How and how to remove bitumen from a car: professional and improvised means

Prolonged contact of solvent-based resinous materials used in road construction with the paintwork of a vehicle can cause local defects. If you find tar or bitumen on the body, it should be washed off the car without damaging the paintwork . It is better to take measures immediately, not allowing contaminants to penetrate deep into the varnish; in this case, you can use both special means and safe universal solvents.

In this article we will tell you how and how to wash tar from a car without consequences and present a rating of special products for removing bitumen from the body.

Dried spots

Black drops, drips and splashes of bitumen spoil the appearance of the car. There are special compositions for removing bitumen from the vehicle body. When purchasing chemicals, they are guided by the age of the stains, and not by the size of the stains.

How to remove tar (review of the best compounds):

LIQUI MOLY Teer Entferner is developed based on a combination of solvents for removing resins from the body. Can be used for paintwork and glossy surfaces. LIQUI MOLY Teer Entferner dissolves resin, paint and tar residues well. Application: shake the can, spray on dirty areas, wait 3 minutes and remove the bitumen with a soft cloth.
Cleaner with fresh citrus scent No. 7535 has proven itself well. Produced by a Swedish factory. The product allows you to clean car parts (fenders, body, headlights) from tar efficiently and in 1 minute. Has a gentle effect on paintwork. Not suitable for old and dried formations. Apply for 1 minute. Remove remaining tar with a soft cloth.
Turtle Wax Bug {amp}amp; Tar Remover is made in the UK. The stain remover is used to clean glass and to remove bitumen from car bodies. Turtle Wax Bug {amp}amp; Tar Remover, unlike similar compounds, is held on a vertical plane. Does not harm paintwork. Application of the drug: spray on the car body, wait 1 minute, remove the remaining tar with a rag.
Tar stain cleaner “Agate” is sold in a volume of 500 ml. They remove resin, fat and oil contaminants. Sold as a spray.
Doctor Wax DW5628 penetrates deeply into cracks and micropores of paintwork. The cleaner quickly removes even non-visible, but chemically active pockets of contamination. Doctor Wax DW5628 not only removes tar from the pores, it creates a protective coating.
WD-40 removes fresh resin droplets. Use if special chemicals are not at hand.

Bitumen reacts with the paintwork, leaving marks on it. If contact lasts for a long time, dirt cannot be removed; the body will have to be painted.

Fresh bitumen stains can be easily removed. After drying, the resin can be removed using professional means.

Causes and consequences

Most often, you can catch “bitumen leprosy” on a freshly repaired section of road in the summer. Under the influence of the sun and friction, the coating melts, sticks to the car’s wheels and splashes around, getting on both the body of your car and neighboring ones.

Bitumen or tar itself (a similar product, but of higher quality) does not pose any danger, except that it spoils the appearance. However, places where they accumulate collect dust, sand, chemicals and other contaminants that contribute to the destruction of car elements. The doors, sills, bumpers, and wheel arches are the first to suffer.

Popular remedies without damaging the enamel

So how to remove bitumen from a car? The product can be domestic or imported. However, not all compositions cope with the assigned tasks.

Here is a list of the most popular:

The domestic drug "VELV" has the maximum effect. However, no one can answer for sure how the paintwork will react to such a product.
Mazbit Turbo tool. Made in the USA.
Domestic product "Profam-3500".
Cleaner with fresh citrus scent No. 7535 is an excellent product that has proven itself well. Produced in Sweden.
The German product Teer Entferner does an excellent job with bitumen stains.
TurtleWaks is considered the most effective. It perfectly removes any bitumen contamination from the surface of the body.
White spirit is one of the effective and inexpensive means.

Now you know how to remove bitumen from a car. When removing such contaminants, you should adhere to the basic principle “Do no harm.” No matter how good the product is, if used incorrectly, it can seriously damage the paintwork. If you have driven along a section of the road where repair work is being carried out, you should immediately inspect the vehicle upon arrival home. If bitumen stains appear on the body, it is better to remove them immediately.

Professional compositions

They differ from universal ones in their improved composition. Professional products contain petroleum fractions that remove bitumen and tar contamination, as well as other special additives. The disadvantage is excessive aggressiveness. They require careful adherence to instructions and work experience. If you plan to use such a product, it is better to first test the product on a small area. Among the most popular professional formulations that are recommended for use at home are the following:

Mazbit Turbo made in USA;
"Profam-3500", produced in Russia;
Cleaner with fresh citrus scent No. 7535, produced in Sweden;
Teer Entferner, which is produced in Germany;
TurtleWaks, proven in the fight against bitumen stains.

