Removing tree sap

vexx786 · 09-24-2009, 03:39 PM

I parked under a tree at work and now there is tree sap all over the front. I've washed the car once or twice, but it still doesn't come off. Also, when I had my door repaired (don't ask) the place did a detail on my car with the sap in place

. Anyway to get this POS removed?

BK · 09-24-2009, 04:05 PM

Easiest way to remove sap is with denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. It dissolves the tree sap and makes it very easy to remove, even if baked on. For thick sap or really baked in sap, you can wet a cotton ball or small shred of paper towel and stick it on there for a few minutes, then it should make the sap soft enough to remove. Note alcohol will remove any wax or sealant you have on those areas, so use it sparingly and then wash and re-wax or re-seal those areas! If you see a ghosted area left behind, you can try claying the remainder, but it's most likely not anything that will lift off with clay -- it's probably etch in your clearcoat, which should be easy enough to polish out.

Using alcohol will not harm your paint, but it is pretty strong stuff and you should wash it off afterwards. If you are concerned and want to try something gentler, try an OTC bug tar & sap remover or P21S auto wash. The tar & sap remover will take off your wax or sealant, too, and it's not necessarily more gentle than using alcohol.

lopealle · 09-24-2009, 05:06 PM

i agree with what he said. do you think i can use alcohol to take bugs off also?

jopa489 · 09-24-2009, 07:14 PM

Sap is brutal. Make sure you get to it ASAP - the longer it sits on there, the worse.

Gig103 · 09-24-2009, 07:56 PM

Cotton ball... BRILLIANT! I wish I had thought of that; dealing with sap on the side of my wife's car was a real pain in the ass.

Innovative Detailing · 09-25-2009, 02:22 AM

Tarminator by "Stoner" works wonders on tree sap as well.....Like Jopa said remove A.S.A.P. its definately nasty the longer it stays on there. It can actually crystalize and become rock hard, very difficult to remove and leave pock marks in your paint. Follow up with a QD and a soft MF then re-apply your wax or sealant for the best results.

Dave @ Innovative

zaxjax · 09-25-2009, 09:41 AM

Vinegar, Iso-Alcohol and even a claybar if it's fresh will remove tree sap!

Detailed Image · 09-25-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innovative Detailing

Tarminator by "Stoner" works wonders on tree sap as well.....Like Jopa said remove A.S.A.P. its definately nasty the longer it stays on there. It can actually crystalize and become rock hard, very difficult to remove and leave pock marks in your paint. Follow up with a QD and a soft MF then re-apply your wax or sealant for the best results.

Dave @ Innovative

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaxjax

Vinegar, Iso-Alcohol and even a claybar if it's fresh will remove tree sap!

These are usually the products and techniques that I use when removing sap. If all of those options fail, then I turn to 3M Adhesive Remover.

As mentioned, be sure to reapply protection after removing the sap to reprotect your paint.

George

vexx786 · 09-26-2009, 12:10 AM

umm, exactly how long till it gets too bad....

Innovative Detailing · 09-26-2009, 02:35 AM

This all depends on the climate and or the enviroment. Do you park indoors or outdoors.......If its very hot and if the vehicle is dark, this can cause it to become even more stubborn to remove from the vehicle. My advise wash the vehicle thoroughly and then give it a complete inspection.

Dave @ Innovative

UNCbigM · 05-29-2010, 04:41 PM

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but great info here, thanks! Alcohol took sap (don't know how old, but at least a few weeks, likely longer) right off without much rubbing!

Thanks for the great suggestion!

brentseay · 06-11-2010, 02:24 PM

Resurrecting this thread as I'm looking at buying a car that has sat under trees for 2 years. There is a lot of "dirt" on it in the pictures which is most likely tree sap or aphid crap. What would you say my chances are of removing this "dirt" and having decent paint left behind?

Brent

HPIA4v2 · 06-11-2010, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brentseay

Resurrecting this thread as I'm looking at buying a car that has sat under trees for 2 years. There is a lot of "dirt" on it in the pictures which is most likely tree sap or aphid crap. What would you say my chances are of removing this "dirt" and having decent paint left behind?

Brent

Just like country music song, "time will heal everything".

Do you have time? if yes then I believe it can be.

brentseay · 06-11-2010, 10:03 PM

Do you think BMW's OEM tree sap remover from the parts department will work? Everything I've bought from my dealer's parts dept has been lightyears beyond what I can get at autostores. I'm tempted to try some out on the car above and see if it works. I'll buy some Saturday and try it Sunday. I'll post before/after pictures Sunday night.

