[Closed] Restoring car paintwork, tar removal

You can get tar removal sprays but the best is still near petrol.

You can get tar removing sponges, which are basically a normal sponge with a nylon mesh around it (like the bag you get oranges in).

I’ve found these really effective at getting tar and tree sap off our cars.

Autoglym intensive tar remover can be bought from any Halfords. It's great. Admittedly it does need a bit of elbow grease still.... But works really well.

Clay is easy enough to use, just make sure the surface is always wet with lubricant (usually that instant spray on wax stuff). Then wash again and apply several coats of polish and wax as the clay strips any existing stuff off.

A small amount of wd40 on a cloth is great for removing tar. If you want something specific try a clay bar, a good polish and a wax. (On the car, not the wife, but then ....) 😂

Bilt Hamber clay uses water as the lubricant, so is a bit easier to use than some of the others.  Chop the block into bits - you'll get at least 4 cars worth out of it.  Usual approach would be wash, tar remover (auto glym as above), rinse with hose, then clay then polish and wax.

Would you believe there's whole forms dedicated to this stuff: they don't even stray into wood burners (although they do talk about audis)

5 min with a paraffin soaked rag.

Each spring and autumn I give our cars a good clean - wash, paraffin rag, wax. I buy cars and run them till they're scrap, and the last three have gone to the scrappers with borked mechanicals but nice bodywork.

Are these clay bars not for removing paint to remedy blemishes? That is not the issue here. You don't want to be cutting off paint unless you need too.

Remove the tar first (with any of the options mentioned above) before using the clay bar.

Learn how to “turn/fold” the clay bar properly when using, this keeps the stuff that’s already been removed away from the paint and prevents damage.

Give the car a good wash, detergent and hot water.

then clean the tar off, I use white spirit and plenty of rags.

Wash again with detergent and hot water, no need to dry it off.

Then use a clay bar, this time of year there's normally an offer on at Halfords. I like Meguires they do a clay kit, Autoglym is nice stuff, from then on its about how much money you want to pay.

Likewise with polish, wax and sealer.

Buy a black car and you won’t notice it

do people really wash their cars ??? I think my car gets its annual clean at Mot time!

I suppose if I had a brand new car I might think differently.

On the other hand my Vw campervan does get its share of being waxed etc!

spray on a universal cleaner ( I use Koch chemical green star) then hose off

spray on some fallout remover then hose off

use a tar remover to try and get rid of large particles.

wash car with a decent plain shampoo (no wax)

use a clay glove (I've got a <span class="st">Farecla G3 Body Prep clay mitt from Halfords) to remove all other contaminants </span>

rinse and dry car.

use a polish to clean up paint work (autoglym super resin polish is a good product)

then top off with a quick wax spray (I use Meguiars D156 synthetic X-press spray wax)

WD-40 for tar removal, it even gets it off my motorcycle exhaust silencer after being baked on!

If you decide to clay the car.. under no circumstances be tempted to carry on using the same clay bar if you accidentally drop it on the floor..

Don't forget to do the underside with the clay while you're about it. No point in doing half a job.

Autosmart tardis is one of the best i have used