TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Sep 16, 2019 8:20 am

I have tree large sycamore trees near my driveway, and throughout the time from spring to fall at least, they are always leaving little brown spots all over my cars. I'm not totally sure if they are some kind of sap residue, or some kind of aphid shit. General google searches indicate that it's potentially aphids but I really don't have a great way to tell.

Either way, I've never had much luck cleaning them off. Tried different types of car wash soap, dawn, hot water, etc. I think I tried a buffer once and had moderate luck. I once paid a detailer way too much and he got most but not all of them off my '73 Bus.

They do eventually seem to fade or go away or wear away over time--for example, I started parking my Golf on the street (which is under a silver maple, not the sycamores) and the spots are largely gone. The Golf ends up in the driveway from time to time.

Any ideas?

I took a pic of ignition switches sitting on my Thing last week, and you can see the brown spots. Presumably the darker ones are fresher and the lighter ones are older and fading/wearing away. It is pretty dirty otherwise.... The Thing is always dirty.

Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:16 am

Try clay, like this or similar

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Mirror-Glaze-Detailing-Clay/dp/B0002NYE5W

Sat Sep 28, 2019 6:25 am

chrisflstf wrote: Try clay, like this or similar

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Mirror-Glaze-Detailing-Clay/dp/B0002NYE5W

Another thing to try is some of the sap removal products have denatured alcohol in them.

Sat Sep 28, 2019 2:51 pm

[email protected] wrote: chrisflstf wrote: Try clay, like this or similar

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Mirror-Glaze-Detailing-Clay/dp/B0002NYE5W

Another thing to try is some of the sap removal products have denatured alcohol in them.

Seems like I might have tried alcohol in the past, and was concerned about it removing paint.

Maybe I can move to a place without the stupid trees, and be done with it!