Expert: William Forster - 6/6/2006

Question
What works good for tar removal off car paint?Thanks.

Answer
Hello, and thank you for your question! On the cheap side, kerosene will work. If you want to spend a few bucks, get some commercial grade wax and tar remover from any outlet that sells car paint, such as Napa or Big A. Be sure it is solvent based, but be warned- it's flammable. Apply it with paper towels, and be generous with them. Once a towel gets pretty dirty, all you do is smear tar and dirt around, scratching up the paint. Your car will need totally waxed in all the areas that you use the tar remover on, it completely strips all protective coatings off of the finish. Be patient, and allow the remover to soak into the tar before trying to remove it. It will likely take several applications to fully clean a heavily tarred surface. Hope this helps! Bill