How To Get Rid Of Some Tree Sap That Wont Come Off?

takevin · July 18, 2008

A coworker parked her car under and tree and had some tree sap come off on her windshield and roof in spots. I suggeste bug remover and goo gone. Neither have worked, its dry now to a hard like substance. Any suggestions out there?

Lincoln30 · July 18, 2008

Try dawn dish soap with warm (not hot) water...be sure to put on a new coat of wax after doing this. If that doesn't do it then claying might be necessary.

2000DV4.8 · July 18, 2008

I have to park under pine trees, so needless to say I've become somewhat of an expert on the sap topic. I use Turtle Wax Bug & Tar remover. It works, just takes some elbow grease. It also won't work well at all if you forget to shake up the can.

wlvrn1215 · July 18, 2008

I have to park under pine trees, so needless to say I've become somewhat of an expert on the sap topic. I use Turtle Wax Bug & Tar remover. It works, just takes some elbow grease. It also won't work well at all if you forget to shake up the can.

+1

omegafiler · July 18, 2008

Yeah, a good Bug & Tar remover will normally do the trick. Just follow the directions and stick with a good brand. I've used Meguiars in the past and had good luck with it. I know a few years ago that stuff did a great job at removing some tar from an old vehicle I had. That stuff was all over the side of the car. No idea how it got there, but I wasn't happy!

takevin · July 19, 2008

I have the turtle wax bug and tar remover, ill try that monday, also suggest to her to try the dawn liquid detergent. Thanks for the tips.

GCADDELL3 · July 19, 2008

I have the turtle wax bug and tar remover, ill try that monday, also suggest to her to try the dawn liquid detergent. Thanks for the tips.

The bug and tar remover should do the trick.

RAYS B4U · July 19, 2008

Well I got flamed pretty bad on another forum for suggesting this but (putting on my flame suit) here goes:

Give Rain X a try.

Here is my account of its use:

My neighbor has a cottonwood tree that dropped some of its seed pods or whatever they are called, onto the hood and top of my SS. They oozed sap out of them all over the paint. I did not drive the SS for over 2 weeks and didn't see the sap on it and it sat in the hot sun and baked it on.

I tried everything I could think of to get it off; bug & tar remover, mineral spirits, clay bar, and even gasoline! I was scheduled to take it in to the body shop today to have them either remove it or repaint the hood.

Last night I was reading: alt.autos.4x4.chevy-trucks newsgroup and another person asked about pine pitch removal. One guy chimed in and said that he has a tree trimming business and gets tree sap on his vehicles all the time and found the only thing that works well at removing it is RAIN X, yep, plain ole Rain X window treatment.

I was really skeptical, but desperate, so I poured some on a soft cloth and wiped it on the sap and with a little light rubbing it came right off! I could not believe it! Weekend before last I spent over 3 hours trying to get that crap off.

As soon as I got the hood cleaned I washed it twice with Dawn dishwashing soap to try and get all of the Rain X off and then waxed the hood. Hopefully the Rain X won't have any long term effects on the paint, but I had already come to the conclusion that I might have to pay to have the hood repainted anyway, so we'll see.

I cleaned it off on May 16, 2005 and my paint is still good today.

takevin · July 26, 2008

Thanks, ill suggest that to her on mon if the dawn doesnt work. Dont know why you would get flamed for that suggestion?

Zora · July 26, 2008

WD-40 works very well for road tar and bubble gum (yeah, bubble gum). I have not tried it on pine sap. I have used ice before, if the sap is gummy or sticky hold a large piece of ice on it until the ice melts or the sap has turned very hard and brittle. Then carefully, chip the sap away with your fingernail, or a like object, be very careful, you don't want to chip or scratch the finish.

If it were me I would try the WD-40 first. It disolves most things and wont scratch or remove the wax.

Good Luck

Zembonez · July 26, 2008

Battery acid and Drano (mixed 50/50) should take it right off. You can use the rest to wash your neighbor's car.

99silverado1500 · July 30, 2008

Or straight paint thinner should work exceptionally well

unit731 · July 31, 2008

Yep. I got the same problem with tree sap or whatever.

Nothing worked.

But did not have any Bug & Tar Remover - which I will get. Nor Rain-x. I'll give it a shot.

Is the paint different on these new trucks. I didn't seem to have a problem getting pitch/tar or whatever off with my 1990 Chevrolet 1500. Nail polish remover or plain gasoline worked before and never affected the paint. I don't think I will use either on my 2008.