How to ruin your paintwork in less than 10 minutes....

[reverseworm]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick word of caution for everyone regarding parking under trees. Yesterday I parked under a tree on my nature strip for no more than 10 minutes. When I returned to the car I noticed some sap or something gooey on the windscreen and didnt really think anything of it as I was off to get the car washed. So the car gets washed 20 minutes later at the usual excellent hand car wash place I go to and when I get home I notice literally hundreds of brown spots all over the bonnet. They clearly didnt come off with the wash and were about the size of a 5 cent piece.

Starting to panic I grabbed some turtle wax and tried to get them off to no avail. I spent a good hour rubbing and buffing and it got me nowhere. So now I am panicking - the bonnet looks terrible! I took it back to the carwash place and after trying a few things without success, they did a complete cut and polish of the bonnet. The guy said he had to cut some parts 3 times before it would come out which is incredible. It has come up really well but for a moment there I was really worried.....

So whatever you do - avoid the trees if you can.

[Chuck]

was it under the tree for only 10 minutes???

Have you got aftermarked paint protection on the vehicle? this can provide crucial extra minutes for that situation

i would be looking at ringbarking that tree

[Lance B]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick word of caution for everyone regarding parking under trees. Yesterday I parked under a tree on my nature strip for no more than 10 minutes. When I returned to the car I noticed some sap or something gooey on the windscreen and didnt really think anything of it as I was off to get the car washed. So the car gets washed 20 minutes later at the usual excellent hand car wash place I go to and when I get home I notice literally hundreds of brown spots all over the bonnet. They clearly didnt come off with the wash and were about the size of a 5 cent piece.

Starting to panic I grabbed some turtle wax and tried to get them off to no avail. I spent a good hour rubbing and buffing and it got me nowhere. So now I am panicking - the bonnet looks terrible! I took it back to the carwash place and after trying a few things without success, they did a complete cut and polish of the bonnet. The guy said he had to cut some parts 3 times before it would come out which is incredible. It has come up really well but for a moment there I was really worried.....

So whatever you do - avoid the trees if you can.

Hmm. What sort of tree was it? What did the stains look like?

I have had brown stains on my car from gum trees but they are usually easily removed carefully with my thumb nail and soapy water as it was like a tea stain more than a sap stain.

Bumpknuck suggests paint protection, but my experience with paint protection from new-car-yards has not been all that good. I use an aftermarket guy from the Detail Addiction forum and for the price these car-yards for their paint protection, I can have mine done every 6 months for about 4 years! If you are in Sydney, I can give you his number, but if you're not, then look up the Detail Addiction forum and check out who is in your local city.

http://www.finalinspection.com.au/forums/

Gead - from this forum - used a guy in Melbourne for his Candy White R36 and it looks AWESOME.

Here is a link to the photos, but you may need to sign up and log on:

http://www.finalinspection.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=4919

[reverseworm]

it was one of those paperbark type trees that are very common on nature strips here in Melbourne. all told it was under the tree for 10 minutes and then on the car for another 20 until I got it washed. was a warm day too which didnt help Im sure.

I have parked under that same tree before without incident so I dont know if it was especially sappy (is that a word?) or if something else was at fault. perhaps those caterpillars that excrete smelly stuff - who knows.

No paint protection - had it on my last car and felt it was a waste of money, but might look into it now.....

[Transporter]

Good wax once a year will give to your paint the same level of protection.

[gripmoto]

One thing only removes tree sap - water..........
Usually water and a rub with your finger, really bad ones soak a tissue in water and let it sit on until it sofens, removed with no damage

Hi everyone,

Just a quick word of caution for everyone regarding parking under trees. Yesterday I parked under a tree on my nature strip for no more than 10 minutes. When I returned to the car I noticed some sap or something gooey on the windscreen and didnt really think anything of it as I was off to get the car washed. So the car gets washed 20 minutes later at the usual excellent hand car wash place I go to and when I get home I notice literally hundreds of brown spots all over the bonnet. They clearly didnt come off with the wash and were about the size of a 5 cent piece.

Starting to panic I grabbed some turtle wax and tried to get them off to no avail. I spent a good hour rubbing and buffing and it got me nowhere. So now I am panicking - the bonnet looks terrible! I took it back to the carwash place and after trying a few things without success, they did a complete cut and polish of the bonnet. The guy said he had to cut some parts 3 times before it would come out which is incredible. It has come up really well but for a moment there I was really worried.....

So whatever you do - avoid the trees if you can.

[VASR36]

That happened to me, about 4 months ago , on my Liberty that i sold for the R36!! I had to respray the whole front end $900 bucks later

lucky i learnt my lesson too!!