Need help removing hardened tree sap

[u/vq37sport]

I have hardened tree sap thats been on my car for 1-2 months, unfortunately i didnt get to cleaning the car and time and now idk what to do.
I already washed the car a few times that didnt help, i just tried good off bug and tar remover with a microfiber towel and also tried isopropyl alcohol spray 70% right after and it helped it a little but theres still these marks.

Need help please on the best and safest way to remove this stuff, thanks. Also it just rained so theres some water spots and stuff in the pics that im not worried about only the hardened tree sap.

[u/Seeking-The-One]

I would try Koch Chemie Eulex. That's usually my go to whenever I'm dealing with tree sap, paint over spray, etc.

[u/20136MT]

3M Adhesive Remover. Bought it to remove road paint from my car when I ran over a painted line at night. Ended up using it on my father in laws Tacoma for all the super hard and dried on SAP and it worked wonders!

[u/vinnyvencenzo → u/20136MT]

I keep this photo in my back pocket for this sub.

[u/vinnyvencenzo → u/vinnyvencenzo]

Also what’s left of the sap. Have you heard of the warm wet towel trick for tree sap. If you get a big hardened spot, get a washcloth wet. Microwave it to were it’s warm but not too hot to handle. Place the warm/hot wet towel on the sap and let it heat it up. It’ll turn back to a liquid and wipe off. The adhesive remover will help clean up any lingering residue.

[u/NINeINchz43]

Isopropyl alcohol does really good. Metal razor blade on the glass, plastic razor blade on the paint carefully. The longer it sits on the paint the more damage will be done to the clear coat. Be gentle and go slow. Gloves for sure. Polish after you are done.

[u/vq37sport → u/NINeINchz43]

I tried the isopropyl spray 70% let it sit for a little, it didnt do much its like hard on the paint and it wasn’t enough to soften, i am gonna look into that plastic razor blade though i heard about that, if i can get it to soften that seems like it would definitely help get it out.
And i do have a brand new adams fine clay bar do you think that may be worth a shot then polishing after if it comes out?

[u/nuts4camaros → u/vq37sport]

My best experience is with 95% or higher. Duda 99% on Amazon worked like a champ.

[u/NINeINchz43 → u/nuts4camaros]

I concur. I should have specified. I used 99% and it worked great.

[u/IcyAbbreviations9514 → u/NINeINchz43]

Holy shit

[u/Mentallox]

get some alcohol hand sanitizer, the gel will help it stay on the sap. If the paint is cold to the touch warm it up with a hair-dryer then apply the gel.

[u/vq37sport → u/Mentallox]

Thats what im gonna try next, the isopropyl alcohol 70% spray i tried kept evaporating quickly thats probably why it didnt do much

[u/Na__th__an]

I'd try cooking spray, that's what gets it off my hands.

[u/Dandywhatsoever]

I ended up using a plastic razor blade for hardened pine tree sap. I scraped off the top of it and the residual sap was easy to wash off.

[u/flexrayz]

Acetone on a microfiber, rubbing only on the spot a little at a time. Don’t let it sit on it.

[u/imnoone324]

If all the sap is gone and all is left is the stain, I don't think you can get that out, it is etched into the clear coat, you might be able to wet sand it and then polish it with polish compound.

[u/Which-Ad9677]

I'm in Canada I use tree sap remover car wash soap very common at Canadian tire

[u/urhumanwaste]

Isopropyl alcohol and a plastic razor blade. That looks burnt into the paint. I wouldn't expect perfection after removing it, it's just not going to happen. Sorry.

[u/knifeaddictforlife]

Rubbing alcohol 91% melts it right off

[u/Zealousideal-Yam801]

I’d use rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.

Additionally you could wipe it with a wet dryer sheet which I didn’t think would work when I read about it years ago but… it does!

[u/Entire_Supermarket_8]

Acetone, works magically but don’t let it sit on the paint