What is tree sap and tar on car paint?

Also calledRoad Tar, Tar spots, Tree resin/sap

Hard, sticky lumps sitting on top of the paint are not damage yet. Tree sap drops from above. Road tar is thrown up low on the car and behind the wheels. Both sit on top of the clear coat.

What kind of repair does it need?

Dissolved off with a tar and sap remover, then a clay bar for anything left. That is the whole job if it is recent. Sap left for a long time can mark the paint underneath. Minor marks polish out. Sap that has eaten through the clear coat means the panel is painted.

Class of work Chemical decontamination, polished if it has etched, refinished if it has gone through.

Caught in reasonable time, the deposit comes off with the right chemical and that is the whole job. Left long enough, it marks the clear coat. Light marks polish out. Deep ones do not, and the panel is painted.

What to do next

Any detailer can do this, and it is an easy DIY job with a bottle of tar remover. Do not pick or scrape it off. That causes scratches.

Sources

  1. Standoxpaint makerSecretions of tree resin/sap interacting with climate and time
  2. Spies Hecker (Axalta)paint makerRemove tree sap carefully, so as not to damage the top coat
  3. OCD Car Careproduct sellerTopical Paint Defects and Contamination are typically mild in nature and are simply removed with simple washing and decontamination processes.
  4. PPG GBpaint makerDewax the affected area, flat lightly, compound and polish, repeating if necessary
  5. Sherwin-Williams Automotivepaint makerSand and featheredge damaged areas to remove chips, then refinish

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