tree sap

Can anyone tell me the best way to remove tree sap from a car when washing or detailing it.

We have used denatured alcohol to remove sap. If it has become hard, we scratch the top surface which allows the alcohol to penetrate and dissolve the sap. If the sap has been on too long, it will remove some of the clear coat (turpentine is made from sap). There are other more aggressive products that are faster acting, but can cause problems if used improperly.

Down here in da South..we gits lots a pine sap on dem cars. I'd seen hundreds of spots on one vehikle.

Rubbing alcohol is the most aggressive method, kerosene or #1 heating oil works slower but safer. With anything, you've got to let the solvent do it's work before you rub. It's easy to scratch paint with a towel. I've told detailers to just pour and soak'em for a couple of hours before rubbing...if they are real bad. Most waxes have solvents in them that will very safely remove sap that's fresh. Other crazy options: peanut butter, wd-40, goo-off.

10-4 Jimmy...chemists that work at chemical plants at the paper mills tell me there are 100's of products that come from pine sap. The two most dangerous for paint finishes are bubble gum bases and solvent bases. So what do you expect to happen to 2 mils of paint if you put a mixture of bubble gum and solvent, then let the sun bake it in.

What I found best for removing pine sap (the hardest of the saps), no mater how hard, is GLASS SHIELD by Simoniz. It was accidental that I stumbbled acrossed it. Works better than any other product that I have tried to date.

Doug, I bet it's got alcohol in it. My employees would use RainX when we ran out of alcohol. But that's expensive.

thanks very much for all the advice everyone.

Jimmy, I think your right. I haven't tried it side by side with denatured alcohol to see if it worked the same. I just noticed it took all the crap off the glass well.