Tar and stain removal

[Kevin from K]

Started washing our new Cruiser this weekend after our first trip with the new unit. Used Spic and Span on the roof and Zip wash on the front cap. That is as far as I've gotten.

Both the roof and the front cap have some stains that look like brid dropping where the birds were eating something like mulberries. The stains did not come off with the Spic and Span and would not come off the front cap.



Does anyone have any suggestions on how to remove these?



Also, what does everyone use for wax since I read you are not supposed to wax decals.



Suggestions appreciated.

[mwebber78]

Try a dab of mineral spirits on a rag. Use very lightly. It is allowed but do NOT soak the area you intended to touch up.

[Hunter11]

WD40 will remove the tar.

[cwit]

Wd40 will remove tghe bugs to.

[spinella]

wd-40 works great. i use it all the time to get tar or asphalt oils off my hands. wd-40 can be used for a million things. when in doubt use it in an area thats not so visible. then of coarse wash w/soap afterwards.

[cavy16262]

Spinella:::::



I have the same Zinger as you and mistakenly used some 'Bleach White' to remove some dark staining on the aluminum...bad bad boy!!! Took the 'shiney' seal coat off the areas I wiped. No wax will fix it either.



Does WD-40 ruin any finish on the rig???



I need to clean mine again when it quits raining here in W. Pa.

Next is winterizing (I hate that word) and storing.

[Hunter11]

"Does WD-40 ruin any finish on the rig???"



No it won't. Just wax the area you clean with it and you should be fine.

[spinella]

i don't think so either...but i would always try it somewhere out of sight first. weve been lucky me my wife and our three kids and no stains in our trailer...yet.

[cowboy_71]

Was reading and noticed that no one answered the what wax question...I would like to wax our rig b4 winter but didn't know about no wax on decals...wd40 also removes the black buildup on the caulking and gaskets...suggestions?

[Kevin from K]

The mineral spirits or wd40 worked on tar or bugs. The problem is there are several, for lack of a better word, stains that they don't work on. These might be bird droppings when the bird have been eating some kind of berry. Wd40 and mineral spirits don't have any effect.



On waxing, used fulltimers from Wally world. Seemed to work ok, but was not real sure. Then I used Areospace 303 that had been recommended by other forums. Some had recommended using on the entire 5er not just the decals. Ended up with a streaky blochy finish. The 303 folks indicate this will probably wash off although it may take more than one wash. I guess the moral of the story is don't use 303 over wax or anything other than the decals, roof, or seals.



PS tried some Meguires 404 on the stains. Removed the stains but left the finish looking like it had tiny scratches.