removing tack coat from exterior

[ogre01]

Long story short, highway crew diverted traffic through a section of tacked road prior to overlay. My little sister's car has tack coat emulsion all over. MoDOT already said get bent to her and everyone else. I said I'd take a swing at it. Bottom line, it is a water based emulsion that takes solvent to typically remove. The car is an '09 Cadillac, I would assume the paint is fairly high quality.

I need some steps to getting this stuff off. I have chem bros citrus orange, but am thinking it might not be strong enough. I have a full degreaser (Purple Power) though I have never used it on paint. Any suggestions as to how I should proceed? And then what I should do to get the paint back to "protected" once it's all off.

 

[Beemerboy]

OTC Stoners Tarmanator, will remove it without any harm to the paint. You can also use mineral spirits, that's available at most all type of Home Depot stores. Either one I would use a old (throw out) cotton towel, spray on the towel and wipe the areas up. Done this many, many times

Tarminator quickly and easily removes tar, sap, bugs, grease and asphalt from auto exteriors.

 

[ogre01]

Thanks. Just called autozone and they have a couple cans in stock that I'll go pick up. Are there any special steps you would take washing it down after? I have Meg's Gold Class shampoo but don't know how well that might remove solvent based cleaners.

Beyond cleaning the tack coat, the car hasn't been washed in the last year, and never detailed. Would it be worth using Dawn on the whole car to strip whatever else may have been put on previously then come back with polish, sealant, and wax as necessary?

 

[Beemerboy]

Thanks. Just called autozone and they have a couple cans in stock that I'll go pick up. Are there any special steps you would take washing it down after? I have Meg's Gold Class shampoo but don't know how well that might remove solvent based cleaners.

Beyond cleaning the tack coat, the car hasn't been washed in the last year, and never detailed. Would it be worth using Dawn on the whole car to strip whatever else may have been put on previously then come back with polish, sealant, and wax as necessary?

Nothing special in washing after the tar removal..what you have on hand will work just fine. However since that car hasn't been cleaned in a while I would think to polish and then wax or find something like Klasse AIO is a one step process

 

[ogre01]

Thanks for the heads up, the tarminator is certainly some good stuff. Unfortunately two cans were used up in a matter of minutes and it was all they had in stock. Had to switch to mineral spirits which isn't nearly as user friendly. Car was a mess. Wheel wells are still covered, didn't have time to address them, and throughout the underbody too. Overall about 6.5 hours to remove and get the car to an acceptable condition.

 

[Beemerboy]

Thanks for the heads up, the tarminator is certainly some good stuff. Unfortunately two cans were used up in a matter of minutes and it was all they had in stock. Had to switch to mineral spirits which isn't nearly as user friendly. Car was a mess. Wheel wells are still covered, didn't have time to address them, and throughout the underbody too. Overall about 6.5 hours to remove and get the car to an acceptable condition.

With MS you should allow that to dwell on the surface, it doesn't work quite as fast as Stoner T...that said without pics I didn't realize you have that much tar on the car.