I noticed a black drip of some sort of substance (like tar) on the fender. I was able to get it off with 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner, but I then noticed a kind of transluscent stain where the black goo was - - it appears to be only in the clear coat - - you can only see it from certain angles. I tried more 3M Adhesive Cleaner, then several polishing compounds (P21S and 3M Imperial Hand Glaze) but can't get it out. I've never used 1000 grit wertordry sandpaper, but would that be worth a try followed up by a rubbing compound? Any advice on methods/products to use would be appreciated.

 

I can imagine a few possible scenarios:

1. Solvents from the "tar" have absorbed into the clear coat. If you are lucky, the solvents may evaporate over the course of the next month or so and the stain will become less and less noticeable. In this case, I would doubt that it will completely disappear without removing and reapplying the clear coat.

2. The change in color is from scratches, from when the "tar" was applied to the car or when you took it off. This may account for why you can see the stain at one angle and not at others. I wouldn't try anything more abrasive than rubbing compound... I use 3M products at the compound level as they are known to be made of very high quality ingredients and have very uniform particle size. I would start with a medium-cut rubbing compound and work my way up from there. If you have a dark colored car, a compound with some tinted filler (like 3M swirl mark remover) may also help. My first try would be to use some Meguiar's Scratch-X... I turn to it for any scratches I find and then go to more agressive means only if the Scratch-X won't take care of it.

 

Thanks for the info. I got the stain or whatever it was out with 3M Perfect-It Rubbing compound (fine cut).

 

Good deal. The FC is still pretty coarse. Best to follow up with something finer to bring the shine back up to optimum level. (not too noticible if you have a light color paint). Then remember to rewax!