Brent

nickf828 · 06-17-2010, 01:26 PM

you can use goo gone too, worked great for me.

bulldozer3 · 06-17-2010, 05:04 PM

I had some tree sap the other day that landed just above the driver side door handle and on the roof. I tried the water/vinegar/isop. alcohol in a spray bottle first - didnt do much. Then used Goo Gone liberally, let it sit on it a minute, then whip with a MF cloth. Took 2 applications, but worked like a champ.

328i · 06-17-2010, 07:00 PM

Isopropyl alcohol or stoners Tarminator work great. Isopropyl is best. Always remove sap ASAP, it can etch the paint and looks like it "eats" away at the paint, leaving pock marks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brentseay

Resurrecting this thread as I'm looking at buying a car that has sat under trees for 2 years. There is a lot of "dirt" on it in the pictures which is most likely tree sap or aphid crap. What would you say my chances are of removing this "dirt" and having decent paint left behind?

Brent

Hard to say, but chances are the paint will have some damage sitting that long. However it might not be bad if it was in the shade the whole time, as the sun didn't have a chance to bake it in as much. Hard to say without removing it.

Firefly6 · 06-26-2010, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldozer3

...used Goo Gone liberally, let it sit on it a minute, then whip with a MF cloth. Took 2 applications, but worked like a champ.

Used Goo Gone today - with cotton terry towel- worked great. Just be sure to seal/wax over the treated area.

TOGWT · 06-27-2010, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brentseay

Resurrecting this thread as I'm looking at buying a car that has sat under trees for 2 years. There is a lot of "dirt" on it in the pictures which is most likely tree sap or aphid crap. What would you say my chances are of removing this "dirt" and having decent paint left behind?

Brent

After washing the vehicle use a paint decontamination system like Aquartz Iron Cut and detailers clay, you can then polish and provide a paint potection product

bsv2316 · 07-01-2010, 03:38 PM

i haven't taken my car to the carwash in a few weeks.

a bad storm came through about 10 days ago. there are small spots (about 1/4inch in diameter) all over my car from where some sap from some pine trees got all over it.

i didn't even notice it for a couple of days, but after it sat, it all turned whiteish grayish.

i am going to get some goo-gone and a microfiber cloth after work to try to get the sap off.

my question is, do I need to run the car through a carwash first (to remove other dirt and grime) before i start trying to remove the sap?

then, after I have removed the sap, take it back through the wash and have them apply the wax afterwards?

i typically don't detail my car myself.

thanks.

McMuffin · 03-06-2011, 06:28 PM

Just wanted to thank BK for the alcohol tip! Works like a charm with little to no effort.

