Black spots everywhere!

[GraudiA4]

So I was washing my A4 this weekend, and I noticed some particularly dark kick back from the wheels around the wheel wells (darker than usual). Upon a closer scrubbing, I also notice that it won't come off with just soap and water. My first instinct is bug and tar remover. After numerous attempts of scrubbing with a cloth, and using a plastic scraper like device, the black grime wouldn't budge. Alright, reinforcements. I switch to clay bar. This stuff is seriously stuck on there. Even picking at it with my fingernail for a few minutes didn't make a dent. While drying the car, I see that there are little black spots of this stuff literally ALL over the car; the roof, the license plate recess, and even the trunk. What the hell is it and do you all have any suggestions on getting it off?! It's driving me up a wall!



tl;dr: There's grimey black s**t on my car. How do I get it off? TIA!



- Gage

[schmally]

maybe tar from the road!!!!!!!!!!!!

[schmally]

Possibly a high speed buffer and cutting wax. Try Acetone also. but dont do it in the direct sunllight. HAHA I DIDNT SEE YOU FROM KY. ITS JUST TOBACCO SPIT LOL :) J/J

[G Men 08]

could be tire shine stuff? or as stated tar

[MichiganAudiDvr]

I get little black spots on my back bumper. I thought it was carbon and crap from the exhaust circulating back on the trunk lid and bumper area. I can only get it off using degreaser from the DIY car washes and then power wash and then cleaner wax. Even then, sometimes I have to repeat the process in order to get the more stubborn ones off.

If yours are like mine, they are very very small black dots that you don't even notice unless you are inspecting for them.

[a4daddywagon]

Are they little black raised bumps which kind of smear but still leave a black dot? Do you park by a flower/plant bed that has wood mulch on it? If so, I have the same problem. My in-laws have told me that the spots are associated (some how) with the mulch...I can't remember if they told me that it was somehow associated with fungus/mushrooms or with insects. I have always been able to get these spots off (quite easily) with Stoner's tar/bug remover. I think it has some catchy name like Tarminator. Good luck and I'd be interested in hearing back.

[GraudiA4]

Are they little black raised bumps which kind of smear but still leave a black dot? Do you park by a flower/plant bed that has wood mulch on it? If so, I have the same problem. My in-laws have told me that the spots are associated (some how) with the mulch...I can't remember if they told me that it was somehow associated with fungus/mushrooms or with insects. I have always been able to get these spots off (quite easily) with Stoner's tar/bug remover. I think it has some catchy name like Tarminator. Good luck and I'd be interested in hearing back.

They are raised bumps, but they don't smear. I do park next to a flower bed with black mulch, but this black stuff was in the kickback behind the wheel (I don't drive in the flowerbed :P ). From reading MichiganAudiDvr's post, I think he hit it spot on. Thanks for the suggestions, I'm gonna try both of these methods.

[yakky]

Possibly a high speed buffer and cutting wax. Try Acetone also. but dont do it in the direct sunllight. HAHA I DIDNT SEE YOU FROM KY. ITS JUST TOBACCO SPIT LOL :) J/J

Rubbing contaminants with a high speed buffer might get them off, but it will trash your buffer pads and possibly just smear the crap all over the paint. Try some Tarminator and let it sit for a little while. Turtle Wax liquid clay is also great at removing road tar.

[walky_talky20]

I had this same problem on my car. After a good wash people tell my car looked great, but up close it had these black dots all over it! Scrubbing hard didn't do anything, so I bought a clay bar and went to town. It took a while, but 3 days later (!) they were all gone. I immediately waxed with NXT Tech Wax 2.0 to prevent the problem. I still get the dots, but they come off easy with just soap and water now. I'm pretty sure it is somehow caused by the pine trees in and around my driveway, because our flower beds have stones, no mulch.

[EMAXX]

Claybar is your best friend. With all the construction and the rough winters I have living in Wyoming, I spent about 2 days detailing my car and it's as smooth as glass again.

[wayneB7]

OP -- Sounds like dried-on tar.

Wash the car to remove grit, then use Bug and Tar remover from Wal-Mart or wherever you find it -- it will get it off. Then wash the area to get the residue off. Easy.

[spitfire11]

I found the same spots, I'll have to look into getting the tar remover as mentioned

[wayneB7]

I found the same spots, I'll have to look into getting the tar remover as mentioned

Get it. I use it to clean pretty much anything on the paint that is not water-soluble. I try soap and water first, and whatever is left afterwards, I bring out the Bug & Tar. The trick is not to rub the area too much -- minimize that. So whatever you are trying to remove needs to come off with some sort of solvent and minimal mechanical action, and the paint won't be harmed. Good luck.