Tree Sap Nightmare..Seeking Help

How this happened:

• Parked Taco underneath a tree during California's most violent storm during New Year's Eve weekend (pretty dumb I know).
• Didn't return to the Taco until 2 days later and noticed the entire driver side (including windshield/windows) covered in the thickest tree sap I've ever seen.

What I have done/tried:

• I was only able to fully remove the sap from windshield/windows (took an entire day using isopropyl alcohol, goo gone, and scraping with a blade)
• Since the storm has finally passed, it's 2 weeks later and I took on the task of removing the rest of the sap from the body. I managed to get a very small portion off with the isopropyl alcohol, microfiber, and A LOT of elbow grease.

My problem:

• The area towards sideview mirror is very very stubborn no matter how much I tried and this is where I need some suggestions before I cave in and take it to a pro detailer (which I want to avoid of course if I can just do it myself)

Problem area


Success so far on right side portion of door after using 70% IA, Microfiber, 4hrs of Very hard wax on/wax off

 

That’s awful man. I know you’ve tried the 70% IA but as crazy as this sounds, try hand sanitizer. That’s what I’ve always used to remove tree sap. And I’m talking about hard as a rock stuck on like super glue tree sap. Hand sanitizer on a microfiber worked like a charm for me. Don’t be stingy with it either. Maybe there’s an added ingredient on top of the alcohol, I don’t know, but it works.
I’d always have a hose ready too, in my experiences the hand sanitizer and microfiber scrub would dissolve the sap, and the hose would wash away any remenents.
Hoping it works for you, best of luck.

 

Try WD-40

 

https://www.turtlewax.com/products/bug-tar-remover-trigger-16-fl-oz

 

Clay bar usually helps. Loosen it up with the WD40 or goo gone. Hope it works out!

 

I second using a clay bar. It’s a great way to clean off stubborn contaminants with some elbow grease

 

Clay bar is a great tool but you don’t use a clay bar on excessively contaminated paint, think about the damage you’ll do to the paint grinding that hardened sap into the top layers, even with lubrication. A clay bar is to remove minor contaminant buildup, on a relatively smooth surface. You clay bar after the majority of sap had been removed, not before.

 

Thanks for all the insight everyone. I will keep this thread updated and let y'all know how it goes. My goal is to get this stuff off aSAP before the next wave of rain comes in to California.

 

Holey crap!!! Did that tree have a tree sap fountain on it????? I've never seen anything like that before.

 

I’d just take it to a professional to get cleaned, sweet truck I’d hate to wreck the paint on it scraping away.

 

Jesus are you sure thats sap? Never seen such a thing before. Hope you find something that works out for you!

 

Is it worth exploring a comprehensive insurance claim?

 

I'm going to agree with this one too. Here's why. What you really need to do is dissolve the tree sap as opposed to scraping it off. The challenge here is to dissolve the tree sap and not dissolve the paint. (I'm just waiting for somebody to suggest Lacquer Thinner - at which point I will puke.) Once you start to dissolve the sap, you run the risk of moving it around on the paint surface with the microfiber towel and marring the paint surface. This would then need to be corrected through careful polishing. A professional detailer will have the proper products, processes, patience and experience to do this with minimum damage to your vehicle.

 

might try heating it up a bit first. tree sap comes off a lot easier when warm. but this seems like a job for a professional detail shop. might even get insurance involved as it may get very expensive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlgHr8wDwBc

i wonder if a steam cleaner would work without damaging the paint

 

Had sap on my truck from a tree a few years back. Tried alcohol, wd-40, paint thinner, goo-gone... nothing would touch it. The only thing that worked was water.

 

https://www.wesspur.com/items/saw994.html

This is what we use in the tree care industry....it works

 

Good Gosh almighty...

 

I tried 70% alcohol to remove tree sap. Work good for me.

Dwell time might be important.

Wash with hot water. Hot enough not to burn yourself. The hot water may soften the sap up.

Maybe rubbing compound.