How do you remove road paint, tar and other adhesive compounds from your car? I am often asked this question when speaking with others about mobile auto detailing in Gainesville, Florida. The answer to the question will depend on a few determining factors to include, length of exposure to clear coat, strength of the adhesive compound and location on the vehicle. The answer to all of the previous factors will determine what coarse of action will be used to remove the road paint, tar and other adhesive compounds from your car.
The processes for removing adhesives from an auto body are not difficult nor does it require any special skill. The only requirement is patience and a high quality, paint safe adhesive remover. At Gainesville Detailing we use ProSol by Prowax, but 3M makes a great product although it is very pricey. When using a paint safe adhesive remover it is important to read all of the instructions and precautions prior to use. At a minimum most require eye and hand protection while some call for a mask, or other breathing filtration prior to use. Always use in a well-ventilated area and apply the product to the surface to be cleaned thoroughly. Make sure all the unwanted adhesive is covered with the solvent solution. Moving the vehicle to a shady area or garage will lower the amount of time spent and product used by reducing the amount of direct exposure to the sun. Once the area has been soaking for about one minute you will want to test a section. I recommend using a bug brush that will not scratch the delicate clear coat but allows you enough abrasive action to help out the adhesive remover. If you find that it is easy to remove the road paint, tar or other adhesive compound then continue scrubbing the area until free and clean of any foreign paint. If the area is still not succumbing to the adhesive remover, reapply the adhesive remover liberally and allow to sit for up to five minutes prior to testing with a bug brush again.
As you begin to get a hang of the process you will develop your own technique for working the bug brush to achieve the desired results. My favorite technique is to get a small portion that I can work with my thumb. This position allows me to direct all of the pressure and maneuver in such a way that the road paint, tar and other adhesive compounds are easily removed. Next time you ask yourself or Google for that matter How do you remove road paint from a car or truck you will have the answer.
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