My car got sapped

[kap]

I parked my 86 Honda Accord hatchback on the street under a large palm tree for four days. When I finally saw that my car finished had been smeared with sap from the palm tree, I decided to give it a wash. Well, for the life of me I could not remove the brown blemishes. Now the hood has its own designed patterns. HELP!

[sydric]

Try hot water and a good car wash soap. Or put towels over the tree sap spots and pour the hot water over the towels. Let it soak under the hot towels for a bit.

[endymion]

Rubbing alcohol removes sap quite readily from the hands and clothes... However, I've been trying to remove some from painted metal railing outside my house and, well, really funky stuff happens. If you try it, use a LOT...
g=

[kap]

sydric,

I took the advices from the members here to start using car wash soap. Today's wash was the first try with the Gold Class car wash shampoo and conditioner. It did a better job of cleaning the car than dish soap for sure ... it removed bird excrement easily; not sap so I found out.

Hot water? Which means I will have to take the car to one of those self-service car wash places.

Endymion,
I will try rubbing alcohol in a small discrete spot. Will tomorrow morning be too late?

[kj]

You could try peanut butter. I used to get sap all over me when I was a kid (climbing trees) and we used it (it worked). I don't know about cars though? I don't think it would hurt anything though. kj.

[kap]

Wouldn't peanut butter attract rats?

[iaJim]

If nothing else works, a cleaner wax may help. Or, if you are careful, rubbing compound which just contains more grit than the cleaner wax. Depending on your finish, this could be a really bad idea, but if you can't get it off any other way...

Probably best to go to a professional if this is a valuable car.

[samintx]

GOOP? it is an orange product

[D-Rod]

WD-40?

[macphanatic]

Bug and Tar remover should take it off. Be careful of items that have solvents as they may cause more damage.