Tar Spots

[Bike Nut]

Hi all, at the weekend just gone I had a chance to properly clean the Prius, and whilst drying the car off I noticed loads of black 'tar spots' all over the sides and rear of the car. When I first took delivery I fitted the mud-flaps and treated the bodywork to two coats of MER polish and then at each wash to a diluted solution of MER and chamois leathered the car down. This slipped a bit over the winter with just a simple wash down each weekend unless it was frosty, snowing or raining,(which was most of the time).

What is the best method of cleaning this 'tar' off and then keeping it off, or is it just a case of elbow grease with the tar remover and polish every few weeks or so to keep it at bay? I have not noticed the 'tar' so much on my previous cars but they were all darker colours than the current red Prius.

Cheers,

[t-spiritpete]

Hi all, at the weekend just gone I had a chance to properly clean the Prius, and whilst drying the car off I noticed loads of black 'tar spots' all over the sides and rear of the car. When I first took delivery I fitted the mud-flaps and treated the bodywork to two coats of MER polish and then at each wash to a diluted solution of MER and chamois leathered the car down. This slipped a bit over the winter with just a simple wash down each weekend unless it was frosty, snowing or raining,(which was most of the time).

What is the best method of cleaning this 'tar' off and then keeping it off, or is it just a case of elbow grease with the tar remover and polish every few weeks or so to keep it at bay? I have not noticed the 'tar' so much on my previous cars but they were all darker colours than the current red Prius.

Cheers,

Hello, according to the Yaris manual I was reading just this morning , turps or white spirit is the best thing. Afterwards wipe the paintwork clean with a soft cloth then apply a coat of car polish and buff up to a nice shine.

Pete.

[dwilson]

Hi all, at the weekend just gone I had a chance to properly clean the Prius, and whilst drying the car off I noticed loads of black 'tar spots' all over the sides and rear of the car. When I first took delivery I fitted the mud-flaps and treated the bodywork to two coats of MER polish and then at each wash to a diluted solution of MER and chamois leathered the car down. This slipped a bit over the winter with just a simple wash down each weekend unless it was frosty, snowing or raining,(which was most of the time).

What is the best method of cleaning this 'tar' off and then keeping it off, or is it just a case of elbow grease with the tar remover and polish every few weeks or so to keep it at bay? I have not noticed the 'tar' so much on my previous cars but they were all darker colours than the current red Prius.

Cheers,

I am no expert on this but I would be cautious of using solvents on the soft car paint. Have you tried using a clay bar?

David

[Seamaster73]

Autoglym Tar Remover.

http://www.autoglym.com/engb/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=GD&Range=1

[richglanza]

autosmart tardis

runs rings around anything mentioned above

can be found on eBay or your local autosmart dealer

[Doesn'tExist]

Don't know about autosmart tardis, but I've been using a claybar with great success for a looooong time. Just keep lubbing and put some elbow grease into it with the clay

[cbcdesign]

Hi all, at the weekend just gone I had a chance to properly clean the Prius, and whilst drying the car off I noticed loads of black 'tar spots' all over the sides and rear of the car. When I first took delivery I fitted the mud-flaps and treated the bodywork to two coats of MER polish and then at each wash to a diluted solution of MER and chamois leathered the car down. This slipped a bit over the winter with just a simple wash down each weekend unless it was frosty, snowing or raining,(which was most of the time).

What is the best method of cleaning this 'tar' off and then keeping it off, or is it just a case of elbow grease with the tar remover and polish every few weeks or so to keep it at bay? I have not noticed the 'tar' so much on my previous cars but they were all darker colours than the current red Prius.

Cheers,

I am no expert on this but I would be cautious of using solvents on the soft car paint. Have you tried using a clay bar?

David

Have you seen Tar and Glue remover the importers use on new cars? Its pretty strong stuff.

[Doesn'tExist]

Sure but a new car also has a thick layer of wax on it ;-) and doing a one off versus doing it regurarly is a bit different isn't it...

[Jan&tone]

I always use a very gentle rub with a drop of t-cut, then a liberal coat of autoglym polish over the same area, have done for years... No rubbing involved either!

[Chris Dance]

I use a soft cloth and a gentle rub using wax oil. Wax oil will not harm the paint work.

[Doesn'tExist]

One thing I forgot to mention. A lot of the other remedies like tcut and oils could severely affect any wax you applied to the car. I found that when you had the car cleaned properly and waxed it, the clay is sufficient to remove the tar without removing the wax protection.

[dwilson]

Hi all, at the weekend just gone I had a chance to properly clean the Prius, and whilst drying the car off I noticed loads of black 'tar spots' all over the sides and rear of the car. When I first took delivery I fitted the mud-flaps and treated the bodywork to two coats of MER polish and then at each wash to a diluted solution of MER and chamois leathered the car down. This slipped a bit over the winter with just a simple wash down each weekend unless it was frosty, snowing or raining,(which was most of the time).

What is the best method of cleaning this 'tar' off and then keeping it off, or is it just a case of elbow grease with the tar remover and polish every few weeks or so to keep it at bay? I have not noticed the 'tar' so much on my previous cars but they were all darker colours than the current red Prius.

Cheers,

I am no expert on this but I would be cautious of using solvents on the soft car paint. Have you tried using a clay bar?

David

Have you seen Tar and Glue remover the importers use on new cars? Its pretty strong stuff.

No, but I took the paint off a Metro in the 80s - as well as the tar!

David

[j2d]

Hi all, at the weekend just gone I had a chance to properly clean the Prius, and whilst drying the car off I noticed loads of black 'tar spots' all over the sides and rear of the car. When I first took delivery I fitted the mud-flaps and treated the bodywork to two coats of MER polish and then at each wash to a diluted solution of MER and chamois leathered the car down. This slipped a bit over the winter with just a simple wash down each weekend unless it was frosty, snowing or raining,(which was most of the time).

What is the best method of cleaning this 'tar' off and then keeping it off, or is it just a case of elbow grease with the tar remover and polish every few weeks or so to keep it at bay? I have not noticed the 'tar' so much on my previous cars but they were all darker colours than the current red Prius.

Cheers,

White spirit works well and quickly. No harm is done to the, unfit for purpose coloured water that Toyota in a, vain, attempt to prove that they have a sense of humour, call paint. I have just been using in the last 20 minutes.

[richglanza]

autosmart tardis spray on leave a couple of minutes wipe off