. The surface needs to be clayed which may help.
3. Once clayed, the roof could do with a decent machine polish.
A strong mixture of All Purpose Cleaner mixed 4:1 water to APC may be one solution or spray on some Traffic Film Remover by a hand pump, again mixed.
Have you ever used autoclay to remove detriment from a cars clearcoat?
Do you know anybody with a DA or rotary polishing machine?
No experience with clay and nope don't know anybody with a machine polisher.
Will have to see what I've got in my collection of cleaning stuff that might work as not being my car I don't really want to spend any money on sorting it out just yet. Anything I can add to my collection at a later date is always good though.
Will have to see what I've got in my collection of cleaning stuff that might work as not being my car I don't really want to spend any money on sorting it out just yet. Anything I can add to my collection at a later date is always good though.
Tree sap can be pretty difficult to shift, especially if its had a year to get really baked onto the paint. I'd also suggest a claybar, it will probably take a whole bar to do the roof & bonnet, just break it into little pieces and bin each bit as it gets soiled. Use plenty of lube with it.
This is the best method to make your car look good.
-Use a ph neutral degreaser, or a snow foam lance and leave to dwel for 5-10minutes.
-Rinse car with a power washer.
-Wash car using the 2 bucket method.
-Rinse car.
-Clay car with clay and clay lube.
-Spray Aquartz iron cut and leave to dwel for 5 minutes. This will highlight and remove any oxidations and contaminants that the clay did not pick up.
-Wash car again using 2 bucket method.
At this point I would be giving the car a single stage paint correction at least to aid the ease of bring the paint back up in half decent shape. But if you don't fancy dabbling with a d.a. or a rotary then use some meguiars scratch x as its quite good via hand and aplicator. Then just top with a glaze as these have oils in them and will help hide defects(If you are wanting to polish by hand). I recommend poorboys black hole glaze for dark cars or believe it or not autoglym super resin polish is one of the best filler polishes you can get. Even between the big boys such as CG, Poorboys,zaino, zymol, swissvax etc.
Then just leave for 15 mins. remove excess, and then just top up and finish with a spray sealant such as zaino grande finale.
Hope this helps!
Regards Michael
-Use a ph neutral degreaser, or a snow foam lance and leave to dwel for 5-10minutes.
-Rinse car with a power washer.
-Wash car using the 2 bucket method.
-Rinse car.
-Clay car with clay and clay lube.
-Spray Aquartz iron cut and leave to dwel for 5 minutes. This will highlight and remove any oxidations and contaminants that the clay did not pick up.
-Wash car again using 2 bucket method.
At this point I would be giving the car a single stage paint correction at least to aid the ease of bring the paint back up in half decent shape. But if you don't fancy dabbling with a d.a. or a rotary then use some meguiars scratch x as its quite good via hand and aplicator. Then just top with a glaze as these have oils in them and will help hide defects(If you are wanting to polish by hand). I recommend poorboys black hole glaze for dark cars or believe it or not autoglym super resin polish is one of the best filler polishes you can get. Even between the big boys such as CG, Poorboys,zaino, zymol, swissvax etc.
Then just leave for 15 mins. remove excess, and then just top up and finish with a spray sealant such as zaino grande finale.
Hope this helps!
Regards Michael
The two things you need to remove tree sap with are a clay bar, if the hot water detergent solution doesn't do it after a second hit.
Bilt Hamber Surfex HD - 10% strength solution with hot water, and preferably the hosepipe connected to the hot water tap too.
Manual garden type pressurised sprayer, spray, and keep wetting every 15-20 seconds for 2-3 mins.
Rinse with the hose, and feel it.
If still there after another go, a bit of Bilt Hamber Auto-clay regular with water as a lube - switch the hose to the cold tap, and use the spray head on it to keep the panel wet.
Bilt Hamber Surfex HD - 10% strength solution with hot water, and preferably the hosepipe connected to the hot water tap too.
Manual garden type pressurised sprayer, spray, and keep wetting every 15-20 seconds for 2-3 mins.
Rinse with the hose, and feel it.
If still there after another go, a bit of Bilt Hamber Auto-clay regular with water as a lube - switch the hose to the cold tap, and use the spray head on it to keep the panel wet.
Thanks for the suggestions chaps. I've been meaning to try a clay bar so I may as well try one on this. Not after a full detail as the bodywork is in a right state including the lacquer peeling off the bonnet but it would be nice to get the tree sap off the only good parts.
If that doesn't work then it's not my car so sod it!
If that doesn't work then it's not my car so sod it!
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