Among the latest developments, you should pay attention to synthetic clay, which is similar to plasticine, removes not only bitumen, but also other contaminants, and is also very delicate, without damaging paint and varnish. You can also use a special auto scrub, which is made of rubberized material in the form of a napkin, circle or mitten.

What means can get rid of bitumen on paintwork?

A variety of compounds are used to remove bitumen stains. On sale you can find a huge number of products that promise to cope with resin without any problems. Not all of them meet the declared quality. There are also those that can damage the paint layer on the body. When purchasing a product, you should focus not only on price, but also on quality, and choose only a proven product.

Compositions for removing resin can be special or universal. The first ones are intended exclusively for removing bitumen from paintwork. Universal compositions are products that are intended for a wide range of jobs. They contain both active surface components and chemical additives and alcohols. Such products do not always cope with bitumen stains, since the resin can become firmly embedded in the paintwork, so preference is given to special products.

General recommendations

To minimize the risk of damage to the paintwork, it is necessary to use only proven and safe products for removing bitumen stains. In addition, the procedure should not be delayed. The longer the resin is on the body, the more difficult it is to remove. In some cases, it is no longer possible to save the paintwork.

It is recommended to avoid areas where repair work has recently been carried out or where there are bitumen puddles. If this is not possible, it is necessary to reduce the speed of the vehicle to a minimum. This will reduce the likelihood of bitumen appearing on the body, but after the trip you should definitely inspect the car for stains. You should check not only the paintwork, but also the wheels. When bitumen remains on the latter, as the car moves further, it will become soft and fall on the car. You should not neglect protective agents - polishes, films for the bumper and hood, polishes, waxes and others. They allow you to quickly and easily get rid of any contaminants, including bitumen.

Special cleaners for bitumen stains

Doctor WAX

American made. Cost from 500 rubles. One of the most expensive means. The cleaning quality is good. It is necessary to apply trigger spray to the surface, wait 2-3 minutes, then wipe the surface. It has a creamy consistency, similar to polish.

Astrohim

Russian made. The cost is about 200 rubles. The product has good cleaning quality, but is less expensive.

Expert

But this product does an excellent job of cleaning the body. Removal of bitumen stains was successful on the first try.

Within two minutes after application, the composition dissolves stains and flows down, carrying small particles of dirt with it. It is enough to wipe the surface and not even a trace remains of harmful stains. This is an excellent product made in Russia. Price – 179 rubles for 500 ml.

Autoprophi

Russia. The cost is about 200 rubles. This product has a more unpleasant odor and average quality in removing contaminants.

Grass

Russia. An increased “exposure” of up to 10 minutes is required, it cleans efficiently, and the smell is not pungent. Costs about 250 rubles.

Turtle Wax

This component, according to the manufacturer, is able to cope with fresh stains.

The product is manufactured in the UK. One bottle costs about 200 rubles. During expert tests using domestic bitumen, the result was zero. This product could not cope with bitumen contamination. Even if you try to scrub more thoroughly, there will be no result. Foam can do absolutely nothing to bitumen.

Kangaroo

Korea. Does not require waiting, cleans immediately, but not perfectly, the smell is medium pungent. The cost is about 350 rubles.

Liqui Moli

Germany. It cleans small stains well, but difficult to clean large stains, and the smell is pungent. The cost is about 500 rubles.

Pingo

Germany. Price from 500 rubles. The manufacturer warns against use on fresh surfaces; the cleaning quality is average.

Sonax

Germany. The smell is pungent, the quality is average, the cost is about 500 rubles.

Texon

Russia. The price is about 150 rubles. Requires waiting after application for 5 - 10 minutes, after which the results are good. The most inexpensive product in its class.

Application of "White spirit"

So, how to remove bitumen from a car? Few people use white spirit, as this product has its own characteristics and disadvantages. However, such chemistry can be used at home. To remove a bitumen stain, you should:

Wash the vehicle body thoroughly. It is recommended to use water and a special shampoo. This will not only wash away dirt and dust, but also avoid scratches. They often form on the paintwork when trying to remove stains without first washing the body.
The vehicle must dry well. After this, “White spirit” is applied to the surface of the body in the place where there is a bitumen stain. For these purposes, you can use a foam rubber or cotton swab.
Now you need to wait about 5 minutes. After the specified time, the stain should be gently rubbed. There is no point in using force. If “White Spirit” doesn’t clean it off, then other means will be even more powerless. You may only damage the coating.

