Anyone ever removed a tar stain from ta truck bumper? (1 Viewer)

[Jose C]

I backed my red Dodge Durango into a telephone pole over the weekend and scraped off a thick layer of black tar that's now stuck to the plastic bumper cover. There doesn't appear to be any damage or dents, but there's a big blotch of tar that I can't get off by scraping or using soap & water or Goo Gone. Anyone have any suggestions for getting this gunk off?

 

[MarkHastings]

Anyone have any suggestions for getting this gunk off?

Plenty of this stuff:

 

[Adam Barratt]

And use something fairly gentle to scrape it off once it softens, like the edge of an old laminated library card.

Adam

 

[David Preston]

I'm sure any auto parts store has many kinds of tar remover. I would put a coat of wax back on there after you use that stuff. I would think it would strip it all off. Just my.02

 

[Jay H]

David is right, you can get stuff that's specifically "Bug and Tar" remover. I have a can that has a beige liquid but the stuff is very strong, I would use as little as possible and re-wax the area after use.

Jay

 

[ken thompson]

Rubbing alcohol. It's cheap and you probably already have it around the house.

 

[Dan D.]

Easy... gasoline. Put a little on a rag and it takes tar right off. They are produced from the same product after all. Car finish purists might cringe at the idea, but the fact of the matter is your car's finish is quite resistant to gasoline. People overflow at the pump or drip gas on their cars all the time. Wash the area when you are done and apply a coat of wax. I've been doing it for years.

 

[Ted Lee]

definitely don't use anything abrasive (like those brillo-pad sponge things) to apply/scrub the cleaner.

it'll leave fine scratches in the plastic - then you're really hosed.

believe me, i know of what i speak. :b

 

[Eric_L]

Actually, I had a similar problem, except it was from my child getting it on his hands then wipeing it in the cloth seats of my car.

My builder suggested WD40. I thought he was nuts.

Until I tried it and it worked.

 

[DavidAM]

I'll 2nd the WD-40, that stuff will take it right off. I learned the miracle of WD-40 in 6th grade when I had to get some paint out of the carpet.