Will it Hurt...

[TheWolf]

to use diesel fuel to clean the tar and bugs off of the truck? OR for those that remove emblems(which I hope to find time and a sunny day to get done soon) does it work good on the sticky stuff?

Is it pretty much the same as wd-40 or goo-gone? What kind of damage can it do to the paint? Of course I plan on washing the vehicle off right after using it.

Does it eat the wax,paint?

Anyone with some experience? thanks

 

[nickleinonen]

ever spilt diesel down the side of your truck when filling up? i did a few times on the old tahoe, but it never did any harm to the paint.

 

[Dean Upson]

As Nick stated plus if you have some left over you dump it in the truck's fuel tank. It is not advisable to do that with WD-40 or Goo Gone .



Dean

 

[WadePatton]

ACETONE

I've actually used acetone to get stubborn tree sap and road tar off a '97 without hurting anything.



But I'd be absolutely positive and test it in the bed or somewhere before I tried that on the hood.



ALSO follow up with wax, 'cause it's going to eat that for sure.



Baking soda is great for cleaning chrome, glass, and chromed plastic. It won't scratch.

 

[Dean Upson]

I've use 3M adhesive remover and it works well. Like Wade says, wax afterwards.



Dean

 

[Prairie Dog]

Wax afterwords? No way, not me - I hate all that hair pulling. Not to mention people pointing and giggling when you wear shorts. Nope sorry, I'm not going to get talked into that one again).

 

[Evan A. Beck]

A couple days ago, I must have driven across a newly painted white line on the road, because I got white paint on the inside of my fenderwells and lower part of my passenger door. I used a little laquer thinner on a rag, and the road paint came right off. Put a coat of wax on it afterwards, and it looks like new.

 

[Dean Upson]

I have recently discovered the wonders of the clay bar for removing unwanted material from the finish of the truck.



Dean

 

[Dean Upson]

Prairie Dog,



Just got it, duh. :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf



The Clay Bar would be worse than the waxing.



Dean

 

[dan_gilson]

diesel will remove paint if not quickly wiped off.

I found this out thanks to a dodge service guy who did not catch the fuel while replacing my fuel filter. He just let it run down the engine. Paint on pan is gone.



What body shops use for bugs and tar: K1 kersosene. Wash truck and get it as clean as possible. While wet use K1 on a soft rag and elbow grease. K1 is low enough on the petro stack to not affect paint or clear coat.



Remember to properly handle the rag afterward and not smoke while you are using it. Let common sense prevail!



The other problem (that I have) with diesel is that the smell does not quickly go away. If you get it on you clothes it will never wash out.

 

[Jeff Clark]

I've let diesel run down the side of my trucks and not wiped it up, and I've never had a paint problem. Except on my Driftwood colored 98 dually. The diesel stained the plastic fender. Didn't damage the paint.

 

[TheWolf]

I have had fuel run down the side of my last truck and never seen any problem with the paint either, but I have heard that diesel can be harmful to paint. the last truck was intense blue and didn't seem to have a problem,but want to see if any one else does this.



I am sure all you guys have had some extra fuel spash out as you fuel up. So, has anyone had a problem and what colors? Or does everyone clean and wash their truck right away?

 

[Dean Upson]

Wolf,



I have one of those rubber protectors that Geno's sells that attach to the neck of the fuel tank, it does a pretty good job of keeping the fuel off the truck. It looks like a long black tongue. If I do get some on I wipe it off right away.



Dean

 

[Prairie Dog]

Originally posted by Dean Upson

Prairie Dog,



Just got it, duh. :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf



The Clay Bar would be worse than the waxing.



Dean

Holly mackerel Dean, where do they wan't us to put this clay bar?

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by dan_gilson

diesel will remove paint if not quickly wiped off.

I found this out thanks to a dodge service guy who did not catch the fuel while replacing my fuel filter. He just let it run down the engine. Paint on pan is gone.

I've never had fuel oil do damage to good paint. The paint on the engine probably was cheap stuff with no hardeners. And it was probably sprayed over oil-soaked steel.



Now I would not suggest soaking your truck's paint in fuel oil, but wiping with it should not hurt anything. It is heavier than kerosene so should be less apt to penetrate paint.

 

[Mtngoat]

Baking soda and water is good for removing stuff, especially bug guts. But it will dull the wax if you use it a lot. .



Robin