What is the best way to remove road tar from.....

[JBS99HT]

My silver car has a lot of road tar under the side sills. I know about the Zaino clay bar, but that's a lot of work. Anything easier?

Thanks

 

[Joel]

Automotive tar remover or mineral spirit

 

[SteveBCloud9]

I don't think I'd go the mineral spirit route. Try wd-40 on it for about a minute, then wipe. Keep repeating until it's gone......

 

[JBS99HT]

Thanks guys, I knew I could count on you!!!!!

 

[Vip-RT10]

I use the tar remover from a company named Stoner, works great!

 

[dansauto]

wd40 or prepsol from DuPont (at any paint store) works good-but don't put on in hot sun or you may discolor clear

 

[GTS Dean]

Tar is for roofs. Asphalt is for roads.

It's what is left at the bottom of the cracking tower after fuels, oils, and other lighter hydrocarbons are pulled off.

Diesel, kerosene, WD-40, "Bug & Tar" remover and **NON-ABRASIVE hand cleaner** all work well for gently dissolving it. The less "mechanical" cleaning you do, the better.

 

[Gerald]

I will probably get flamed for this but the best cleaner I've found for crud on paint is 93 Octane gasoline (only on small spots of course)... As long as you wipe it off quick...

Gerald

 

[MJBComp]

Gerald, you're a glutton for punishment...

If we all have garage queens then we shouldn't have any asphalt on our sills anyway....

Step 1. Back Snake out into driveway on Saturday morning.
Step 2. Apply Zaino Carwash. Look at that shine!
Step 3. Contemplate more Z-2 but decide it looks fine.
Step 4. Pull forward back into our cozy spot in the garage.

Low mileage Queen....lolz...

But seriously...Claybar works great, depends on how much crap is on the sills...93 Octane only if you want to see your sills on fire. YIKES!!!

 

[Geoff Green]

Clay works the fastest.

 

[Joel]

One point worth mentioning, Gasoline while great for removing tar does I believe contain benzine which is a carcinogen.

 

[Tom and Vipers]

I've used Goo Gone a citrus cleaner found in grocery stores.

It is also great for removing tape adhesive too.

 

[Miles B]

On my motorcycles I've always used methylated spirits.. They get covered in asphalt goo and chain lube and all sort of nasty crud.. the metho is water soluble too so I always know I can get it straight off.. never seen it fade the paint or stickers, plastics.. anything.. takes it straight off with minimal rubbing.. did I do good??

 

[v8huntr]

wash the car than put little bit of mother's wax on wet towel and clean it out. rinse is out with water.

 

[Vip-RT10]

Gerald, gas is fine, but don't rub it in too much, this will eat away at the clear coat. The easiest way is to have your car properly waxed and then asphalt/tar comes off easily even with water and a rag.

I do clean my windshield with a gasoline soaked rag first, then wash the windshield, dry it and apply Rain-X. After that I wash the entire car and it is perfect. I do this to remove the oils and crap that other crappy cars on the road leave behind....on my windshied!