Jump to content

Car covered in tar...where to wash please?


bamboozled

Recommended Posts

Last night I had the great luck to suddenly find myself driving on a road that had just been doused in tar/oil/god knows what in prep for a new surface, I guess. Incredibly, the road had not been closed and in fact there was not even an indication of road work. I only realized what was going on when I came around a bend and ran up upon the workers and the tar truck. Ugh. The car now is a filthy mess, black streaks all over as well as a black "mist" of tar. The wheel wells are full of the stuff. Can anyone recommend a shop to have the car cleaned? It comes off with turpentine and the like but the amount of work involved is great and will take hours and hours. I'm a DIY guy but thinking about this job is depressing me. Perhaps there is a shop that specializes in this type of cleaning and has a better system than myself, a bottle of turps, and a kitchen roll. Anyone?

Thank you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for your reply. Yes I have read that. I think any oil based product works. The problem is there is so much of the tar and it doesn't just wipe off clean in one wipe. Rather, it starts to break down and then leaves a film of brown on the paint. You then have to keep changing rags and wiping again and again and more product until it is clean. Some of this stuff is so caked on and thick....I could chisel it off. If I didn't care about the paint underneath.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In HomePro there's a kiosk that sells wax, sponges, car cleaning stuff.

There is a oil remover that's sold in a plastic squirt bottle, can't recall the name, works like magic.

I've done the same as you, bought a bottle of oil remover, spray it on and you'll see the oil start to run, let it sit for a couple of minutes and then wash it off.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The OP better be prepared to buy a whole lot of the commercial, squirt bottle  stuff and use that on any contaminated painted surfaces. As for clearing the wheel arches and underpinnings, that's a full-on, pressure/steam wash with industrial-strength solvents while on a hoist. Time to seek out the (local) professionals!

Edited by NanLaew
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is kind of work I would not outsource. As you said, it takes a lot of time and you have to be careful. Because rushing it will damage paint underneath. If you let somebody local work on it I guarantee he will choose quickest and easiest way how to do it. ????

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

All jokes aside, a lot of elbow grease with some all purpose remover which can be purchased at Tesco

OK, one more silly joke.  Go and buy 2 litres of gasoline. This dilutes the tar. Just spray it on, light a match and the gasoline will burn the tar off. Easy peasy.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

OK, one more silly joke.  Go and buy 2 litres of gasoline. This dilutes the tar. Just spray it on, light a match and the gasoline will burn the tar off. Easy peasy.

Thats Brilliant Sherlock GIF - ThatsBrilliant Sherlock Sherlocked ...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I assume somewhere around CM there is a place that does indeed deal with this kind of cleaning but yeah, it would be an industrial type of cleaning. There might be a line of cars there....owing to the road work. It was a road off in the country so prob not a lot of traffic but will have mucked up any car or motorbike to drive on it. Damn near took down the motorbike in front of me. He, too, prob. assumed it was water at first.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Take out your phone. Log into Google Maps. Where is says "search nearby"  you enter "car wash". go to the nearest one and point out your problem. If they nod OK. If not go to the next one until...

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, VocalNeal said:

Take out your phone. Log into Google Maps. Where is says "search nearby"  you enter "car wash". go to the nearest one and point out your problem. If they nod OK. If not go to the next one until...

Thats a bit complex.:burp:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have the same problem from the new road surface near Don Chan.

No need to buy expensive products, just use benzine from your motorbike on a clean cotton rag. It doesn't damage your paint and with a few applications you can remove the tar completely.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, bamboozled said:

Thanks Bill. They might close the place in a hurry if they see me coming!

Right do not go there.  They are nice people cleaning cars there for over 20 years, have cleaned hundreds like yours without damage but really do not need or want you for a customer.  Scrub it off yourself unless you have physical disability.

Edited by Bill97
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I ended up cleaning it myself. I bought 5 bottles of turpentine, a gas mask, gloves, and a lot of paper towels and rags. I had to pull off all 4 tires to dig out the asphalt stuck up under the body and frame. It was a bit like a horror movie mopping up blood where it gets far worse before it gets better. That is, the turpentine dissolves it and then you smear it all over the car. It's still stuck on a lot of places but I've got the body and wheels cleaned up. In the light right now, the paint job looks pretty ok. Luckily, it's a 10 year old car and not fresh off the lot. If it happened in a new car, as I'm sure it does, that would really put one in a foul mood. Hopefully, it falls off the tires with a good drive. Thanks for all the help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

44 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

the turpentine dissolves it and then you smear it all over the car.

Very sharp to smear it all over the car.  Did you smear it all over your motorcycle, bicycle and lawnmower too?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.




×
×
  • Create New...