While washing my car today, I noticed lots of tiny black dots on the front mask. At first I thought they were just bugs, but then found out that it was impossible to remove them. I could scrub the dot off with my fingernail, it was brownish underneath, and then scrub the brownish residue off. They stick like crazy! I think these are tiny droplets of tar. Anyone has any idea what to use to get them of? Thanks!

 

They make tar remover, don't know who makes it though. I've seen it posted before. Try the Wash/Wax forum. Good luck

 

Thanks. I found this thread on the tar issue:

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showt...&highlight=tar

Looks like a tar/tree sap remover will help.

 

use a clay bar

 

never ever scratch it off with your finger nail. i know its tempting but you are doing more harm then good. if you look at the scratch under good lighting you will see scratches from your finger nail. go to any auto store and get some clay. i use meguiars but clay magic is good too. all you have to do is lubricate with the detailing spray that comes with the kit and rub the clay over the spots. it will come off very easily.

 

I have those dots too.. but on the sides of the car. I do not believe it is tar dots, but drippings from the dang tree next to our driveway. we cut down the tree and neither my cars has had it since. It was also only on that side of it, if it was from the road, it would be more on the front and both sides evenly.

I know it sounds strange, but I had hell with them on my 98 Accord and 2000 TL, but we cut down that damn Bradford Pear, and no more dots. I would hardly believe I just ceased finding any tar in Georgia. Are you around any Bradford trees at all ?

(insert Outer Limits music)

 

Really the Bradfords make black dots? Not on my car, (garage) but all on the side of my house.
Thats from the tree? Well, call me George Washington tonight then!! :P

 

I have those dots mostly on the front mask, more towards the bottom of the car. None on the sides or the rear. I am sure they are tar dots. I bought a TurtleWax bug/sap/tar remover and it works well. I have no idea where I got this microspray of tar droplets on my car ... They are so visible on my SSM.

 

WD40 works great. Spray on, let sit for awhile and then wipe off. Will not hurt paint.

 

won't hurt paint but will dissolve wax.. be careful to rewax those spots

 

Agreed any petroleum distillate will work. Thats what commercial tar removers have. as stated previously the spot must be re-waxed since it will strip the wax too!

 

Meguiar's Show and Shine works well at removing tar, and it is safe for Paint. I use it on my NSX weekly if not more, as do many others with similar cars (who keep them much cleaner than mine).

 

It actually is tree sap, not tar. And the clay bar (with some sort of lubricant spray) works best, but the bug and tar remover works as well. I wish I had the sap dots, actually. We are getting killed by the 17-year cicadas, and by the time I get home, my windshield looks like someone egged my car. I have to wash my car almost every other day. Any of you like to trade sap for cicadas?? I didn't think so!!