Where to start with sap removal?

perry · 08-01-04, 05:08

Was just over at my Uncle's house with my mom, and her car was parked right under a tree. When we left, there were tiny sap drops all over the windshield and hood (and I imagine the roof and trunk, though I didn't look). The car has week old S100 on the horizontal surfaces, and it got a couple coats of EX-P about 2.5 months ago. I think I've also used WAUD a time or two in the past 2.5 months.

Where should I start with removing it? I've seen suggestions of clay and mineral spirits, but I'd like to start with the least aggressive method. Would washing get rid of it?

I may not be able to devote a good chunk of time on it until next weekend... should I have mom run through the touchfree wash on Monday? Run over there now and take the car to the quarter wash?

perry · 08-01-04, 05:12

Actually, I think I'll go back over there now. She has her little nieces at the neighborhood pool and has to take them home, so I'll just ride along and make her stop at the quarter wash on the way home. Hopefully that does the job since the surface is pretty well protected.

4DSC · 08-01-04, 06:32

Before you worry if it is actually sap or not, try washing it off first.

Check this out: Aphid Juice vs. Sap

If it really is sap and it is covering the entire car like that.... I'm not sure what I'd do! I'd be torn between clay and bug remover, but I guess it'd depend on how big the droplets are and how much of the stuff there was.

perry · 08-01-04, 06:55

The quarter wash did the trick, as best as I could tell in the lighting of the wash bay. There was actually a bug remover spray at the wash, so I sprayed using that, then their soap, then rinse, then spot free rinse. Worked fine, but I bet it took off the wax. Oh well, easier to add more S100 than deal with hardened sap (or whatever it was).

I'm not a botanist or chemist, so I don't know if it was actually sap... Getting the car washed within about 4 hours of first parking under the tree probably helped.

On a lighter note, we pulled in to a parking lot earlier in the day and saw a pretty beat up mid-90's Crown Victoria. Mom used to have one em, so I guess it caught her eye. She asked me, "Is that what happens when you don't wax the car?" She's starting to understand the importance of the work I do

Matt M, PA · 08-01-04, 08:38

My restored Plymouth seems to get sap on it on a regular basis, as some shows put the AACA Senior cars under shade.

I take a cool, damp towell and some ZAino Gloss Enhancer (instant detailer)....and it all wipes off.