Laundering technique

A prerequisite is to thoroughly wash the car before performing specialized cleaning.

The first rule in removing bitumen stains is to thoroughly wash the car, immediately before removing the bitumen. This will help remove contaminants from the body and prevent scratching of the surface during the cleaning procedure. The second step should be the use of the chosen drug. At this stage, it is recommended to use gloves to avoid contact of the chemical with the skin of your hands, as well as a soft rag or cloth. For convenience, use a spray bottle filled with clean water. Rules of application:

Wear gloves and a respirator on your face.
Apply the product in a medium amount onto a soft cloth.
Carefully treat bitumen stains. Do not rub too hard to avoid damaging the paint. Cleaning comes to completion after the complete disappearance of contaminants.
Wash the car with car shampoo and rinse with clean water.
Wipe the surface of the transport dry.

If the procedure is completed, the bitumen traces have been disposed of, but the car has a faded appearance and has lost all its shine, you should apply a special polish to its surface, which can be easily purchased at any car store. This cosmetic procedure will return the car to its original appearance. In the case where the bitumen stains were quite old and after cleaning there were yellow marks left on it, professional and universal products will be powerless, and a universal repainting of the car will be required.

What to do if bitumen can no longer be washed off with anything?

So, you already know that you cannot leave bitumen on the body for a long time. The resin and solvent will be absorbed very deeply into the paint in just a couple of days. Then the solvent gradually evaporates, and the resin remains in the very depths of the paint. In this case, no chemical agent will help remove bitumen stains. The only solution to the problem is deep polishing. That's why we want to convince car owners not to be lazy, but to wash bitumen stains from the body as quickly as possible. This must be done on the spot, so you will not harm the paintwork. You can wash the bitumen after a few hours, but then you will have to use professional bitumen stain cleaners that contain solvents. And, as you know, solvents have a detrimental effect on varnish.

There is another way. But this method does not involve removing bitumen stains, but masking them. That is, deep stains that cannot be washed off are simply covered with so-called “colored polish.” After using this polish, no traces of bitumen are really visible, but this effect does not last long. After a few washes, the polish will wash off, and the ominous black spots will again spoil the appearance of the car.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you of an important rule: after each use of bitumen cleaners, the car must be washed and polished with a protective polish or wax. Then the paintwork of your car will remain in the same condition. By the way, polish and wax your car more often. It repels moisture and various chemical impurities from the road, and most importantly, it delays the penetration of bitumen into the paint. You will learn how to do this correctly on our website, just follow this link.

Source

Available means

Universal products are suitable for removing fresh and small bitumen contaminants. Almost every car enthusiast has them in his garage and is always available for use.

Gasoline and diesel fuel

They remain the most popular and sought-after means in the fight against bitumen stains. Unlike many universal products, they can also deal with old stains, but require a lot of effort. You have to make many passes to achieve the desired effect. The main disadvantage of using kerosene is the presence of an unpleasant odor, as well as a greasy residue that remains after washing off the resin. In addition, this universal product is truly active, so it often removes paintwork along with bitumen. Therefore, when trying to remove serious stains, it is better to give preference to more delicate professional products.

White Spirit

Similarly, it is better to use kerosene with caution and not for those bitumen stains that have already “eaten into” the paintwork. It removes fresh resin just fine. The advantage of the product is that it can be used at home. If the stains are small and not very old, they are removed as follows:

The car is washed thoroughly. It is better to use a special shampoo for the car. Thanks to this, it is possible to avoid scratches and completely wash away dirt and dust.
Wait for the paintwork to dry and only then begin to treat the tar stains. A cotton or foam swab is dipped into the solvent, wait about 5 minutes and begin to carefully wipe off the bitumen contamination.

You can't put in the effort. When “White spirit” does not give the desired result, it means that the resin will have to be washed with special (professional) means or contact a workshop.

What to do with existing contaminants

Removing bitumen from the car body should be done as soon as possible. Ideally, immediately after overcoming a “bad” section of the road. To do this, you should always have a special tool and rags in your car in order to react quickly and put the car in order.

