Hi,
I wonder if anybody can give me a recommendation for a good-quality bug and tar remover that won't damage my car's wax or paint finish? Maybe some of you Fit owners from the sunny/buggy South have a favorite brand...

 

Not that it helps, but I use some old stuff my step-dad has that's called, well, Bug & Tar Remover.

It's all going to be abrasive in some form, so avoiding damage to the paint is all about application.

What I do is glob some on a clean MF towel and lightly rub side-to-side or back-and-forth across the blemish with only a little pressure. Try not to move in circles (unless you like more swirls). just work and repeat until the bug juices and want-not are off. Then wipe away any remaining gunk/bug-n-tar remover with a clean side of the towel, similar to what you would do when waxing. It may take a little effort, but it works.

 

To get bug guts off my car I just use regular car wash soap and for my windows to get the bug guts off I just use glass cleaner.

 

i'm with capo here. i used, only one time mind you, the turtle wax B&T remover on our 2002 jetta. within two days the paint started to chip away. good thing we traded it in for the fit! now i only use meguiars gold wash liquid. just a microfiber waffle wash cloth and some suds will do it right. also try "water blasting" the bugs prior to washing, it removes a whole lot of them. hmm.... anything i'm forgetting? oh ya, you may have to wash the entire car, and then wash again, because some of the guts can hide from you. wow, that was a mouth full...

 

i just use water and let it soak, then use a very diluted car wash soap and soak it too. i haven't come across anything that that hasn't gotten off, other than sap.

 

this works really good Crisco® - Products - Shortening - All-Vegetable Shortening

 

Stoner's Tarminator > *

 

Hey, thanks for the ideas. I guess I'll try the dilute car wash liquid (I have some Meguiars on hand) and the microfiber cloth, along with soaking the stuff for a while. Sounds like that's the easiest on the finish.

 

for removing bugs i use Wizard's BugRelease. it's a spray you put on
after the initial rinse before you apply car shampoo.

for tar, i use RC car motor spray, but it also removes wax. but tar is an
oil so it will remove wax anyways.

 

a good claying session shud take it off if u got the time...

 

yah, after you use BugRelease it will go even faster.

 

Poorboy's makes a good bug remover as well as Duragloss. Both work as Ken said, rinse car, spray bug remover and let sit for a minute or two and wash off.