What is the best way to remove stubborn tree sap from my hood & roof of my Expy as well as the windshield? [Yes, I have already considered cutting down the trees and parking elsewhere...:-)]

Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
Thanx.



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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L 4WD, C&C group, towing package, beige leather interior, captain's chairs, 6 CD Changer, 255/70R16, all-weather floor mats

MODS
Ford Bug Deflector (2/15/00), Superchip (3/11/00), Airaid (3/23/00), Edelbrock IAS shocks (3/23/00), Jardine cat-back exhaust (4/6/00), Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer (6/6/00), MPC Rear Air Foil (7/2/00)

 

Detailing clay should take off the little drops of sap, and some light polishing compound should remove the stain the sap leaves behind.

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1999 Lariat Super Cab, S.B. 5.4L, 3.55 LS
and everything but the leaky slider window.
Bright red w/ gold 2-tone, Leather Captain's Chairs
Mods: Duraliner bedliner, Bugflector II, Hide-a-hooks.
& a leeetle chrome tip on the exhaust.

 

I just loved that DuPont "Better Living Through Chemicals" slogan.

I've used WD-40 successfully in the past for road tar, paint (blessed little angels at holloween), and other sticky stuff --

-- but I have not used it on clearcoat paints yet (no opportunity, knock knock knock).

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Y2K™

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

My brother found that rubbing alcohol works really well to get the sap from his cotton populars off his truck.

 

Fingernail polish works like a dream on tree sap. My buddy from a body shop said that they mix the fingernail polish 50/50 with water. I tried it and it works great...just make sure you mix it 50/50 with water...and don't tell your wife you have her polish!!

A good coat of wax afterwards will make you happy!

 

2001-
I hope you mean fingernail polish REMOVER mixed with water...:-) Not looking to two-tone my Expy!

Thanx for all the tips folks.

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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L 4WD, C&C group, towing package, beige leather interior, captain's chairs, 6 CD Changer, 255/70R16, all-weather floor mats

MODS
Ford Bug Deflector (2/15/00), Superchip (3/11/00), Airaid (3/23/00), Edelbrock IAS shocks (3/23/00), Jardine cat-back exhaust (4/6/00), Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer (6/6/00), MPC Rear Air Foil (7/2/00)

 

Sorry guys...ment to say Nail polish REMOVER mixed to a 50/50 mix with water!

But polish does do well as quick touch ups!

Later!

 

You can get some super stuff right from the Service Parts counter at Ford. The dealer where I bought my First F-150 actually gave me a bottle of 'Ford Extra Strength Tar and Road Oil Remover', 'Ford Multi-Purpose Cleaner' plus touch-up paint, and something called 'Ford Triple Clean' -- plus interior upholstery cleaner !!

The 'stuff' reminded me of the 'similar-stuff' that I got from the rust-proofer for touch-up cleaning. Both seemed to smell like diesel fuel or kerosene or WD-40 -- and cleaned quickly and easily -- and only required a touch of wax to finish up (Gee, perhaps I should have held out for some genuine Ford Socks too).

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Y2K™

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

2001-
Fingernail polish remover worked like a champ! At first, I tried WD40 and had no luck with it. Used a cottonball and the remover and it takes it right off the windshield and hood. Thanx for a great suggestion.

The biggest problem was explaining to my wife this morning what I was doing with her remover and cottonballs...! :-)


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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L 4WD, C&C group, towing package, beige leather interior, captain's chairs, 6 CD Changer, 255/70R16, all-weather floor mats

MODS
Ford Bug Deflector (2/15/00), Superchip (3/11/00), Airaid (3/23/00), Edelbrock IAS shocks (3/23/00), Jardine cat-back exhaust (4/6/00), Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer (6/6/00), MPC Rear Air Foil (7/2/00)

 

jmartinb...Glad to hear that it worked for you...TOLD YA!

Actually the 50/50 finger nail polish remover and water works great on a lot of clean up requirements. I have tried a lot of cleaning products over the years and have never found anything that works like nail polish remover....remember to mix it 50/50 though!

Good luck to all the "SAPS" and glad to be of service!

 

Here is another truck cleaning tip that just might save your life someday. Carry this in your wallet.

If you attempt to clean spilled hot coffee off of your seat with a plain napkin or handkerchief you will ruin the seat due to the extreme differences in temperature and texture of the hot nylon/rayon fabric in the seat and the cold cloth or napkin.

The best thing for such an emergency is to keep a pair of svelte ladies panties handy -- since they contain just the right amount of rayon/nylon/cotton so that when you wipe the hot coffee on the seat with the panties it leaves both the seat and the panties absolutely stain free.

<cut here>--------------------------------

Now, if I could only explain that brassiere.

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Y2K™

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"


[This message has been edited by Y2K 7700 4x4 (edited 07-16-2000).]

 

I have tried bleach on tree sap before and it worked fine. But it was an old car and I don't know if it would hurt the clear coat on a new vehicle. Probably not.

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2000 Supercab XLT 2WD 5.4L 3.55LS White w. grey interior, spray-in AND plastic bedliner, hitch
Jeff Emig Special Edition
Picture of my truck