Road tar removal - They are paving A1A
03-17-2010, 04:44 PM
#17
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I know it works better, but like I said, it can be tricky to find at least around here. Just trying to help the guy try and find something he may already have around the house if the old can of bug remover doesn't do the trick. Some glass cleaners have so much ammonia and alcohol they work really well for jobs like this.
Your local auto paint store will have similar chemicals that are usually cheaper by the gallon anyway.
They are usually labeled surface prep or something similar. Right now I have five gallons of mineral spirits for tough jobs.
Denatured alcohol is just ethanol cut with something like methanol, jet fuel, kerosene etc.... to make it undrinkable.
Due to the various agents that can be in denatured alcohol, I've found many claimed experts on detailing forums staying away from it since the wrong mixture (like acetone used in some lacquer thinners) can soften the paint.
Whatever he chooses to use, the key is to let it soak in and soften up the tar. Let the chemical do it's job.
Heavy mix of dawn dish-washing liquid strips any kind of sealant I've come across, including Rejex. It doesn't hurt to add some kind of citrus cleaner.
Your local auto paint store will have similar chemicals that are usually cheaper by the gallon anyway.
They are usually labeled surface prep or something similar. Right now I have five gallons of mineral spirits for tough jobs.
Denatured alcohol is just ethanol cut with something like methanol, jet fuel, kerosene etc.... to make it undrinkable.
Due to the various agents that can be in denatured alcohol, I've found many claimed experts on detailing forums staying away from it since the wrong mixture (like acetone used in some lacquer thinners) can soften the paint.
Whatever he chooses to use, the key is to let it soak in and soften up the tar. Let the chemical do it's job.
Heavy mix of dawn dish-washing liquid strips any kind of sealant I've come across, including Rejex. It doesn't hurt to add some kind of citrus cleaner.
BTW, I use Dawn to wash my car regularly, Rejex still shines like crazy and beads water after a bit over 2 years since it was last applied. Maybe our different experiences are due to curing it differently...
03-17-2010, 05:33 PM
#18
Administrator - "Tyson"
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I don't care what anyone puts on their paint, just giving a heads up to the possible contents of denatured alcohol. I see no reason to take that chance when there are plenty of other chemicals that are known safe that will accomplish the same goal.
I doubt it, but I'm not going to get into it with you.
I doubt it, but I'm not going to get into it with you.
03-17-2010, 06:08 PM
#19
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You will probably find that Petrol works as well if not better than anything and is probably cheapest and won't damage paint. Pour some on a cloth liberally and hold on the tarred area - you should see the tar spots just melt/dissolve away, wipe away gently with a clean cloth also soaked in petrol.
Don't smoke until the job is finished and the cloths disposed of.
Don't smoke until the job is finished and the cloths disposed of.
03-17-2010, 10:34 PM
#20
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Since I was a kid detailing I use Kerosene to remove tar. Soak up a rag and apply liberally to affected area. Come back in a few minutes (the tar will star dissolving and run) and wipe the tar off with soaked rag being careful not to scratch paint with bigger chunks. Then ALWAYS rewash and rinse the Kerosene off thoroughly before waxing. The stuff called "Bug and Tar Remover" works too.
03-18-2010, 07:22 AM
#21
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Since I was a kid detailing I use Kerosene to remove tar. Soak up a rag and apply liberally to affected area. Come back in a few minutes (the tar will star dissolving and run) and wipe the tar off with soaked rag being careful not to scratch paint with bigger chunks. Then ALWAYS rewash and rinse the Kerosene off thoroughly before waxing. The stuff called "Bug and Tar Remover" works too.
You're on the right track. Kero is the "natural" or best readily obtainable diluent of bitumen. Only reason I would use petrol (second best diluent) is that it evaporates rather than needing to be washed away with (depending on where you are ) the attendant environmental restrictions on it's disposal.
03-18-2010, 10:56 AM
#22
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Environmental disposal, what's that. You aren't supposed to even be washing your car if it isn't at a car wash that recycles the water! According the the EPA we can't run water straight from the faucet to the drain without adding soap for acceptable PH levels for waste streams.
03-18-2010, 11:35 AM
#23
Burning Brakes
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Wow! A newly paved road... I would gladly trade some road tar for the frick'en cave size pot holes in my daily drive. Just about ripped a wheel off the Benz, blew a tire. There is nothing like living in a poor city where they just lay patch over patch and it lasts a week at best. Though still wishing you luck on cleaning it up.
03-18-2010, 12:07 PM
#24
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Wow! A newly paved road... I would gladly trade some road tar for the frick'en cave size pot holes in my daily drive. Just about ripped a wheel off the Benz, blew a tire. There is nothing like living in a poor city where they just lay patch over patch and it lasts a week at best. Though still wishing you luck on cleaning it up.
If we had pot holes, you'd be driving so slow in the congestion you couldn't hurt the car.
On the bright side - when the snowbirds leave, and we have fresh roads,
you can......................
03-18-2010, 08:04 PM
#25
Racer
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Smiles, right now in Ponte Vedra Beach, if you stand still they will pave you with asphalt and paint a yellow stripe on you! Your federal money at work!
The WD40 sounds like a good way to go, I have to find that ol' can of it, I know its out in the garage somewhere. Project for this weekend.
Joe
The WD40 sounds like a good way to go, I have to find that ol' can of it, I know its out in the garage somewhere. Project for this weekend.
Joe
03-19-2010, 11:03 AM
#27
Intermediate
Diesel fuel , just a small amout on a rag wipes straight of with 1 - 2 passes ( use this method on my truck after going through road works several times )
03-19-2010, 11:10 AM
#28
Supercharged
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Another vote for kerosene. I keep some in a spray bottle. Best wheel cleaner I've ever found... but now that my wheels are black, I rarely have to resort to that level of cleaning. 
03-27-2010, 01:35 PM
#29
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Hi Everyone,
The WD-40 works great. I am half way through the job and while it takes several treatments to get all the road tar removed, the tar "melted" away and the car's paint looks ok.
I used a whole spray can of WD-40 just to do one side of the car...so I am headed back to the hardware store to get another can (or two just in case) to finish the job.
See the "before" and "after" photos below.
Thanks,
Joe
The WD-40 works great. I am half way through the job and while it takes several treatments to get all the road tar removed, the tar "melted" away and the car's paint looks ok.
I used a whole spray can of WD-40 just to do one side of the car...so I am headed back to the hardware store to get another can (or two just in case) to finish the job.
See the "before" and "after" photos below.
Thanks,
Joe
