Tree sap on windshield and car

[Jpc1623]

Help…. How do I remove it without damaging the paint or glass? I used hand sanitizer, but it’s leaving a film.

 

[walterjay]

Use acetone. I have used it with great success on tree sap on a black car.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

WD40 and then wipe it off. It has worked for me in the brutal hot days last August when wife got home with tree sap all over the hood of her car. Maguire's expensive paint surface cleaner I had run to buy did absolutely nothing. The WD40 removed it instantly with little effort.
I did wash the car real well after and no negatives found since on the paint. Good luck. Frustrating to have that mess on your car.

 

[B6_Dolphin]

I use a clay bar with a spray bottle of water (with a little car wash soap added for lubricity). Meguiars includes detailing spray in lieu of soapy water. The clay bar will take off the sap on both the paint finish and the glass.

Meguiars sells a Clay Bar Kit - there are many other detailing brands that offer clay bar kits, too:

https://www.meguiars.com/automotive...safe-and-easy-car-claying-smooth-glass-finish

https://www.zainostore.com/product/Z-18.html

Use Z-18 ClayBar™ to help remove the following:

1. Rail dust - Tiny, sharp bare metal shavings that can adhere and imbed into the paint finish and cause serious damage when left untreated. Over 70% of new vehicles are transported from the factory using the rail system. In many cases, new cars are stored near a railroad and becomes infected with rail dust.
   Brake Dust - Similar to rail dust, brake dust is also in the form of tiny, sharp metal shavings. In recent years, asbestos brake pads were replaced with metallic brake pads, which are actually brake pads made from tiny metal or metallic shavings. Anytime a vehicle is braking; brake dust is disbursed into the air and onto the paint finish. Since the brake dust is now actually tiny particles of bare metal, this form of brake dust can seriously damage the paint finish when left untreated.
2. Industrial Fallout - A general term used for pollution and can be found in many forms. Eventually, pollution settles onto the paint finish of all vehicles and can cause serious damage when left untreated.
3. Tree Sap, Road Tar, Bug Residue, Paint Overspray, and Acid Rain Deposits -- These contaminants adhere to or imbed into the paint finish. Left untreated, they will cause permanent damage to your car's paint work by staining and weakening the protective properties.

 

[dubber09]

I'd advise against acetone but WD40 works very well.
The way I used it on vertical panels was - spray paper towel with WD40 to get it wet (not dripping wet) and put over the area with sap, let sit 5-10 mins and then just wipe the area with the towel.

 

[JohnnyG]

I wouldn't use acetone on a painted surface, but OK for windshield. A milder solvent would be better on paint. Kerosene, WD40, etc.
Unless the tree sap gets hard, then it's plastic scraper time and cross your fingers.
Those milder solvents will work on the windshield too, of course. It will just require a more thorough cleaning afterwards. Like with rubbing alcohol.

 

[2005jettatdi]

Bio diesel is amazing for this. So, maybe just plain old vegetable oil? Probably not on the windshield.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Rubbing alcohol. Don't scrub, just let it work. Light wipe off. A little spray wax afterwards.

 

[Kestas]

I made a 1/2" chisel from lucite for this purpose to remove the bulk. Less chance of scratching the paint.

 

[zzyzzx]

Obligatory:

 

[Jpc1623]

I don’t have WD40 but have Nutoff laying around

 

[Carmudgeon]

I've found that using warm-to-hot water wash helps soften up the sap and make it easier to remove.

A basic rule of detailing that is often ignored is to start with the less "potent" methods and ramp up only if it doesn't achieve the goal. No need to jump straight to the harshest chemicals and assume their risks immediately.

 

[dbias]

Having a huge white oak in my front yard I battle tree sap on the regular. On hot days it seems to rain tree sap to the point if a car is parked near it for more than a half hour it can be seen plainly on the windshield. My only advice is to get it off early before it bakes in. As others have mentioned use a hot water soak and a mild apc or dawn dish soap in the shade. My cars are ceramic coated and that seems to help with the removal of the tree sap.
Luckily the tree is on the east side of my driveway so it doesn’t get on my cars unless I park on the street.

 

[RBT]

Gasoline.

 

[Patman]

I have been getting a lot of tree sap on my cars lately from the trees at my girlfriend’s house. With the Civic I just run it through the cloth car wash since I have a monthly membership for $23 anyway. For the Vette I just use detailing spray (I have recently switched to Adam’s Graphene detailing spray). I spent a good 20 minutes today getting all of the sap off I don’t plan on bringing the Vette to her house again until the trees stop dropping their sap (probably two weeks from now they will stop)

 

[grasscutter]

GooGone or WD-40 will do it.

 

[97prizm]

Help…. How do I remove it without damaging the paint or glass? I used hand sanitizer, but it’s leaving a film.

Stoners bug and tar remover sprayed onto a paper towel to soften it. Plastic razor blades also help. Hand sanitizer is just that sanitizer it's not going to remove anything.