so i made the mistake of parking under (near) a pine tree at work. i noticed some drops on my hood, and tried to get them off, not knowing at the time what it was. it basically just smeared around.

so i'm wondering if anyone knows what to use to get it off. and will it cause damage to my paint?

 

Tree Resin (Sap):
(Appears like a dark brown/ red coloured surface mark) some of the most common resinous tree sap types are: White Pine, Maple, Oak, Popular, and Blue Spruce, none of which are water soluble, the acidic content of the sap will etch the paint surface, causing a concave surface.

These can be removed by using detailer's clay to remove any hardened surface deposits and then using either P21 Total Auto Wash or Isopropyl alcohol (ISP) or if that doesn’t remove it use a machine polish, Zaino ZPC Fusion or Iz einzett TM Paint Polish and a cutting (LC Orange or Yellow) foam pad (speed # 4) to level the surface, reapply surface protection once spots have been removed (to remove sap etching from glass see Water Spots)

Factors as to the amount of time it takes to remove sap and what damage it has caused are dependent on temperature and time the sap has been on the paint surface. Be careful and take your time removing it, remember always let the products do the work for you.

Tree sap that is still soft can be removed by soaking with Isopropyl Alcohol (or Stoner’s Terminator) wet the area with the product and allows it to remain on the surface for 3-5 minutes, then wipe with soft dry towel. For tree sap that has hardened, carefully scrape the top of the spot off with a plastic razor blade to expose the softer sap inside.

Soak a towel with the solvent placing it over the sap and let soak for 10-minutes, repeat in order for the solvents to break down the sap, once it’s removed re-apply sealant / wax protection of your choice.
Some saps will lift and crack the paint, this damage will require refinishing. Turpentine is made from tree resins, in severe cases it can be used to break down the resin in tree sap, use as a last resort only and use sparingly and do not rub hard and give it some time to work.
JonM

 

thank you kindly sir, i will go try that now. unfortunately it's been on there a while, i hope the damage isn't noticeable [&:]

 

Wash your car with turpentine, at least the affected areas, rinse it and the re-wax.

Anthony

PS...no, turpentine will NOT harm your paint but it will remove the sap just fine

 

Turpentine is made from tree resins, in severe cases it can be used to break down the resin in tree sap, use as a last resort only and use sparingly, do not rub agressivly and give it some time to work.
JonM