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Removing Tar from a Car

January 4, 2006

car driving on a roadGot road tar on your new car? Instead of using abrasive bug and tar removers that can strip off wax, use peanut butter. Just rub a little on the spot with a clean rag and the tar will start coming off. Safe for your paint and earth friendly.

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By Steve from Memphis, TN

 
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11 More Solutions

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Silver Post Medal for All Time! 297 Posts
November 8, 2010

Road tar and asphalt which splatters up and sticks to an automobile is almost impossible to remove. That is, unless you first saturate the spots with linseed oil.

 
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September 16, 2004

Take road tar off you car by smearing it with butter. Leave on overnight and wipe it off in the morning with a rag. Good as new. My friend had bought a brand new car and took it on her first road trip and went thru some road construction.

 
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November 11, 2005

To remove tar spatters from your vehicle, spray with Avon Skin So Soft on the tar, let it set a minute or so and wipe off.

 
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November 21, 2004

They were re-surfacing the roads in our housing development. I went to the near by local, Mom and Pop market, to get several needed supplies.

 
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Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

September 16, 2010

What can I use to remove tar from the outside door panels of my automobile?

By Joan from Russellville, AR

Answers

September 19, 20101 found this helpful
Best Answer

I use kerosene. Put a little on a rag and gently rub the places where there is tar and it will disolve and come off with no harm to the paint.

 
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August 1, 2020

How do you remove a tar stain on the hood of a vehicle? I've used compound, WD-40, and also a tar and sap remover.


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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
August 1, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

Normally these should have taken the tar off the roof of your car. If this is not helping you'll need to visit an autobody shop and get some special compound that they use to remove the tar. You don't want to try to use too many abrasive cleaners on this because in the end it can damage the paint on your car or remove the protective coating.

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I think you should really ask a professional for some advice so you don't damage the paint on your car.

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
August 4, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

It sounds like it is very much baked in and you may need to talk to the dealer or a mechanic or you risk damaging the paint. One thing to try before that though is a very cheap, oily peanut butter. I have had moderate success with using it to get tar off of metal...just be sure to rinse well or you will get flies :)

Post back how it goes!

 
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October 17, 2004

Does anyone know what takes tar off of cars? I recently got a little bit on mine & can't remember what I read about it. It was a non-chemical/toxic solution.



Thanks!

Vicki

Answers

By Brenda (Guest Post)
October 18, 20040 found this helpful

Try peanut butter

 
By (Guest Post)
October 18, 20040 found this helpful

Not exactly non-toxic, but I've used carburetor cleaner. Jayne.

 
By kel (Guest Post)
October 18, 20040 found this helpful

I have used skin so soft from Avon and it worked great.

 
By Vicki (Guest Post)
October 18, 20040 found this helpful

Thanks guys! I love this forum. I thought it was a food & I think peanut butter was it. If it doesn't work, I'll try the skin so soft.

 
By (Guest Post)
October 18, 20041 found this helpful

spray on WD 40, it'l take it right off, might have to do it a couple times.

 
By syd (Guest Post)
October 18, 20040 found this helpful

Since I am outside anyway, fumes is not an issue with me ... gasoline on a wrag will take it off.

 
By William (Guest Post)
October 18, 20040 found this helpful

Try WD-40

 
October 19, 20040 found this helpful

Many years ago a friend of mine and I were double-dating a couple of girls and the road to their homes was being paved. We were in my friends dad's brand new Pontiac and got tar all over it. We took it off with kerosine, but then had to wash it immediately with soap and water to keep from messing up the paint.

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Whatever you use, be sure and wash the car with a good car wash soap and water when you are finished. If you don't do this the paint will suffer.

 
By Vicki (Guest Post)
October 19, 20040 found this helpful

Thanks guys! Great info!

 
November 18, 20040 found this helpful

Coke is supposed to work. I have never tried it so can't guarantee it. You can buy Bug and Tar remover from a hardware store and it does work good.

 
By (Guest Post)
July 4, 20060 found this helpful

I'll try the bug and tar remover and let you know, my white car has this globs on it, as if the worker on the road swung a full mop at the whole side! What a mess.