09-24-2009, 03:39 PM	#1
vexx786 Private First Class 62 Rep 188 Posts Drives: bbw Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Removing tree sap I parked under a tree at work and now there is tree sap all over the front. I've washed the car once or twice, but it still doesn't come off. Also, when I had my door repaired (don't ask) the place did a detail on my car with the sap in place . Anyway to get this POS removed?
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09-24-2009, 04:05 PM	#2
BK Smiling politely 179 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	Easiest way to remove sap is with denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. It dissolves the tree sap and makes it very easy to remove, even if baked on. For thick sap or really baked in sap, you can wet a cotton ball or small shred of paper towel and stick it on there for a few minutes, then it should make the sap soft enough to remove. Note alcohol will remove any wax or sealant you have on those areas, so use it sparingly and then wash and re-wax or re-seal those areas! If you see a ghosted area left behind, you can try claying the remainder, but it's most likely not anything that will lift off with clay -- it's probably etch in your clearcoat, which should be easy enough to polish out. Using alcohol will not harm your paint, but it is pretty strong stuff and you should wash it off afterwards. If you are concerned and want to try something gentler, try an OTC bug tar & sap remover or P21S auto wash. The tar & sap remover will take off your wax or sealant, too, and it's not necessarily more gentle than using alcohol. __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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09-24-2009, 05:06 PM	#3
lopealle Resident Black Guy 280 Rep 2,302 Posts Drives: Lion Join Date: May 2009 Location: Federal Way, WA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 M5 [10.00]	i agree with what he said. do you think i can use alcohol to take bugs off also?
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09-24-2009, 07:14 PM	#4
jopa489 Major General 127 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	Sap is brutal. Make sure you get to it ASAP - the longer it sits on there, the worse. __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
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09-24-2009, 07:56 PM	#5
Gig103 Major 78 Rep 1,324 Posts Drives: 2014 Tesla P85D Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ iTrader: (1)	Cotton ball... BRILLIANT! I wish I had thought of that; dealing with sap on the side of my wife's car was a real pain in the ass. __________________ Was: 2008 335xi sedan 6MT Black Sapphire Metallic Is: 2014 Tesla P85D (Blue Metallic) Wife's: 2013 Infiniti G37 S sedan 6MT, Black
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09-25-2009, 02:22 AM	#6
Innovative Detailing Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 236 Posts Drives: 08 M3, 06 Denali, 53Ford F100 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orange County iTrader: (0)	Tarminator by "Stoner" works wonders on tree sap as well.....Like Jopa said remove A.S.A.P. its definately nasty the longer it stays on there. It can actually crystalize and become rock hard, very difficult to remove and leave pock marks in your paint. Follow up with a QD and a soft MF then re-apply your wax or sealant for the best results. Dave @ Innovative
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09-25-2009, 09:41 AM	#7
zaxjax Major 44 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2008 Crimson Red 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Annapolis iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335i [9.00]	Vinegar, Iso-Alcohol and even a claybar if it's fresh will remove tree sap! __________________ Detailed Image
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09-26-2009, 12:10 AM	#9
vexx786 Private First Class 62 Rep 188 Posts Drives: bbw Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: California iTrader: (0)	umm, exactly how long till it gets too bad....
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09-26-2009, 02:35 AM	#10
Innovative Detailing Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 236 Posts Drives: 08 M3, 06 Denali, 53Ford F100 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orange County iTrader: (0)	This all depends on the climate and or the enviroment. Do you park indoors or outdoors.......If its very hot and if the vehicle is dark, this can cause it to become even more stubborn to remove from the vehicle. My advise wash the vehicle thoroughly and then give it a complete inspection. Dave @ Innovative
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05-29-2010, 04:41 PM	#11
UNCbigM Private First Class 21 Rep 168 Posts Drives: '16 M3 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wilmington, NC iTrader: (0)	Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but great info here, thanks! Alcohol took sap (don't know how old, but at least a few weeks, likely longer) right off without much rubbing! Thanks for the great suggestion!
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06-11-2010, 02:24 PM	#12
brentseay Private 12 Rep 63 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0) Garage List 1996 318i [0.00] 2007 335i [0.00]	Resurrecting this thread as I'm looking at buying a car that has sat under trees for 2 years. There is a lot of "dirt" on it in the pictures which is most likely tree sap or aphid crap. What would you say my chances are of removing this "dirt" and having decent paint left behind? Brent
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06-11-2010, 10:03 PM	#14
brentseay Private 12 Rep 63 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0) Garage List 1996 318i [0.00] 2007 335i [0.00]	Do you think BMW's OEM tree sap remover from the parts department will work? Everything I've bought from my dealer's parts dept has been lightyears beyond what I can get at autostores. I'm tempted to try some out on the car above and see if it works. I'll buy some Saturday and try it Sunday. I'll post before/after pictures Sunday night. Brent
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06-17-2010, 01:26 PM	#15
nickf828 New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: X5 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	you can use goo gone too, worked great for me.
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06-17-2010, 05:04 PM	#16
bulldozer3 New Member 1 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 335i M-sport Le mans Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0)	I had some tree sap the other day that landed just above the driver side door handle and on the roof. I tried the water/vinegar/isop. alcohol in a spray bottle first - didnt do much. Then used Goo Gone liberally, let it sit on it a minute, then whip with a MF cloth. Took 2 applications, but worked like a champ.
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07-01-2010, 03:38 PM	#20
bsv2316 Private 7 Rep 71 Posts Drives: e92 335i Montego Saddle Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: The 865 iTrader: (0)	i haven't taken my car to the carwash in a few weeks. a bad storm came through about 10 days ago. there are small spots (about 1/4inch in diameter) all over my car from where some sap from some pine trees got all over it. i didn't even notice it for a couple of days, but after it sat, it all turned whiteish grayish. i am going to get some goo-gone and a microfiber cloth after work to try to get the sap off. my question is, do I need to run the car through a carwash first (to remove other dirt and grime) before i start trying to remove the sap? then, after I have removed the sap, take it back through the wash and have them apply the wax afterwards? i typically don't detail my car myself. thanks.
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03-06-2011, 06:28 PM	#21
McMuffin Lieutenant Colonel 132 Rep 1,549 Posts Drives: A Widebody 92 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Califas iTrader: (5)	Just wanted to thank BK for the alcohol tip! Works like a charm with little to no effort.
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