Tar Stains! Suggestions?

[zenith931]

I got tar ALL OVER my car... So I've claybarred and used many different kinds of solvents/tar removers. The tar comes off just fine off of my metal pieces. The painted plastics like my front bumper, the sideview mirrors and the decklid spoiler have these orange/yellow stains from the tar that WILL NOT come off. I've scrubbed, I've f*cked up my arm trying to get it off and it just doesn't budge. Is it stained?

I tried taking some pictures from my cell phone.

What would you recommend? My insurance will cover any repainting, but I'd really rather not deal with that...





I know they're hard to see in these pictures. Maybe I'll get some better pictures tomorrow with my actual camera. You can see the colors strikingly. Especially when it's against any metal pieces. Like my door handles look positively yellow against the white of my (now clean) door.

A friend recommended a compound like ScratchX. What do you think?

[zenith931]

Bumping.

Was waiting on my first post to be approved and I'd really appreciate some opinions!

Help a girl out, please?!

[Mark77]

Strange that it sticks to some parts and not others, plastic or metal, it's all paint anyway. Try some paint cleaner or even cleaner wax.

[zenith931]

Originally Posted by Mark77

Strange that it sticks to some parts and not others, plastic or metal, it's all paint anyway. Try some paint cleaner or even cleaner wax.

I've tried that and clay to no avail.

[brwill2005]

Claying is only effective for contaminants that are on the surface of the paint. That staining appears to be IN the paint. Try a light or mild polish to see if it helps. The paint on the areas effected is different than the paint on the metal panels, and more prone to staining. I am guessing that the staining is permanent.

[SuperBee364]

If you don't want to try polishing them out with a buffer, you might try one of the paint decontamination kits. Try reading here....Clay or FK1 Decontamination to get started. Honestly, I don't know if a decon kit will get rid of those stains, but it's worth a shot. You might consider finding an Autopian level detailer where you're at to talk about a polishing job with a rotary and an abrasive polish.

[zenith931]

Originally Posted by SuperBee364

If you don't want to try polishing them out with a buffer, you might try one of the paint decontamination kits. Try reading here....Clay or FK1 Decontamination to get started. Honestly, I don't know if a decon kit will get rid of those stains, but it's worth a shot. You might consider finding an Autopian level detailer where you're at to talk about a polishing job with a rotary and an abrasive polish.

Yeah, I'm looking for one in my local forums.

What do you guys think of using ScratchX to help remove?

[zenith931]

Originally Posted by brwill2005

Claying is only effective for contaminants that are on the surface of the paint. That staining appears to be IN the paint. Try a light or mild polish to see if it helps. The paint on the areas effected is different than the paint on the metal panels, and more prone to staining. I am guessing that the staining is permanent.

Don't say that!!! UGH!

I'm gonna try ScratchX compound this weekend. Wish me luck.

[Eliot Ness]

Originally Posted by zenith931

Don't say that!!! UGH!

I'm gonna try ScratchX compound this weekend. Wish me luck.

Take a look at the following links to get the most out of ScratchX:

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX - Car Care Forums: Meguiar's Online

YouTube - Tutorial: How to use Meguiar's ScratchX

Good luck and report back on how it did.

[Mark77]

Well Scratch X might work also, I have had stains like that and they came off with some Color X without problems.
Good luck

[KrisMas]

I did a test with Dupont Prepsol and got the following result if it would help:

Spray
Let dwell for 30 secs
Wipe with an old mf

Before



During



After 1st application



After 2nd application



I think another wipe would remove the stain altogether.

[Anal1]

Is prepsol available OTC?