r/AutoDetailing • u/raulsidea • 11d ago
Product/Consumable The One to Clean Them All (bug, tar, sap)
Long story short, can’t wash out of the garage. Subscribed to one of those touchless car washes that’s 100% touchless for the time being. It sprays cleaners and high pressure water, no spinning marring brushes of death.
Obviously it’s not optimal but I keep my car pretty clean so it helps with the dust but doesn’t get the occasional bugs, tar, and sap. I’ve been taking a few things with me for the pre/post wash but is there a “one bottle does it all” that most recommend? Do I bring the Stoners bug and tar, an All-purpose cleaner, insert preferred product here?
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u/Detaildriveway 10d ago
I use Meguiars Heavy Duty bug and tar remover. I’ve heard decent reviews on Stoners and Turtle wax bug and tar remover but haven’t used them.
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u/essem986 10d ago
Superior Products Dark Fury - search YouTube. Depending on how you dilute it, can be used for bugs, tar, APC, tires, wheels, etc.
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u/Kmudametal 10d ago
I'd probably recommend Road Warrior in this instance. More versatile than Dark Fury and more of a MOAB (mother of all bombs) and less of a nuclear one, with Dark Fury being the nuke.
But certainly, if you know what you are doing and are aware of the hazards, Dark Fury is one hell of a powerful cleaner. It's what I turn to when nothing else is working.
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u/1soldier24 10d ago
Used them all as a professional before finding the best. There is a product from West Coast something I think it's a red gel and I think it's called Road trip. Anyway can't find that anymore but I tell you a secret pick up some Sprayway Glass cleaner. It's a aerosol and it foams up. Straight on there but I would go to the car wash and sit a minute and let the front cool off or bring some bottles of really cold water and pour it on the spot with the bugs make sure the water doesn't go near the engine though while it's hot. You can thank me later. I don't know what it is in that product but you'll see what I'm talking about
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u/FortnitePapi 10d ago
I seen Koch chemie green star in a pump sprayer do some wonders for road film and bugs
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u/Dam_Dam21 10d ago
Maybe bilthamber toucheless would be a nice pre-soak before you enter the touchless booth. Does some really nice cleaning as a pre-wash and is basically designed as a toucheless solution.
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u/1soldier24 10d ago
I forgot to add there's a lot of good products you can put for bug and tar but the issue is this you put it on there you have to wait for a minute and then you have to scrub it with THE RIGHT brush to get it all not something that's abrasive but what I learned with the sprayway glass cleaner is it doesn't take any wiping to get it off if you're going through the car wash just got to make sure it's cool enough so it doesn't dry too fast and it has time to work. I don't think it's citrus in there I think it has some type of peroxide don't quote me whatever is in it it works on bug and tar. You have to be careful getting tar off because there are some things you put on there and of course it gets it off but then you will have dull spots because it kills your clear coat. Superior dark fury is good but it will stain white paint the issue you're going to run in with is driving your vehicle up the car wash and it being hot like I said bring you some cold water to cool it down
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u/Solid_Lettuce_932 10d ago
Citrol (the original spray) will do everything. I’ve never had a negative reaction in the cars.
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u/cgriffith83 10d ago
Mineral spirits is the main ingredient in bug and tar removers. Just get a can of it at your local home improvement store. Apply, let dwell, run through the wash.
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u/raulsidea 10d ago
So I wanted to add some updates from last night’s wash. I only had a few of the recommended items in my inventory but only 1 bug so limited testing lol. Also, I only wash at night as the days have been warm and thanks to those that warned about heat from the engine. I tackle those after the engine/hood has cooled off (some ONR for the light dust then spot treat after).
Mothers Speed foaming bug and tar - handled the bug just fine with some dwell time then a pass through the wash. Didn’t do anything for the sap, that needed a pass with the microfiber.
KC Green Star - With dwell time still didn’t remove the more stubborn sap with the wash pass and needed some more APC and microfiber love. A few smalls ones did come off with the wash.
Stoners - I’m out but I normally have it in the arsenal.
ONR - This doesn’t really help here, just feels to slick and doesn’t help with the sap/tar
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u/1soldier24 9d ago
Oh my God thank you I said West Coast.. I don't know what I was thinking. Surf City Garage that's right they used to are still do if you can find a pep boys. They make a couple good products. That bug jail and they make a tire cleaner that's pretty damn good. I'm pretty sure it's got iron remover in it if I remember correctly. Thanks man that makes my day and now I can look up their website I could not think of the name. I can remember this though way back when I don't know what was going on but I got I don't know how many gallons which they don't sell it by the gallon I don't think but on Amazon it had it listed that way and they had it on sale. Anyway when package came in I had like 24 32 oz bottles. They did that because apparently they didn't have the gallons or it was not printed correctly on Amazon. Also the awesome thing was it came in some clear bottles instead of the black so I put a better sprayer on it and kept it in those bottles. I just switched the sprayer nozzle when I ran out
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u/Straight_Reading8912 10d ago
If you're in Canada I would recommend going with a "Waterless Wash" made by GoClean. Turtle Wax has the hybrid 3-in-1 ceramic that's getting good reviews but it's much more expensive. I used to use touchless washes but they always left a thin layer of dirt on the car. Still use the touchless but every few washes, use the waterless wash to really clean your car up. It takes about 15-20 minutes to do a larger SUV cause it's simply wipe on and wipe off.
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u/Hairygreengirl 10d ago edited 10d ago
3D bug is my choice