While my mom was away visiting my brother in South America this week, I had her Acura TL detailed at a local place today. I got there and it looked fantastic, but I immediately noticed black spots all over the horizontal surfaces. They did the whole job and didn't touch the sap. I didn't notice it before, but it stood out after.

the sap had been there long enough to etch into the clearcoat. she washes it every week, but never noticed it. what can I do to clean it up? claybar or good old fingernail and elbow grease??

 

Bestine works good. I've used it on a non-Mini and it took it right off. Any tar and bug remover should be able to get it off. It will leave the etched part still there but the sap should wipe right off.

 

I have a can of Stoner's. Any reason besides laziness for the shop not taking care of it? Obviously, I'll need to rewax the car if I remove the stuff with Stoner's.

 

Sounds like laziness to me. You'll need to rewax no matter what product you use. I haven't found any spray detailers that can take pine sap off. Those would leave the wax intact.

 

No matter what you use to remove the tar, you will have to re-wax as they waxed over the tar.

Sometimes WD-40 works on these type of stains, as does Simple Green.

Mark