How can I remove road tar from paint

[redeye280z]

Sorry for the long delay I have been quite busy. I finally got around to see my friend who is a body specialist. We tried many things and found the only way to get it off was some really abrasive compound. I haven't gotten around to doing it yet but it seems to me like it's a harsh solution to this problem. Has anyone used compound to getting tar off the car?

[jdraupp]

Originally Posted by redeye280z

Sorry for the long delay I have been quite busy. I finally got around to see my friend who is a body specialist. We tried many things and found the only way to get it off was some really abrasive compound. I haven't gotten around to doing it yet but it seems to me like it's a harsh solution to this problem. Has anyone used compound to getting tar off the car?

I replied earlier but try mixing a compound or Polish with a Powdered form of bar keepers friend. It's abrasive without scratching. Just took a bunch of tar off a different car with this very mix...

[BirdDog]

I just installed a replacement rear bumper cover on my 2001 S. The underside on the right and left corners on the replacement were covered by tar spots. I used McGuires Paint cleaner. Took it all off and it looks great.

But it sounds like your tar is really baked on if all the things that others have mentioned won't work.

If it were me, I'd use Ronsonol lighter fluid on a soft cloth. I keep a small bottle under my kitchen sink and another small bottle in the top drawer of my toolbox. It's great for removing adhesive residue, wax pen markings on thrift store items, etc. Kinda like Goo-Gone on steriods. I just ran out yesterday and bought a large bottle at Walgreens (I refill the smaller bottles from the larger one). Lighter fluid won't hurt your paint, but it will definitely strip off any wax, so be sure to wax after you're done.

[imon_2nd]

Yep, probably NOT simple road tar (mostly bitumen), which many cleaning products will remove. I got the following linked stuff on one quarter panel of my Mercedes a few years back when the wheel spit it onto the paint:

http://sealmaster.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/CrackMaster544.pdf

I had to use heat and kerosene to soften it enough to scrape off with a nylon blade. Then used rubbing compound on an orbital buffer to get the rest. It took several coats of paste wax and wool buffing to bring the finish back to almost new.

If somebody finds a better way, please post it in this thread.