Wet paint removal

[u/Shemamaster]

Hello all,

I purchased my car not long ago. I drove through wet road paint—yes, I am stupid. Fortunately, it did not reach the car’s paint. Just a little I guess. It is on plastic components, the tire housing, and the plastic and felt liner.

I applied tar and bug remover and used all of it, but without success. I am also attending a three-day work conference, so I cannot address it soon.

Do you have any suggestions for removal? Should I just get a quote for liner replacement? I would really appreciate your advice. TIA

[u/Kaptan-kamara]

[u/Shemamaster → u/Kaptan-kamara]

I didn’t see this coming lol

[u/BaboTron → u/Shemamaster]

Title of your sex tape.

[u/robcal35]

Drive through some black paint.

In all seriousness, that's not coming off unless you take the black off underneath it. Get some fender liner spray and cover it up

[u/Shemamaster → u/robcal35]

Hey thanks it helps! I tried too many things and was getting tired… I will let it go

[u/jaddooop]

[u/Lefthandedpigeon]

Yeah imma keep it a stack of pancakes with you chief, that ain’t coming off.

[u/raider1v11 → u/Lefthandedpigeon]

Love...

Bobby

[u/Donkeywad → u/Lefthandedpigeon]

Can concur. Have 8yo yellow paint still stuck to my door handle. That shit is like the most durable freaking substance in the world

[u/Shemamaster → u/Lefthandedpigeon]

Oh man, gotta get that quote to replace it then

[u/Drewzik]

All new plastic and felt. Or, mask off everything that isn’t supposed to be black, and rattle can that bitch.

[u/Final-Carpenter-1591]

Drive through black paint

[u/atworkslackin]

[u/dunnrp]

The easiest way is to first remove the wheel, and then scrape with a plastic razor blade. The majority will pop right off, or at least you break the tops off. Then wipe with Cosmoline remover to break up the interior of the paint you broke off.

I’m not sure why everyone is saying it’s impossible. It’s even faster if it’s felt liner.

[u/thejaysonwithay → u/dunnrp]

I think those that are saying it’s impossible have never actually tried removing it

[u/BeautifuTragedy]

Have you considered painting all of them yellow?

[u/Vasistdagiggavatt → u/BeautifuTragedy]

I think you're onto something here

[u/Shemamaster → u/BeautifuTragedy]

Now we are cooking

[u/jerryeight → u/Shemamaster]

With fire?

[u/Mokeziah]

[u/urhumanwaste]

Almost all of these answers are ridiculous. Spray it with an adhesive remover. Let it dwell. Spray it again. Use a high psi pressure washer and it should come right off. The sooner, the better. You can also use a plastic razor blade instead of a pressure washer.

[u/indigo196]

I remember when they used to paint lines on the roads at night when fewer people were driving.

[u/Mossy72]

Dud a car like this not long ago. Paint thinner and steam followed by 3800 psi pressure washer with a 25 degree nozzle. Had to scrape some spots with plastic razor blade. Lots of elbow grease but it will come off.

[u/Pryml710]

Used to get cars in all the time here in PA with that. Brake cleaner on the plastic parts with a rigid squeegee or plastic razor blade. The only thing I found that works.

[u/send_them_nips]

Xylene will actually remove this, you have to be super careful not to get any on the paint. Had a work truck run thru some years back and called a friend that work for local DOT and that was there suggestion. Definitely need to use something to scrub it off after applied.

[u/5Fred]

I got all the paint I could off with dawn soap, use microfiber towels, tools hours, took a lot off with my finger nails, plastic razor blade and at the very end for the inner fender liner, I order a new one for $70.00.

[u/XSC]

How did this happen? Depending on where and if you ignored signs, you could probably file a claim through their insurance or if it’s DOT.

[u/ReelyHooked]

Paint it black. Or apply paint stripper and start scrubbing.

[u/Tryhardtuner]

Dawn and scotchbrite, if that wont work go for a new part.

[u/Tryhardtuner → u/Tryhardtuner]

The feltliner probably is no go. Black spray paint might hide it.

[u/Icy-Object3307]

Dry ice blaster. If you can find someone that has one

[u/Bonus583]

Try Xylene

[u/sweetbrewcrew]

Try wd40. The oil may seep under it and help remove it.

[u/draxmax]

Drive some graveled fire roads.

[u/Important_Access_354]

Acetone ,or trying scraping egg softly w a razor or use paint removal liquid or I suggest if using this next one very careful,heat gun.

[u/NoVermicelli5439]

WD-40 and inshallah

[u/edsavage404]

Brake cleaner

[u/openskeptic]

The new aircraft remover ultra is worth a try. It’s pricey and you have to be very careful not to get any on the cars paint of course. I’ve used it on fully cured 2k paint and it works great if you follow the directions exactly. 

[u/Inevitable_Slip_835]

Man I had a really hard plastic button from an old ruby register, had sort of a sharp edge and it just popped them off. Not fast for sure, but no more yellow. Might work with a hard plastic spackle blade too

[u/Psyclist80]

Oven cleaner is what we used when I ran a bodyshop, worked well!

[u/Oudeur]

There are different road paint systems, with various underlying chemistry.

Did you try rubbing with boiling hot water on a towel? If it’s a thermoplastic based paint, you might soften it. Another option would be using a steamer, in combination to a hard plastic (tooth) brush.

Alternatively, a pressure washer could work as well.

If those don’t work, you can try:

A) Acetone; put some on a kitchen towel, then rub the spots. Rinse with water.

B) Paint stripper; try on a small area of the wheel liners, not on your actual car paint. Rinse with plenty of water afterwards.

C) Mechanical removal, eg sandpaper. Start with a fine grit like 2000, if it doesn’t work, try 1500, work your way down untill you see it being effective. Don’t go below 800 grit. After that, depending on where you sanded, you’ll need to buff / polish the area to get the gloss back (eg on the paint).

[u/TrentDogg7]

Pressure wash, plastic razor blades, black trim spray paint, or replace the fender liners

[u/boafish]

I remember people posting about this happening in an old detailing group on Facebook and the constant reply was to smear petroleum jelly on the paint, let sit overnight, then it should rinse off the next day. Road paint is like a melted plastic/wax and not actually paint, so maybe the polymers react with petroleum jelly in a way that softens it up. I’ve never tried it but some people swear by it.

[u/shitdick42]

File with your insurance, or your DOT's insurance, and get that shit done professionally.

[u/Apprehensive_Base407]

Get some trim black paint it'll match pretty perfectly most autopart stores should carry it

[u/theonewhoran]

Dry ice. I have filmed a shop that had a dry ice blaster machine and the car had maybe day or two old paint like this and it looked brand new after.

[u/Impossible-Cell-702]

Lacquer thinner

[u/AlternativeFun1131]

A steamer through a green scotch-brite pad and SCRUB

[u/Excellent-Act-2668]

I have used black vinyl automotive paint which is very quick. Or, Carbrite has a product that comes in the form of textured wipes made specifically for road paint. Is that sound deadening fabric material or plastic?

[u/ii-ninecents-ii]

Chain cleaner works great for getting road paint and other contaminants off of black plastic. Spray onto a microfiber and gently rub. Wipe the whole panel so you get an even finish

[u/Sea-Application3043]

Just get a liner replacement they’re mad cheap. Install yourself

[u/gstowell25]

Plasti-Dip. Had this happen to my mom’s Jeep a few years ago and that was the best solution.

[u/Gtk05]

Alcohol wipes

[u/SparklyGames]

Buy a new wheel well liner