I have a black Z and when I bought it, it already had a bunch of sap (black dots) on the car, mainly on the hood, roof and trunk.
After driving the car and when the hood is hot/warm, I can use my finger nail to scrap off the sap. (All of the sap are the size of a poppy seed).

Now I want to use a hair dryer to heat up the ones on the roof and trunk to remove them. How good/bad of an idea is this?

Come to think of it, I don't really know if they are sap or tar.

I've tried taking it to a detailer, but he was not able to take those off with a claybar, so I have no choice but to do it myself. What do you guys suggest? Would my hair dryer attempt work? Will it kill the paint? Does anyone have any other suggestion?

TIA

 

use wd40

 

I would try Tar & Bug remover first.

 

Any recommendation on brand of Tar & Bug remover?

I am hesitant on the Wd-40 idea, but thanks though.

 

Try Goo-Gone. Available at your local hardware or drug store. This is the stuff everyone (including myself) uses to debadge their Z's. Works like a charm. Not 100% sure if it works on sap, but I'm pretty sure it does.

WD-40 is really mild on the paint and will not damage it. You can give it a shot if you want.

 

+1 Goo Gone will soften it up and remove a lot of it, then go at it with claybar. That has worked for me many times even with really bad sap. Bug remover will not work, don't waste your time or money.

BTW, use a lot of soap to lubricate when using the claybar.

 

I used hot water and a clean rag with car wash soap. Hottest water you can get from you faucet at home. Ideally, you want to do it in a warm environment, i.e. your garage or warm day.

 

Thanks for the replies. I will try it this weeked, first goo gone, then if that doesn't work, I will try WD40. I will let you guys know how it goes!

Meanwhile, I welcome more suggestions so keep them coming.

 

In addition to my post above, you can see here as well:

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....&highlight=sap
https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....&highlight=sap
https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....&highlight=sap

Pretty much reiterates what I said above about WD40 and/or Goo Gone, but people have other ideas like claybar, which you said doesn't work.

 

don't use ur fingernails... u'll **** up the clearcoat

 

+100

No need for anything else

 

Tonight, I tried hot water w/car wash and WD40. Neither worked for me. So I will try Goo Gone this weekend.

 

Keep us updated.

 

I tried everything suggested, wd40, goo gone, hot water and nothing seems to work.
Does anyone have any recommendation on a detailing shop in the east bay? I mean a real shop, not someone's garage because I've already tried it.

These little blemishes are really beginning to get to me. Please help!

 

I did some more research and found the following shops near my workplace. Does anyone have any experience with them? TIA.

California Detailing Inc.
340 Fell St.
San Francisco, CA. 94102
Phn: 415-626-3691

Oscar's Auto Detail
150 Turk, San Francisco, CA 94102 Map

Record One Auto Detailing Service
1040 Sacramento St.
San Francisco, CA 94108 map
district: San Francisco
Tel. 415-677-4262


Sammy's Detailing
1075 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA 94109 Map


Woody & Sons' Auto Detail Shop
843 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109 Map

 

Ask Joey at the track.... he used to do body work and he was the one who told me about the wd40.

 

Maybe it's tar then?

 

Have you tried claybar?

 

Tried clay bar, it could flatten them, but couldn't remove them.

If it were tar, then I'd guess that I'd have some on the side as well, but I only have them on the roof, hood and rear hatch so they seem to come from high above.

 

distilled white vinegar works really good when cleaning windows.
might be worth a try?