Arizona DOT was spraying asphalt during a windstorm 20 miles east of Flagstaff yesterday. They must have deposited asphalt on thousands of cars, including my 4Runner. It hindered my ability to see through the windshield. Any recommendations for a product to remove it without damaging the paint clearcoat, silver plastic, and headlight covers? AZ is a beautiful state, but they must hire some really stupid people who don't give a shit. Only positive is that I don't have a white car lol.
Asphalt removal
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thennen
New member
I always used cigarette lighter fluid. I 've read that it's safe for clear coat and paint, and I never saw any damage or dullness. As with anything, try a little on an unseen spot such as inside the trunk to make sure you're ok with it. Not sure if it affects exterior vehicle plastics. It definitely removes tar, though.
Thanks for that! I first tried alcohol on the windshield, did nothing. Then W40, dissolved it right off. Then used a strong solution of Dawn and water. Also used that on the headlight covers and silver plastic trim at the bottom. It got too hot so I'll do the paint after washing it again. An hour after I washed it, the hood has lots of sand and grit again. That's how we roll in New Mexico lol.
I’d just use Stoners Tarminator. It’s made to be used on paint. WD-40 may be alright but something just tells me not to.
I would keep both away from the headlights.
I believe most headlights are polycarbonate.
https://www.wd40company.com/files/pdf/wd_40tec16952473.pdf
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I would keep both away from the headlights.
I believe most headlights are polycarbonate.
https://www.wd40company.com/files/pdf/wd_40tec16952473.pdf
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C
Crikeymike
Guest
This is what I was thinking too.
Any photos so we can see how it was when you first came out and saw the stuff on your car? That sounds really bad.
Why no WD-40 it doesn't ruin paint.
STI_MECE
New member
I never said it would ruin your paint but your telling him to put oily residue on his paint that you will sure as hell struggle to get it off. Thus degrading the paint over time because its only going to attract more dust and crap and not let any form of wax, paint sealant or ceramic do its job.
You create more work for yourself using that. Go buy something specifically designed to remove it, follow the instructions and your fine.
And then your telling him to put wax over the WD-40? Go do that to your paint and let me know how that works for you.
Showing before and after results are useless because that person may or may not have a layer of protection over the clear. Results vary. If your worried about it being to aggressive to your paint it's likely your tar is glued to the paint because your probably not maintaining the paint like it should be.
Get a tar remover, be done with it. Use elbow grease to get it off. It's not the end of the world.
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From the link I posted from WD-40’s web site:
Surface Compatibility
For all variations : WD-40 demonstrates none to negligible deleterious effect to plastic, rubber, and metal hard surfaces. This includes Acetal, neoprene/hard rubber, HDPE, PPS Copolymer Polysulfone, Teflon, Viton, steel, galvanized steel hot dip, electroplated, copper, brass, magnesium, nickel, tin plate, titanium, and zinc.
Surface Cautions
Nearly all surfaces interact with WD-40 as they would any high grade ali- phatic petroleum spirit. Certain types of rubber will swell upon prolonged immersion. Wax polishes and certain wax coatings may be softened by WD- 40. Clear polycarbonate and polystyrene may stress craze or crack. Always test surfaces first.
Where the heck CC paint falls in that compatibility/caution statement I do not know.
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Surface Compatibility
For all variations : WD-40 demonstrates none to negligible deleterious effect to plastic, rubber, and metal hard surfaces. This includes Acetal, neoprene/hard rubber, HDPE, PPS Copolymer Polysulfone, Teflon, Viton, steel, galvanized steel hot dip, electroplated, copper, brass, magnesium, nickel, tin plate, titanium, and zinc.
Surface Cautions
Nearly all surfaces interact with WD-40 as they would any high grade ali- phatic petroleum spirit. Certain types of rubber will swell upon prolonged immersion. Wax polishes and certain wax coatings may be softened by WD- 40. Clear polycarbonate and polystyrene may stress craze or crack. Always test surfaces first.
Where the heck CC paint falls in that compatibility/caution statement I do not know.
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STI_MECE
New member
I'm glad you can read.....go try it out and let me know how it works for you.
Again I never said anything would fail outright.... overtime clear coat willl not be in as good condition as it would without someone spraying WD-40 over it.
There is zero debating that. I am not trying to be rude but if this is a "detailing" section, I would at least solicit proper "detailing" advice by recommending proper "detailing" products.
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STI_MECE
New member
Go find an example of someone who removes tar on weekly basis and has been for years with WD-40 and let me know how that goes.
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Oh so no proof? Got it.
