Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[buzzy bee]

Is there any way of removing fly and tar deposits from car paintwork without polishing/scrubing for hours and hours?

Cheers

Dave

[admin]

drop of old petrol or white spirit perhaps? try it out of sight first, just in case

Rick.

[rustyreks]

in the handbook on the ford 10 and prefect by pitmans it says to remove tar splashs use a mixture of2/3 petrol and 1/3 engine oil.Drop a soft cloth into the mixture and using one finger rub the spot gently until it is removed.It recommends parrafin for the removal of oil stains on paint.once cleaned wash down with clean water.It is an excellent book with lots of practical tips. Recommend also that you try this on a low visual area first just in case.

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Are these ok on modern paints aswell?

Thanks for all of the replys!


Cheers

Dave

[rustyreks]

Dave regarding your question i dont know although the paint used on the prefect would have been enamel. In another book a gregory scientific publication 1987 more current it recommends cleaning the car with 1 tablespoon of kerosine to a gallon of water to clean offstains from oil grease sap from trees bird droppings etc didnt mention tar other books i checked had grease and tar remover i guess that is an over the counter product may be worth checking.with the kerosine option it recommened washing the car with water first to remove the dirt definitely didnt recommend using detergents for these reasons causes a streaky finishon the paint surface and rapid deterioration of the lustreof automotive lacquers and enamels and creats rust esp around windscreen rubbers and finishing moulds quite interesting i didnt actually know that until tonite so no more detergent on my cars.

[admin]

rusty, I know that using household washing up liquid isn't too good on cars as I believe it has salt in it (so I'm told anyway)

I have noticed that if I polish a car, a few washes later with proper car wash stuff and the polished surface has all but gone, so it certainly strips something away

Rick

[rustyreks]

Dave i have been thinking about the petrol and oil option for tar removal cant see any problem there as small spills around the fuel cap while filling doesnt normally affect the paint work on cars.Rick you could be right about the detergents the salts could cause the rusting.I guess the answer is to use the products designed for cleaning cars for the bubbles ie turtle range rather than detergents although a mechanic told me that for window cleaners baby shampoo will do no harm to paint work as it is a lot gentler on babies skins which are more sensitive dont need a lot for window washer i have tried this and works fine.Not sure what to use in frosty cold climates though to stop the washer from freezing.

[Uncle Joe]

In forsty cold climates, we have a few of ways to stop the washer freezing. The usual one is to buy a bottle of something called T-Blue, which is an ethanol based liquid that is diluted with water. on a blue/water ratio, 1:4 protects down to -8C, 1:2 down to -15C, and 1:1 to -25C.

But, aah, I hear you all say, we cant buy that here! so here are two DIY recipes:

To protect down to -17C: 1 litre methylated spirits, 2 litres of water, 2ml washing up liquid. Lemon smells better!

For Party days: 1 bottle of really dry champagne or sparkling wine, 1/2 ml washing up liquid. i dont know how far down this protects, but who cares!

UJ

[buzzy bee]

I was given some stuff the use in limosines a few years back, and am just running out of it, some is bright blue some is pink, so I bet I know what is in it! It does not say on the bottle the ingreediants, but it sure does work!

Anyway it doesn't mater as much rigt now as I can't use screenwash as my screenwash pump needs looking at/Replaving, I have found a bottle of water and a duster works well!!

Cheers

Dave

[Uncle Joe]

And I guess that you will be right as well! The recipe i posted is pinky-red, the T-Blue is obviously blue, and I know what is in both of them! Incidentally, the recipe works in summer as well, for cleaning bugs off!

[rustyreks]

Buzzy bee another suggestion on tar removal i read on the side of the crc 556 aerosol can standard type recommends crc for tar removal usually have that available in the garage thought that worth letting the group know