Asphalt tack oil removal

ronncda · 06-11-2021, 12:54 PM

Tuesday I was sprayed with Asphalt tack oil by an incredibly inept application specialist, while traversing through a road construction area. It is on about 1/2 the front end and all down the drivers side including tires and wheels. On my old cars and trucks I would spray the paint with WD-40 or the like; however, with the finish on the Dynamax, I'm not willing to apply petroleum based products. My question? What have you found as an effective non-petroleum based product that will remove this tarry slime? I was told a citrus based cleaner might work but I have not found one yet. Denatured alcohol is simply an annoyance.
Thanks in advance

ronncda · 06-11-2021, 01:09 PM

While traveling up the Lewiston Idaho grade n/b, a truck lost a ratchet tighter and a big block of wood from his heavy equipment trailer. That tightener hit the tire of another truck in front of me bouncing the projectiles into me. I was able to take enough evasive action to protect the front; however, it/they went underneath the chassis. While underneath, one or both attacked my exhaust system literally knocking off everything past the muffler and sending it down the road but only after I rolled over it with my 18 ply tires.. The rear drive line was hit as was the u-joint and the black water cable valve. This is not going to be cheap to repair. This was 2 hours after I was sprayed with Asphalt Tack oil. Not my idea of a good day. Be careful out there

**KyDan** · 06-11-2021, 01:09 PM

I hear what you're saying but if it was me.... I'd use Kerosene to get it off and then a thorough wash and wax.
It takes a petroleum product to dissolve one.

ronncda · 06-11-2021, 03:49 PM

KyDan I found this today https://www.de-solv-it.com/desolvit-...actors-solvent. According to the site it will not harm the finish except new wax will need to be applied after cleaning
"Can I use CONTRACTORS SOLVENT on my automobile to remove sap, asphalt, tar and adhesives?" +

"YES. CONTRACTORS SOLVENT will not harm dry paint or clear-coat finishes. This product is an excellent wax remover so after removing asphalt, grease and tar, you may want to rewax your vehicle. To clean interior stains, use the instructions for carpeting and upholstery. CONTRACTORS SOLVENT may also be used on vinyl and non-tinted glass since tint is usually applied with adhesive. Be sure to wash CONTRACTORS SOLVENT off vinyl and rubber surfaces after use."

I have verified that this solution works in just a few seconds.

**KyDan** · 06-11-2021, 04:10 PM

Contractors solvent....AKA kerosene or paint thinner.

ronncda · 06-11-2021, 04:48 PM

Well, The label says it is 100% organic and does not mention any petroleum distillates like others. Always a question isn't there.

SmittyCorp · 06-11-2021, 05:05 PM

My first brand new car was only months old, when I got stuck in construction traffic after dark. I was following a tanker with what was apparently a tar sprayer, and I learned the next day it had been dripping all over. The entire front end, hood, grille, mirrors, windshield, and even a good portion of the roof, was covered in tiny little dried up tar bits.

I ended up using some bug and tar remover, I believe it was turtle wax brand. It worked quite well to remove every bit of that tar. 4 years later, the paint looks fine!

TitanMike · 06-11-2021, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronncda

Well, The label says it is 100% organic and does not mention any petroleum distillates like others. Always a question isn't there.

Paint thinner, believe it or not, is Organic.

It is a Volatile ORGANIC Compound (VOC).

Works great on rosd "tar" and unless the paint is freshly sprayed, wont hurt a thing.

Will probably have to rewax but anything that will remove tar will most likely remove wax too.

Nascon · 06-11-2021, 06:56 PM

Paint thinner.

KRedburn · 06-11-2021, 07:18 PM

I have had good luck with using Mothers California Gold wash straight out of the bottle. Takes awhile but has always removed the tar.

From Mothers website:

What’s the best way to remove bugs and tar without harming paint or removing wax?
Use undiluted car-washing soap (Mothers® California Gold® Carnauba Wash & Wax is safe for this process) to pretreat that bug graveyard before washing the whole car. You can use a 100%-cotton, microfiber or sponge applicator to wipe it on, or apply it with spray bottle (thinned enough so that it’ll squirt). It’s even okay to gently rub that soap into the offending stuck-ons with two or three fingers. Full-strength car soap will break down the dead bugs and tar without stripping wax or dulling paint.

**KyDan** · 06-12-2021, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nascon

Paint thinner.

Paint thinner AKA mineral spirits.

DrLewie · 06-13-2021, 02:27 PM

This goes back to 1970. We were on our first RV trip towing a white VW bug behind a pickup with a slide in camper. On a 2 lane road in rural Arkansas we came across a state DOT crew doing an oil-chip (AKA gravel-tar) job on about 1/2 mile of the road. Instead of doing half the road and alternating traffic in the other lane, they kept the whole road open and just closed it when the oil truck was spraying. No place to turn around, and besides, GPS hadn't been invented yet. So I asked the guy with the stop sign if the tar would spray on my Bug. He said not if I go slow. So I went slow and got off the road as soon as I could to find our white VW was now two-toned, but instead of upper and lower halves in different colors the front was black and the back half was white, mostly. I used bug/tar remover every day when we had time for about a week and with a lot of elbow grease (still available in 1970) got most of the goo off the bug. Hopefully the products available now are better.

LUM · 06-13-2021, 04:15 PM

Try washing it the oil should be water based

**Flybob** · 06-13-2021, 04:23 PM

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-1-Ga...T128/100676344

ppine · 06-13-2021, 04:55 PM

the oil is likely petroleum based not water based.
Try Goof Off or Bug and Tar Remover.
If that doesn't work, then paint thinner or acetone.

paverdave · 06-13-2021, 05:18 PM

Gojo Natural Orange Scent Pumice Hand Cleaner

We use Gojo hand cleaner to clean up our equipment..Its got pumice in it.....works good and does'nt hurt the paint finish..Cheap and easy...The sooner you remove it the better...

https://www.google.com/search?q=HAND+CLEANER
Better yet....Get a hold of the company doing the work and file a claim....They should detail it for you and clean it all up