The longer bitumen is in contact with the paintwork, the deeper it penetrates into the paint layer and the more difficult it is to remove, leaving behind reddish stains. Also, like all resins, it sets and hardens over time, making it difficult for solvents to penetrate.

Under the influence of specialized products, fresh blots and stains dissolve and drain from the body almost instantly. But old ones have to be removed step by step in layers, often damaging the car’s paint in the process.

Traditional methods for removing bitumen from a body

If for some reason you cannot or do not want to use industrial products to remove stains, then there are several “folk” remedies. Among them:

Margarine. It is better to apply it to a non-heated body surface so that it spreads over it. The cleaning process itself is similar to that described above. You just need to use a rag to remove bitumen stains from your car.
Wet wipes. In this case, we are talking only about antiseptic wet wipes (their children's, refreshing, deodorizing counterparts, as well as makeup remover wipes, are not suitable for cleaning). The liquid used to moisten antiseptic wipes contains a small amount of alcohol and surfactants. They act similarly to industrial products that can be used to remove bitumen stains on a car.
Vegetable oil. It can be used similarly to margarine. However, it can only remove very fresh and small stains.
Clay. Its composition, mixed with water, can wipe off even dried bitumen from the car body. Before cleaning, you need to take the clay and knead it thoroughly. And while working, water it with water.

However, in this case, you need to understand that the listed products can only cope with fresh bitumen and in small quantities. They are not suitable for dried compounds and large areas of contamination. By the way, many of the listed means can also be used to remove poplar from a car body.

What are bitumen stains on a car and why are they dangerous?

Bitumen stains are traces of bitumen that gets onto the body from the wheels from the road surface and sticks to it. If stains are not removed in time, serious problems can arise. Namely, the varnish that covers the paint may be damaged. This is real and absolutely accurate. Bitumen enters into a chemical reaction with the varnish and over time the varnish becomes dull and yellow.

The fact is that the basis of a car's paintwork is solvents. The resin, which is part of the bitumen, is also diluted with solvents. When bitumen gets on the paintwork, it easily eats into the varnish and then into the paint itself. The solvent embedded in the paint evaporates, and the resin remains deep in the paint. In this case, bitumen stains on the car cannot be washed off with anything. To prevent such a disaster from happening, stains must be washed off as quickly as possible. The clock is counting. Especially in hot weather, when the car body heats up to 50-70 degrees. Liquid bitumen or tar also contains a lot of oil fractions and penetrates the paintwork many times faster.

We will tell you how to properly wash bitumen from your car without damaging the paintwork.

Some tips for the road

Any driver can remove bitumen stains from a car body. Currently, there are a number of professional and homemade tools for this. However, as we know, prevention is the best repair. A road with molten bitumen is visible to the naked eye in summer. Therefore, when moving along it, adhere to the following simple rules:

do not exceed speed above 50 km/h;
perform a minimum number of maneuvers, since when the wheels turn, pieces of bitumen fly apart at a high degree;
try to drive beyond the border of the compacted track, since the asphalt melts faster on it, which means that the likelihood of bitumen flying out is higher;
keep a large distance from trucks in front, especially if they do not have mudguards.

But even if bitumen gets on the car body, now you know how to clean bitumen stains from your car. Just try to carry out the cleaning procedure as soon as possible after contamination appears. This will make the washing process much easier, and will also increase the likelihood that the body paint will not receive significant damage in the form of yellow spots.

The greatest threat to car coatings is bitumen resin. It not only spoils the appearance of the car, but can also damage the paintwork. And in order not to have to resort to expensive paintwork renewal, it is necessary to get rid of bitumen stains in a timely and correct manner. The main thing is to choose the right product and follow the instructions for removing contaminants.

In conclusion

How to remove bitumen from a car if White Spirit didn’t help? In this case, experts recommend using kerosene or gasoline. Such liquids will remove bitumen stains better than special formulations. However, they are recommended to be used with extreme caution.

Bitumen stains on a car (both the bitumen itself and the yellow traces left behind) can be cleaned with various chemicals. However, when choosing them, you need to take care of several facts. Firstly, the product should not be harmful to the paintwork of the body. Secondly, it must be harmless to humans. Thirdly, its composition must be effective and remove bitumen stains from the car as quickly and efficiently as possible. In addition, the car owner must know the technology for using a certain product. We will talk to you about all this and much more further.