feels like sandpaper.....

**canuckian** · 11-15-2010, 07:58 PM

Hi all....was washing the wife's Tahoe on the weekend - foam cannon/rinse and hand wash. The roof and top part of the body were all great and smooth but when I started below the trim strip, the wash mitt felt like it had resistance. I added more soap to the mit and still the same thing. I then ran my hand over the paint and to my surprise, the finish actually felt like sandpaper! I know it wasn't like that the last time I washed it (few weeks ago - I know, I know....shame on me!) but she must've driven over/through something nasty to get that kind of gunk on it! I know they're doing road work and paving near our house but I drive over the same roads in my GTI and it's as smooth as a baby's bottom. I took a microfiber cloth with some soapy water and rubbed pretty hard on one spot and it started to get a little smoother so I'm guessing it's mostly road tar.
What would be the best approach in getting this crap off? is it something that i have to spend hours hand rubbing it off or is there a product i could use with my Flex 3401? this may seem elementary to a lot of you guys but I'm a bit of a newb to detailing and this is the first time I've ever seen buildup like this.

any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated.

**DantheMan** · 11-15-2010, 08:03 PM

claybar

**AeroCleanse** · 11-15-2010, 08:06 PM

+1 Claybar

**Make it shine!** · 11-15-2010, 08:09 PM

Yup claybar will be the way!

**jonn127** · 11-15-2010, 08:13 PM

Kinda sounds like he would have to go through a few claybars by the way its described. Have any pictures.

**Rsurfer** · 11-15-2010, 08:13 PM

Use kerosene first to get the bulk off and then clay.

**IOMCAMARO** · 11-15-2010, 08:22 PM

Kerosene doesn't strip paint? and +1 for claybar.

**DantheMan** · 11-15-2010, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by jonn127

Kinda sounds like he would have to go through a few claybars by the way its described. Have any pictures.

Sounded to me like it isnt something seen by the eye, but I could be reading wrong??

**jonn127** · 11-15-2010, 08:27 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you say below the trim line, you are talking about basically the middle of the doors down right? if its that bad it sounds like you'll need more than just a clay bar, you'd need claybar(s). There has to be something better to loosen that junk up and not shred through claybars. Yes, you use the claybar to take out surface contamination, but what feels like sandpaper on basically 1/3rd of a SUV?

**jonn127** · 11-15-2010, 08:31 PM

I don't have any experience in removing tar, but I was working on old exhaust pipes the other day and nothing was working, Optimum Power Clean then just cut through the stuff like it was nobody's business.
So maybe some Power Clean and the Pinnacle Safe Scrub Bug & Tar pad?