How to remove 10 yr old tree sap?

[70rr-brian]

Long story short...we had to put my father-in-law in a nursing home where he will live out the remainder of his days.

He has a Hyundai Sonata (2002) with 27k miles on it that has been parked under a tree for the better part of 10 years and NEVER washed. It has some pretty impressive tree sap build up on it. I realize the clear is probably eaten all to hell underneath but I need to clean it up and try to sell the damn thing. (Although my first inclination is to drive it off the nearest cliff!)

I mean this thing is covered in it. Its not heavy tree sap but rather a 10 year build up of decaying leaves and needles that have basically encrusted the whole car.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to get that stuff off effectively with the least amount of elbow grease? Any product recommendations or old school methods you have used with good success would be appreciated.

 

[hunt2elk]

I wonder if De-Solv-It , Goo Be Gone or a similar product would work.

 

[tpodwdog]

d/a ...WITH SOME 80 GRIT

 

[mopar367]

pressure washer and spray 9. blast off the excess with the pressure washer, and let the spray 9 soak then repeat.

 

[tpodwdog]

ok,,,the D/A with the 80 grit was only a joke. back when i detailed cars this is how we did it... a 2002 sonata should have clear coat on it...if it does ...do this.........

1. wash the car..( yes...wash it)
2. spray it down with simple green
3.get a bunch of bath towels and wet them good...soaking
4.lay the towels on the horizontal surfaces.....and let them drape over the sides.
5. put the car OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT
6 keep the towels wet for a few hours...spraying more simple green every so often
7. this will break down the sap...and soften it to the point to where it will be workable to remove....may not be easy.....but it works.

 

[69redrunner]

Bug and tar remover might work

 

[tpodwdog]

Bug and tar remover might work

so will a magic wand !..if its that bad ,,,you may not get it off !

 

[Pops1967GTX]

Use WD-40. Its mild easily break down sap.It's safe on of paint. Spray it on and rinse it off with vinegar & water solution. I also have used diesel fuel.....

 

[Stumper]

The 3M weatherstrip adhesive remover works good for pine tree sap and does not hurt the paint. You will either have to be real patient and soften the spots up first with several daps of the solvent or try picking off the bulk of it with your finger nail first.

 

[joshb1983]

what kinda cond is car in? im looking for a daily driver for work and around town...how much u selling it for

 

[joshb1983]

i bought a car were some one tried to paint the front end of it with spray paint and i used graffiti remover...it didnt hurt paint but strong enough to take paint off and maby could take sap off car..its in a spray can maby try on a small spot down low and see how it works

 

[Photon440]

I'd love to see some before and after pictures!

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Simple green,Superclean or paint thinners.After you get it CLEAN,rewash it and put a coat of wax on it.Good luck!!:blob1:

 

[70rr-brian]

Thanks for all the responses. I did go out and wash it down....surprisingly a LOT of the crap came off. Of course I put a ton of elbow grease into it in the process. There is still some underlying stuff that needs to come off but it is not nearly as bad as I had anticipated. I will try all the suggestions listed to finish it off except the sand paper! LOL

Sorry didn't take any before pics...LOL now I wish I had.

 

[70rr-brian]

what kinda cond is car in? im looking for a daily driver for work and around town...how much u selling it for

Well here's the deal on it. I just brought it home with me yesterday. It is a 2002 Sonata GLS. V6 27000 miles.

Here is what I know is wrong with it.

Needs 4 new tires.

Has a small dent in the left rear quarter but I am pretty sure I can pop it out and make it reasonably unnoticeable.

It has had the right front fender replaced. (he hit a pole in a parking lot about 5 yrs ago.) But looks good.

Also, there is this BIZARRE issue where sometimes it won't start (Just cranks away)....And here's the fun part... When it is in that state...if you roll down the power window about an inch it fires right up. (LOL I don't know WTF that is all about. Need to investigate.) But it doesn't throw any codes.

That aside it runs like a car with 27000 miles on it....that is to say pretty damn good.

However, there is another gotcha in all this. It is titled in my wife's dead mothers name. Her father obviously got the car when she passed. We will be getting power of attorney over him within the next week or so. But I can only imagine the horrors of getting it to the point with a death certificate and a POA so we can sell the car. You know how retarded the state can be about that sort of thing. But if you are still interested I will let you know when I think we have it figured out. Probably in a few weeks would be my guess.

But given what it needs...I am thinking 5k is a fair price for it. Let me know if you want me to keep in touch via PM's.

 

[bfury]

Rubbing alcohol removes tree sap.

 

[69R/Tcharger]

gas line antifreeze will melt it right off, i detail cars and we do this on all cars old and new, let it soak some on a rag and rub until its gone

 

[RustyRatRod]

Pure gum turpentine will remove it in short order.

 

[shorty64]

10 Year Old Tree Sap

Uh hey dude. Remove it the same way you would if it was sap from 1 yr old tree, 5 yr old tree, 45 yr old tree, .............:headbang:.

 

[70rr-brian]

Well....its done. I found the most amazing product during all this. Meguiar's Mirror glaze #1 medium-cut cleaner.

I am sure we have all had a bird $hit stain on our paint that after you clean it up after baking in the sun only to notice the clear coat damage that has occurred. This whole damn car was like that. There were quite a few scratches in the clear as well which I wet sanded out using 2000 grit. Then I applied the Meguiar's Mirror glaze #1 medium-cut cleaner. This stuff is like a liquid clay bar intended to be used with a random orbital. It starts as a liquid for easy coverage...then it turns into a nice clay which cuts nicely into the surface of the clear using the orbital. One good pass over the whole car and all that clear damage was history!

I followed it up with Meguiar's Mirror glaze #9 swirl remover 2.0 then finally a nice polish. It almost looks like new now!

Just wanted to pass the info on about the Meguiar's Mirror glaze #1 medium-cut cleaner..... That stuff is the shizzzzz!

OBTW, I removed the heavier sap using WD40.