Removing Tar Spots on the cheap
Our caravan had an array of little black spots I realised must be tar on its "nose cone" from driving through roadworks, so I hunted on the C&MC forum for answers, and found there none - there was someone asking what to use a while back, but no replies to him.
C'van Talk forum threads offered loads of suggestions, from branded products to acetone. I checked acetone & fibreglass on the wider web & came up with a boat builder who uses it to clean his hulls, so I decided it must be OK. It works like a dream! No need for shiny labelled pots of special stuff at all 
A quick wipe & it vanishes, and while the boat builder reckoned to be followed by a cloth wielding partner, I followed it with a clean wipe & a good rinse with a wet sponge, so as not to leave it on the surface - though it probably evaporates anyway.
So it's a bit like using vinegar in the laundry - not what the adverts say, but a lot cheaper and perfectly effective!
Other recommendations were for brake fluid, WD40, petrol - which came with warnings - white spirits, as well as the Products.
I'm still wondering what to use on the paintwork.
Comments
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How fortunate I don't have any, then
(other than in its proper place in the car)What does work on paint, safely, then?
Any suggestions most welcome, please.
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Safest is undiluted detergent (I like Fairy Liquid) gently rubbed on with paper tissue then washed off with water. White Spirit is more effective, albeit there is a risk of dulling paint. Try any solvent on a small corner first.
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Back in the summer our local council re-tarred and gritted our road. It was a breezy day and our m/h was covered in tar spray, we tried all sorts to remove it to no avail. Finally we gave in and used White Spirit, after testing of course. It removed the tar straight away.
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It also depends on what type of surface you are removing it from. The Gel coat on GRP is fairly resistant to anything, Paint on metal panels can react with some solvents and printed graphics and decals are just that and easily damaged with solvents.
My advice FWIW is start with the mildest cleaning agent first and be patient if you don't want to buy a bottle of the proper stuff, a proprietary product specifically designed for the job is a lot cheaper than a cosmetic body repair..........
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When I first started out motoring as a teenager I was given some tips by a chap who before the War had been employed by Rolls Royce on the maintainence of their motor vehicles. To produce the famous shine all that should ever be used is a bucket of warm water to which has been added two tablespoonfuls of paraffin.
If you do try it be sure to wear gloves otherwise your skin will go black with all the muck that comes off. No polish is required as the thin film of paraffin remaining even after a good rinse causes water to bead and run off.
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Interesting - how long does the protective film stay in place? I openly confess to not being one of the "wash it every time it moves" fraternity.
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I'm not connected to Auto Glym in any way, but I recommend their products for everything, cars, caravans, motorhome and even the polish to clean up the house shower screen! AutoGlym do a tar remover which is excellent, but then requires waxing over the treated area, for this I would use the collinite waxes.
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Acetone is too harsh for modern synthetics, it will eventually dissolve most plastics and paint.
For tar I use white spirit. Petrol is also very good but not as safe. Any of the oily solvents will very quickly remove tar without taking the suface off. As mentioned, butter works and veg oil is also very good.
The higher solvents, Acetone, ether, xylene, (typical brake and clutch cleaners) etc will get it off very quickly but apply for too long or rub too hard they will take the surface off, avoid.
I have recently been using the dry wash stuff, it seems to shift everything and leave a real nice hard shell surface. I found the Aldi one is excellent.
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Thanks again for all these. In the end I used WD40 on the paintwork, with a coat of wax to follow. It seemed to work fine.
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Perhaps caravans should be available in black. ;-)
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Hi Hedgehurst,
Are you sure the little black spots are tar, they could be fly shite.
Try spitting on a clean cloth and wiping off.
If it is indeed tar I'd try WD on a cloth.
Unlike others on this thread though I'm of the
" cleaner you keep it, the easier it is to keep clean "
Have used " Greased Lightning " showroom shine for yrs now and find it keeps my 'van cleaner by repelling muck & grime.
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There are a growing number of dry (water-less) wash products now available. Apparently they emulsify and encapsulate the muck that you then wipe off with a dry cloth. From one the manufacturers:
"When NO-WET waterless car wash and wax is MICRO/MISTED over a soiled area, our exclusive formula has the unique ability to encapsulate and emulsify the dirt particles, lifting them off the surface, (thus no scratching) preparing them for removal by the simple swipe of a clean 100% terry towel. No need for soap, buckets, hoses, no more mess!"
I use the ALDI one on the van and have to say it does work very well, particularly to remove black streaking. It leaves a really nice finish.
Would I use it on heavily soiled area, no, but for a quick once over it really does the job. The automotive detailing world is divided to the prospect of wiping over the dirt but not seen any issues with paint marking reported so far, it seems to do what it says on the tin.
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There are a growing number of dry (water-less) wash products now available. Apparently they emulsify and encapsulate the muck that you then wipe off with a dry cloth. From one the manufacturers............
Interesting. Thanks, Phishing.
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A dab of petrol or even deisel will do the trick. Look at the paintwork around your filler cap, with lots of fuel dripped here in the act of filling up having no detrimental effect gives that reassurance. I always wash and polish the area thoroughly after doing so mind.
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I used Petrol on my car to remove pine sap dumped during the summer when in France but am in fear using Petrol on the caravan which has loads of spots. Any suggestions or should I go with it. Melted it on the car but the caravan...well am more wary!!
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WD40 seems to work on lots of things.
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and 2 ) have had a good work out to please the masochist in you 
