Black "chewing gum on pavement" like buildup

[squelchy451]

Hi. My brother has never been the one to detail his car, never mind washing it on a regular basis.
Also having the cheapest car in the family, the Subaru is condemned to park on the streets.

I do try to wash it at least once a month and this time around i noticed some black gunk on the hood, 1-2 cm in diameter and looks like those black bits of chewing gum on the pavement.

I'm planning on giving it a good wash and use some iron-x to decontaminate the paint but wasn't sure what to do with the gunk.
Has anyone had to remove something similar from their own cars?

[Mike Phillips]

Test out any oil type product.

Things like Goo-Gone or even some Olive Oil out of the kitchen.


Dab on, gently work over the gunk and see if it will dissolve and loosen it enough to wipe it off.

[squelchy451]

I'll give that a go. I also have a plastic putty knife...would that be safe to use in conjunction with goo-gone?

[Mike Phillips]

I'll give that a go. I also have a plastic putty knife...would that be safe to use in conjunction with goo-gone?

If you're very careful.

The risk is the corners can easily scratch paint.

Letting some kind of citric oil penetrate and dissolve using "time" is usually a safe option.

Getting in a rush and scrubbing will remove it but also leave scratches behind. Then you have to fix the scratches.


What type of polisher and compound do you own?

[squelchy451]

If you're very careful.

The risk is the corners can easily scratch paint.

Letting some kind of citric oil penetrate and dissolve using "time" is usually a safe option.

Getting in a rush and scrubbing will remove it but also leave scratches behind. Then you have to fix the scratches.


What type of polisher and compound do you own?

I'll try with just the goo-gone first before moving onto the putty knife.

I have the Meguiars Ultimate Compound, Polish, and their DA power system (the kind that attaches to a drill)

[Spikey Mike]

Xenit or Goo Gone like Mike suggested.

[PaulMys]

3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover.

I swear by this product. Clear Coat safe.