 
By Jana (Guest Post)
January 29, 20080 found this helpful

Avon works great.

 
By Andrea (Guest Post)
May 21, 20080 found this helpful

Peanut butter worked wonderfully

 
By (Guest Post)
September 4, 20080 found this helpful

WD40 works great, I just bathed my torent in it this week because I ran over a spilled bucket of tar. Doesn't seem to affect the wax job so far.

 
By Brian (Guest Post)
February 5, 20090 found this helpful

I just had one little spot and peanut butter took it right off.

 
Anonymous
February 12, 20160 found this helpful

sticky stuff remover works well

 
February 12, 20160 found this helpful

sticky stuff remover works well

 
Anonymous
October 7, 20160 found this helpful

SPIC & SPAN! WORKS GREAT!

 
September 21, 20170 found this helpful

How about if it's been on there for years! The sun baked it in !! Help!!!!

 
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August 7, 2011

What is the easiest way to remove road tar off of cars? Elbow grease goes a long way, but there has to be an easier way. We wash our car with Dawn and this helps, but the tar stains are so stubborn. Help!

By Peggy

Answers

August 8, 20110 found this helpful

Never wash your car with household soaps such as Dawn. Go to the automotive store and buy some tar removal liquid and follow the directions.

 
August 8, 20110 found this helpful

We always use WD40 to clean off tar. Just spray, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe with a dry cloth.
Don't spray while the auto is in the sun.

 

Silver Post Medal for All Time! 418 Posts
August 8, 20110 found this helpful

WD40 works great.

 
August 9, 20110 found this helpful

Skin so Soft...works great and smells better.

 
August 9, 20110 found this helpful

There is a product called "Goof Off" that would probably take care of the problem. I'd be sure to wash it off completely afterwards.

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Another possible solution might be a Mr. Clean MagicEraser? Good luck!

 

Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 337 Feedbacks
August 9, 20110 found this helpful

Do not use Magic Eraser on your car. It is an abrasive and will ruin the surface. I believe I used kerosene one time. It was pretty smelly and not the nicest thing to deal with. There is probably a product in the automotive section of a hardware store specifically for this purpose. You need something to dissolve the tar, and most household cleaners are not made for this purpose.

 
August 9, 20111 found this helpful

Goo Gone will take it off without any problem or damage to your paint!

 
August 24, 20111 found this helpful

I may be a little late here but Mayonnaise and a paper towel takes the tar right off. I've done this for years and will never buy special tar remover from the store.

 
April 17, 20160 found this helpful

I didn't have much success with WD40 when I applied it and it was probably because I didn't let let sit long enough before trying to wipe of the spots. I did, however, have reasonable success by using a rag well dampened with WD40 and continued rubbing until the tar spots would disappear.

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The tar had been on the car for quite a while but it came off without an unreasonable amount of elbow grease.

 
Anonymous
June 5, 20160 found this helpful

This was amazing advise. I just got home and found tar all over the side of my white car. I tried everything and then found this post. It came right off...thank you!

 
July 17, 20160 found this helpful

Thank YOU!!! I'm sending a virtual HUG. I ran right out and tried it and my beautiful yellow Mustang is now happy and healthy looking. LOL

 
August 7, 20161 found this helpful

Did you use WD 40

 
August 29, 20160 found this helpful

What took the tar off your white car? Wondering because after follong the direction of our lovely construction workers this morning I have that asphalt spray specks all over my white car.

 
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July 14, 2012

How do you remove tar from a car that's been on for a long time? I've used gas, WD40, all types of removers, Varsol, peanut butter, mayo, and nail polish remover. Nothing works!

By Don

Answers

July 15, 20120 found this helpful

What works for me is adhesive and tar remover available from auto parts stores. Also gasoline does a good job as well. You have to rub it in with a rag.

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It will look streaky when the tar is removed then wash the area. The longer the tar has been on the car the more difficult it will be to remove.

 
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June 22, 2005
Click to read more ideas from older posts on ThriftyFun.
 
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September 16, 2010

There are some items in your kitchen that may be successful in removing tar.

 
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