Possible to remove tree sap stains on white paint without cut-and-polish?

[an000 Member Find all posts View Profile Close an000]

Happy New Year everyone!

We went away for a few days and parked our Prado under a tree for a few nights.
Now the roof and bonnet is covered with tree sap, small brown dots about 0.5mm in diameter, every 2-3cm, ie. hundreds of them. They are very visible on crystal white.

I can scrub each of them off with soap (with great difficulty) , but that will take forever as there are hundreds of them.

Is there an easier way to clean these? There are some mentions about using WD40, but I am not sure if that will stain/remove the paint work?

Regards
Andy

[letsgoplaces Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close letsgoplaces]

You could try a clay bar

http://www.zainobros.com.au/prod18.htm
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/onl...74#Description

a couple of examples

Cheers
John

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

When I read the thread title I thought CRC / WD40, it wont hurt the paint and it is great for bugs and tar. Thats what would start with.

Cheers Andrew

[timmay5.7 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close timmay5.7]

Try white or methylated spirits.

[letsgoplaces Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close letsgoplaces]

I really should read the full thread.... a clay bar probably falls into the cut and polish category ops:

And the other options mentioned are much easier on the credit card

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

i've had some success with white vinegar and a microfibre cloth. washed both cars (gold prado, black other) in blaring sun the other day and both got covered in hard water stains. bit of watered down white vinegar and all came off a treat. also managed to get rid of some old tree sap stains on mine at the same time.

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Try white or methylated spirits.

I would be very wary of using Methylated Spirits on paint.

[Justo77 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Justo77]

Eucalyptus oil may be worth a try, maybe just try it on a small area thats out of sight just to test it's okay on paint work but I wouldn't imagine you would have any problems.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Na it doesnt cut back as such but will remove the dots. My wifes car was exactly the same covered in friggin hundreds of them, only way prior was with a finger nail and pop each one off so to speak then had to polish ontop of that to remove the brown ring they leave, total pain in the arse. Thought we were doing the right thing parking in the shade to protect interior now I have a cheap car coaver (non scratch) to throw over it in the future same with prado. The clay bar leaves the paint feeling like a babys bum super smooth.Cheers Steve

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Will keep that one in mind, handy to know. Did it feel like it removed the polish after woods ?? Cheers Steve

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Eucalyptus oil may be worth a try, maybe just try it on a small area thats out of sight just to test it's okay on paint work but I wouldn't imagine you would have any problems.

Except that now it would be covered in Koala crap

[Jon Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Jon]

Try some CT18, works for me

[lippa Member Find all posts View Profile Close lippa]

use a strong APC, spray down and soak, follow up with prepsol(wax and grease remover) on stubborn areas.

metho will be fine fine if no prepsol available. just takes alot longer.

you will strip any wax/sealant/dodgy aftermarket paint protection that has been applied.

[lippa Member Find all posts View Profile Close lippa]

just an after thought, its no cicada piss is it? if so a nice warm soapy bath is the best treatment.

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

X2 for white vinegar. My roof water storage system leaked bore water on the car at the beach in 40 degrees the other week. Left real bad calcium stains. White vinegar worked a treat, followed by some turtle wax to protect the paint again.