Cottonwood Tree Sap

[Truckguy24]

You should have him get a cheap car cover to keep that crap off it.  There are usually less than $50 bucks

[Too Stroked]

You should have him get a cheap car cover to keep that crap off it.  There are usually less than $50 bucks

It has been mentioned. But, having had car covers in the past, they can cause other problems as well. Of course he's on a student budget anyway ...

[Truckguy24]

I gotcha... makes sense.  They can be a pain sometimes

[Too Stroked]

OK guys, I know Stoner's Tarminator worked pretty well on this one, but I found something even better - and cheaper. I can't even admit where I got this tip because this person knows less about car care than anybody else I ever met. (There's a hint.)

So anyway I used this tip, then proceeded to remove (dissolve actually) probably 50 spots from Brandon's hood - some up to 1/4" in diameter - in less than 5 minutes. This wonder solvent didn't harm the paint and took the tree sap off even better than a big name product.

So what did I finally use? Isopropyl Alcohol. Why didn't I think of that? There's one for the notebooks!

[Kitzy]

Wow.  I wouldn't of thought it.  It crossed my mind, but I just didn't think it would have done the trick.  Cool.

[Rollingrock]

wait, didn't I say to use IPA?

Go back and check my original post.

[Kitzy]

You guys hear anything?  Haha.

[Blown F-150]

OK guys, I know Stoner's Tarminator worked pretty well on this one, but I found something even better - and cheaper. I can't even admit where I got this tip because this person knows less about car care than anybody else I ever met. (There's a hint.)

So anyway I used this tip, then proceeded to remove (dissolve actually) probably 50 spots from Brandon's hood - some up to 1/4" in diameter - in less than 5 minutes. This wonder solvent didn't harm the paint and took the tree sap off even better than a big name product.

So what did I finally use? Isopropyl Alcohol. Why didn't I think of that? There's one for the notebooks!

Very good to know, I would think it would dissolve it a bit, but not that well!

[Rollingrock]

well fine....since Tom has yet to produce before and after....well....this thread doesn't exist!   

[Too Stroked]

well fine....since Tom has yet to produce before and after....well....this thread doesn't exist!   

Ah, but Tom has a new camera and a whole roof and trunklid to fix! Be pataient oh wise one and you shall be rewarded.

[GreyMichFX4]

well fine....since Tom has yet to produce before and after....well....this thread doesn't exist!   

Ah, but Tom has a new camera and a whole roof and trunklid to fix! Be pataient oh wise one and you shall be rewarded.

I think the bustee, just got busted!!! 

[GreyMichFX4]

Would this also work on Pine sap? My dad's Honda CRV got parked under a Pine tree for about a month and is pretty nasty from what he has told me.

[Too Stroked]

Would this also work on Pine sap? My dad's Honda CRV got parked under a Pine tree for about a month and is pretty nasty from what he has told me.

I don't know, but from what I've seen so far, I'd try it again on any sap first. All of the other methods I tried involved prolonged soaks and a serious temptation to pick away with a fingernail. The IPA literally dissolved it - and quickly.

And yes JP, I must have somehow missed your recommendation. Look at the bright side. Now I can credit you with the recommendation instead of, well, I'd rather not say.

[Too Stroked]

Well, as we're fond of saying around here, "pics or it didn't happen." And I promised pics, so here goes. Brandon & I finished removing the rest of the sap from his Mercury tonight, then I hit it with SSR1 on a white pad on the Flex, followed by my favorite Poor Boy's EX-P. This is what literally covered the entire upper surface (hood, roof, trunklid, windows) of the car:



OK, so my fingernails were dirty. I'm a working guy and darn proud of it. But if you look at the relative size of that spot - which was pretty typical - you get an idea. Now multiply that by having one of those bad boys about every 6"... Yea, it was a workout even with the IPA literally dissolving the stuff. Thanks to everyone here for the help!

Tom

[Truckguy24]

Glad to hear that's a good solution, Tom