 |
|
08-15-2018, 12:09 PM
|
#1
|
|
Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 31
|
Removing Tar
I've apparently driven through some new road construction or something. We came back from a recent trip with a large amount of small road tar deposits on the back of the motorhome. Some on the side but the back looks terrible even after washing. What products would you recommend to remove the tar without harming the fiberglass? I have the non-painted, tan fiberglass with decals. Any advice would be appreciated.
__________________
2018 Winnebago Vista LX 27N
Eagle River, AK
|
|
|
 |
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
|
08-15-2018, 12:19 PM
|
#2
|
|
Registered User
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,336
|
WD-40 and plastic razor blades.
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 12:32 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Sarnialabad, Peoples Republik of Canuckistan
Posts: 2,225
|
Lighter fluid, aka Naphtha, will remove the tar. Put a little on a paper towel and gently rub the tar off. Not sure about using it on the fiberglass. Maybe try it on a "less visible" area first.
__________________
2018 (2017 Sprinter Cab Chassis) Navion24V + 2016 Wrangler JKU (sold @ ????) - 2016 Sunstar 26HE (sold @ 4600 miles) - 2002 Roadtrek C190P (sold @ 315,000kms)
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 12:42 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,817
|
I remove crap like that all day long on fiberglass.
Xylene, available at any home store in the paint thinner aisle.
It's the main ingredient in 3M Adhesive Remover.
It will make very short work of tar removal. It will not harm the decals as long as you don't let it sit for any length of time. Pour some on a rag and wipe away.
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 12:50 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,149
|
Had a similar problem, would get back from a trip and there would be little spots of black oily stuff all over the back of the coach. Never on the sides.
Checked for differential or axle leaks...nothing.
Finally discovered that it was lube that I sprayed on my tow bar assembly before each trip beings sucked up onto the back of the coach. There is quite a vacuum formed behind it with strange wind patterns.
I drove though some fresh white paint they use for lane marking, no warning sign it was fresh paint, and let me tell you that is good paint. Still some in my wheel wells. Took a couple years to get off my toad front bumper.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 02:31 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,941
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by GearJerker
I've apparently driven through some new road construction or something. We came back from a recent trip with a large amount of small road tar deposits on the back of the motorhome. Some on the side but the back looks terrible even after washing. What products would you recommend to remove the tar without harming the fiberglass? I have the non-painted, tan fiberglass with decals. Any advice would be appreciated.
|
GearJerker,
Tar is just another form of petroleum. Some additives but, petroleum nonetheless. Cruise on down to your local Hardware store or Home Depot, Lowes etc. and pick up the smallest amount of "Paint thinner" you can get. And don't get that "environment friendly junk", get the real stuff. Most likely the smallest will be a quart. Paint thinner dissolves all that stuff but, is harmless to just about any surface man made. You'll only use a small amount but, it's nice to have something like that handy for situations like this. You never know when you're gonna run into some more fresh tar etc.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT Airbag
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 02:55 PM
|
#7
|
|
"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 24,122
|
"Oops" is a good tar remover. Just removed a bunch on my chrome tailpipe and along the bottom of the doors. We too hit some tar somewhere on our last big trip. Many will poo poo this, but gasoline works great if you have nothing else.
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 03:14 PM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 8,638
|
X-2 on the wd-40 good for everything except lubrication.
__________________
2007 Fleetwood Revolution LE 40V
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 04:03 PM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Western WA
Posts: 1,294
|
Diesel fuel on a rag does a good job too. Then was the area and rewax.
__________________
Sold the Motorhome, joined the fully retired gang. '07 Winnebago Journey 34H, ISB-02, MH2500
Toad - '08 Ford Taurus X, Blue Ox, Aventa
US Gear UBS
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 04:15 PM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,391
|
X-2 on WD 40 or Diesel Fuel. Probably not tree hugger approved, but works very well.
|
|
|
|
|
08-15-2018, 09:46 PM
|
#11
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 644
|
Mayonnaise! Works great to get it off hands, too. Vegetable oil based - softens tar, pine pitch, etc. Smells better than many other options! And 'bout everyone has a jar of it in the fridge....
__________________
Two and a Hound in a 2015 Prism "B+", pushed by a 2021 Chevy Equinox.
1st 50 done, working on the 2nd pass! Somewhere over 150k miles to date
2005-2015 Roadtrek 190P, 1993-2005 Northstar Soft-Side TC, 1989-1993 Tents!
|
|
|
|
|
08-16-2018, 02:14 PM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 8,638
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loggenrock
Mayonnaise! Works great to get it off hands, too. Vegetable oil based - softens tar, pine pitch, etc. Smells better than many other options! And 'bout everyone has a jar of it in the fridge....
|
And you can make a sandwich when you done cleaning.
__________________
2007 Fleetwood Revolution LE 40V
|
|
|
|
|
08-17-2018, 05:36 AM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Apollo Beach & Key West , FL
Posts: 3,839
|
I had tar all over the front bumper of my toad... I tried a Mr. Clean magic eraser-- worked great
__________________
2013 DS 4338
2015 F-150 toad with kayaks,bicycles and a Harley in the back
new toad 2023 Sprinter with all the toys inside
|
|
|
|
|
08-17-2018, 06:52 AM
|
#14
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Loudon Couny, TN
Posts: 745
|
I believe I've removed it with dryer sheets but can't say for sure - easy to give it a try though.
__________________
Larry, Beverly & Pat
Pups - Romeo, Teddy Bear, Frankie
2013 Thor Tuscany, 45', Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISL10, towing a Buick Enclave
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
