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Ceramic paint coatings care and Tree Sap!
Hello,
I just bought the wife her dream car a Macan. The car came with a Ceramic paint coating that is very hydrophobic. How do I care for this without damaging the coating? How long will it last; normally? And;, ... my big question is. I normally park in front of my house; no option. However there is a tree that drips, very small droplets of sap. These are smaller than pin head size; but hard enough to remove.
What do I do; firstly to remove this sap; it is hard to see. Secondly to keep the Ceramic coating?
Thanks Chris
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Re: Ceramic paint coatings care and Tree Sap!
Great questions, and welcome to AutogeekOnline!
I'm going to start with this issue.
Originally Posted by Carbster09
I normally park in front of my house; no option.
However there is a tree that drips, very small droplets of sap. These are smaller than pin head size; but hard enough to remove.
This is going to be your own going problem.
If you cannot park away from the tree and you cannot remove the tree, then tree sap is going to be a problem you either learn to live with or you're going to have to implement a frequent washing regimen. No other way around it.
Well there is one other way but it's not going to work well over time and that is to use a car cover. It takes a very passion and energetic person to put a car cover on a SUV day-in, day-out and then it's going to get sap on it and the only way to wash it is in a commercial washing machine. So the car cover option gets complicated, time-consuming and dirty.
How did you take care of the tree sap issue on the car BEFORE the Porsche Macan?
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Re: Ceramic paint coatings care and Tree Sap!
And to address your other questions
Originally Posted by Carbster09
What do I do; firstly to remove this sap; it is hard to see.
I guess I need to write an article on this as I post this same info all the time.
Here's the deal,
Tree sap, or more generally plant sap, is all different.
Some plant sap will dissolve and wash off our car when you wash your car with soap and water.
Some plant sap will not dissolve and wash of your car when you wash your car with soap and water.
Water is a universal solvent, for example, it will DISSOLVE or break-down dirt. I know most people don't think of it as a solvent because it's not nasty or dangerous like the solvent's were all aware of, but it is a type of solvent nonetheless.
Here's what you need to do...
Get a quality car wash soap and a clean, quality wash mitt and wet the car first with lots of water, then wash half of the hood. Dry the entire hood and inspect. Compare the half you washed with the half you didn't wash.
Are the tree sap droplets removed?
If yes - Then removing built-up tree sap on your car is as simple as washing often - and washing CAREFULLY.
If no - Then you have a problem.
To deal with the ongoing tree sap problem, you're going to have to purchase a Tree Sap Remover and use it on all the horizontal surfaces before you wash your car to chemically dissolve and remove the tree sap.
(Cutting the tree down is starting to sound pretty good about now huh?)
After chemically removing the tree sap, now carefully wash the car. See my answer below.
Originally Posted by Carbster09
Secondly to keep the Ceramic coating?
How to safely wash a ceramic coated car by Mike Phillips - Traditional Hose & Bucket Approach
Which I had better info for you but I don't. I think it's cool you bought our wife a very cool SUV - I hope it's silver or grey metallic.
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Re: Ceramic paint coatings care and Tree Sap!
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Re: Ceramic paint coatings care and Tree Sap!
I have been down this road with my F150 truck ( it is not a Macan, my CaymanS stays in the garage or driveway away from the SAP).
Many folks here will disagree, but my only solution was to cut many of the branches on the side if the tree that overhang over my driveway ( it does make the tree unhealthy but it is my neighbors tree n he is not removing it, maybe a slow death for the tree, oops).
In addition I had to go truck cover n my wife helps me with it. . It is a battle you will not win constantly removing the sap
(others will disagree,but this has been a real life situation, get a good cover and will have minimal marring and in 3 years toss it and get a new on)
2022 Carrera S & Honda CRV Hybrid
2015 Lexus IS 350, 2016 Ford F-150
Cobalt 242 (8.1 L block, Volvo outdrive)
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Re: Ceramic paint coatings care and Tree Sap!
Originally Posted by Markymapo
I have been down this road with my F150 truck ( it is not a Macan, my CaymanS stays in the garage or driveway away from the SAP).
Thanks for chiming in and sharing.
I feel vindicated.
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Re: Ceramic paint coatings care and Tree Sap!
My experience with tree sap comes from the various hardwood trees in my region. If you have any trees overhanging or even upwind then the sap will find you vehicles. Oak trees always emit fine particles and most will wash off with a regular wash with soap. I know my truck had the same issue when I parked near some trees at a shopping center. Paint surfaces and windshield would have some micro dots that you could see and feel after sitting all day in the heat.
Good listing from Mike showing all the chemicals that can help if just water and soap do not remove it.
So just accept that something will find it's way onto that beautiful car, it is going to take some TLC to keep it at it's best for the years to come.
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Re: Ceramic paint coatings care and Tree Sap!
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Re: Ceramic paint coatings care and Tree Sap!
Thanks for the replies. The Audi S4 Avant; my car gets the garage. The wife hates putting the Macan, its a Turbo in the garage. I have a good pressure washer and use snow foam w a good result. My issue is the "nice" Ceramic coating that was dealer installed. I am thinking any major "paint" correction will just cut right through this. I have used Carpro Tar X and it works well. I just wanted a little advice.
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Re: Ceramic paint coatings care and Tree Sap!
don't waste your time with Tarminator. It doesn't even work on "tar".
I had lots of pine sap, ate through the paint on my old car. Cut down the tree. 2 yrs later the oak tree behind where the Pine tree was dropped a branch across the roof of the car.
Full strength IPA will dissolve the Pine sap. I cut blue paper towels into fours. Use 1 or 2 new pieces for each pine splat.
White Pines suck.
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