Help! I have caulky gunk on my hood

get some adhesive remover. 3M makes a good one that should be available at an auto parts store. its in a red rectangular can.

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DrSmith said:

I just tried to get this stuff off with a normal wash and then clay bar. The clay bar "bunches" up with it and seems to turn it into a more pliable caulk. My wife is blaming it on a plumber who left some junk in our garage, after fixing two toilets and a sink. I don't want to chip this off with my finger nail, as it is in a prominent spot on the hood. I have yet to try bug and tar remover...does anyone have anything they could reccomend? The stuff is very like a caulk and is clear to opaque.
Thanks,
Doc

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A few pics would help. From your description, it could be anything.

Randomly applying anything and everything that might be suggested here could cause even more damage. I wouldn't take any suggestions for removal products from people that have no idea what the substance might be.

If it was my car, I'd find the nearest professional detailing shop and take it there. Those guys have usually seen a wide variety of gunk on paint and could assess it with some experience behind them.

If it is clear to white, and left by the plumber, it is probably a silicone plumbing caulk. If so, once cured, it is not bothered by most chemicals or solvents that you would have access to. And the ones that will disolve silicone caulks will likely take the finish down to bare metal.

On the plus side; while it has a very high adhesive ratio, if you have a good layer of wax on the hood, you should be able to start an edge and peel it off. It will bring up the layer of coating that it is attached to (the wax?), and you will only have to clean and wax the hood. If your wax layer is thin or non-existant, the clearcoat will probably come up with it.

Mine? I would use a fingernail to start at the thinnest edge and S L O W L Y peel it up, at any sign of clearcoat or paint lifting, STOP! and take it to a detailer or body shop. They will have experience with removing similar adhesives and sealants taht are used to seal windows and body seams from painted surfaces.

Is it possible it is pine sap? it's that time of year.

klaw said:

A few pics would help. From your description, it could be anything.

Randomly applying anything and everything that might be suggested here could cause even more damage. I wouldn't take any suggestions for removal products from people that have no idea what the substance might be.

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I couldn't agree more ...

I've found WD-40 to help in a lot of instances and it's relatively safe on cured clear coat paint...I know that I've used it in the past (soaked a clean rag with WD-40 and allowed it to sit over some very old dried up tree sap and about 15 minutes later I was able to remove the quarter sized glunk with ease). Again, your call.

If you take it somewhere else (i.e. bodyshop, etc.) be sure to stick around and watch them do the work.