Parked under a tree and car wash not cleaning car
 

Hi all! So I recently parked under a tree and usually I'm not worried about spots on my car because usually the touchless car wash I go to cleans the car pretty well with just the water pressure. However, I have these spots on my car now and went through the wash twice and they haven't gone away. Anyone have/recommend a product or a way to wash that may get rid of these spots. I used some turtle wax from the local store that got some of it off but I heard the product is literally horrible.

https://ibb.co/QQ2ZFyv

Try a claybar w/ detail spray, lots of detail spray.

Look into something like these. They do a good job attacking tree sap and tar. Clay can also work.


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48ne0K0PYcQ[/ame]

@DoubleAKash

You look like you're in need of some detailing advice! First, You might want to find a local detailer to clean the paint for you. Easiest solution if you have the money to have somebody clean the car for you.

But if you're DIY'ing you need to upgrade your detailing kit. Going to be $50 - 250 in auto detailing gear to do it right, at the minimum. Keeping a car that lives outside clean requires some hardware.

TLDR Topics in order:
1.) Washing the Car
2.) Clay Bar
3.) Polishing
4.) Waxing


Starting with a wash kit, chemical guy's has one of the best deals on a bucket kit:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjvOguwGgqw[/ame]


Always prep the paint before polishing and waxing. Full car wash with soapy microfiber mitt, multi bucket wash and full rinse. Clay bar and lots of lube (soapy water). Wash again. Follow instructions on youtube on how to use a clay bar. Just go easy, use small pieces of clay and lots of soapy water lube, you'll feel it pick up contaminants out the paint, you'll be able to feel smooth paint vs contaminated paint with your fingertips. This will strip the paint of contaminants and also remove your wax coating. PS I like the Meguiar's Clay Kit because it comes with a nice little case for holding the clay (keeping it clean in storage!)

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFQsqBHEwrE[/ame]



To clean the paint, (and remove light scratches and swirl marks) you want to use a mild cleaner polish like Meguiar's M205 with a Dual-Action polisher (like a Porter Cable PC7424XP) and a 5" pad like a Meguiar's DMC5. Use at medium speed on the DA machine polisher and work a small 2x2 ft section at a time. You can also polish by hand using napped microfibers, a little M205 polish, and some elbow grease and water but that takes forever. Get a PC7424xp kit, and a 5" meguiar's backing plate, and some nice polishing pads from Meguiar's or Lake Country and it will clean a lot of paint for you!

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et6Egpw-f-s[/ame]




After polishing, follow up with a nice liquid wax. I like Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax kit, it is easy to apply and wipe off and it comes with a nice microfiber towel. Apply wax as thin as possible for easier wipe-off and use clean microfibers for each panel. You will need stacks of nice microfiber towels, check amazon, Get a 10 pack from The Rag Company or get some sets of Meguiar's Supreme Shine towels.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax8kIjxycnI[/ame]



https://i.imgur.com/OaiqzRD.jpg

I like using a clay bar while doing a hand wash. The clay will take longer, so don't let the soap dry. Or let it dry and just wash the car a second time. Radroach is right about what to use. I like finishing with a Ceramic Detail spray. Turtle Wax has some good, easy to use products.

Part out.

ugh, man thats nasty, was not expecting it to be that bad, especially on white paint. personally id skip learning everything thre is to know about detailing and buying all the tools, and just pay the detailing pros to do it. plus theyll do a better job, after all its what they do professionally. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ocjnIiZMQ8"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ocjnIiZMQ8[/ame]

Not really relevant, but if a lot of detailing fanatics see this its a helpful video. Lots of good products I haven't heard of.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JSgJQYsNgE

Edit I just noticed that photo, that's a lot of junk on the paint.
I would personally avoid clay, you would Likely end up marring and scratching the paint with that much debris on the surface. Clay is generally used for stuff you can feel but can't really see on the surface.

You want a strong solvent to try and dissolve as much as possible and avoid hard rubbing. Citrol 266 is Amazing but expensive. Stoner bug and tar, and car pro tar-x are two good ones too.
Stoner bug and tar is a good sweet spot for price/performance, at less than $20.

I've used the stoner bug and tar on my GF's car which sat parked under a tree for months and had those marks and blotches of tree sap all over. It took them all off. You will want to spray it on and let it sit a bit to soften it up. Avoid using in direct sunlight and avoid letting it dry on the paint.

If you have a can of WD40 laying around that is worth a try as well. I haven't tried it but I've heard it works in some cases. Make sure what ever you do to wash the panel after and apply some form of protection.

https://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sh...trial-Fall-Out

Welcome to our forum - :clap:

First off - :slap: don't park under that tree no more.

Now that you got your car all sapped up, I suggest you wash it with dish soap and hot water (to remove the dirt part). Then remove the sap with alcohol. Then wash again with hot soapy water. Then wax the car.

OR, go to the store and buy a ton of store bought stuff and equipment - :iono:


humfrz

Thank you all! I actually got a recommendation for a quick detail. It ended up being $75 and they waxed my car and it's all gone now. My car baked in the sun these last few days in bay area and its been 90+ degrees out and it actually made the dirt rough and came right off apparently. Thank you all for your recommendations, I avoided parking under trees now haha

A good clay bar should do the trick.

pretty much shampoo, rinse, dry,clay, IPA panel cleanse then wax/sealant

For extra cleaning power i sometimes I use dilute APC to loosen up the tree sap before claying, if it's really etched on there.

https://bit.ly/39FFDRO

or just be sure that your car is waxed periodically.

Or just have some professionally do it first? Mobile car detailing guys?

Bring it up to a new condition and just maintain it following from that with regular wash routines and wax application