Du Pont No 7 Tar & Bug Remover?

[lschwarcz]

Hi everyone,

Hopefully I got the right forum for this question. I figure that a solvent to remove bugs & tar is a tool .

Long ago I used to use Du Pont No7 Bug & Tar remover. The stuff was great! But, I can't find it any longer. I've heard it was discontinued.

Has anyone seen this stuff recently? Is it still available but maybe under a different name?

If not, any suggestions on something that will work as well?

Thanks!
Larry.

 

[bcschief]

I would think Kerosene or diesel fuel would work ok without attacking paint.

 

[Wrench97]

Most have moved away from the petroleum distillates to a citrus based non-flammable non-voc compounds.
The Motorcraft Bug and tar remover still shows as a distillate product > https://www.motorcraft.com/us/en_us...or-vehicle-cleaners/bug-and-tar-removers.html

As does the Cyclo > https://www.walmart.com/ip/NO7-CYCLO-C64-Unique-Creamy-Formula/790742785

 

[tncatadjuster]

Turtle Wax in a green spray bottle works for me.

 

[toolenthusiast]

I would think Kerosene or diesel fuel would work ok without attacking paint.

I would think that you would try stupid **** on your own car before recommending it on the internet.

 

[scooby074]

Axalta 225 Bug and tar remover or Cromax 3919. Axalta is Dupont today.

 

[Shiftless]

I use Turpentine to remove tar and tree sap from the paint on my Volvos. Newest one is 2013 so I can’t vouch for paint from the last 10 years.
The usual advice applies… test first on an inconspicuous spot to see if a particular solvent will attack the paint on your vehicle.

 

[seber]

Well we know gasoline will not attack the paint because we are expected to spill it. Definitely a tar and bug solvent. Same for diesel, ie kerosene.

 

[scooby074]

I would think that you would try stupid **** on your own car before recommending it on the internet.

Most prepsols are highly refined Naptha or Kero based. Ive used Ronsonal (lighter fluid) to remove tar.

 

[bob15]

Look for the auto geek forum....

Also here are many different brands: https://www.autogeek.net/tarbug.html

 

[P0234]

Large beach towel. About an hour before washing your car, drape the towel over the front of the car, spray it with water and let it sit. When it's time to wash, the bugs will all be soft and wipe off easily without using harsh chemicals that remove "wax".

 

[Zeus36]

Pricey.....

 

[onarant]

I have used WD-40 to remove fresh tar and it worked very well. Went through an overlay project on the way home from work. Soon as I got home I sprayed with WD-40 and it came right off.
Don't know how it would do with bugs, I usually soap the the bugs up and let the soap soften them up for about ten minutes. They come off with just a little effort.

 

[jayemm]

I thought the old Dupont #7 Bug & Tar remover was in fact kerosene.

 

[Wiz02]

I like Stoner Tarminator and maybe a chemist can weigh in on what is the likely chemical composition based on its MSD. I always assumed it was mostly kerosene.

 

[toolenthusiast]

Most prepsols are highly refined Naptha or Kero based. Ive used Ronsonal (lighter fluid) to remove tar.

You sure can do that. You can also remove bugs and tar 1) mechanically 2) with off-the-shelf, purpose-built products 3) with less flammable, less breathable, less carcinogenic petroleum products.

 

[Steve_P]

I use paint thinner or mineral spirits when necessary - I keep it in a spray bottle. It does NOT harm modern paint - meaning in the last ~40 years. If you have a classic car with lacquer paint, then test accordingly.

 

[AC-WC]

This is the best stuff I have used, beats old #7 by far. Before the county chip and sealed our road they used to oil it once a year and it was always a mess. Works on old rubber from drag slicks too

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

 

[LHSA]

What about isopropyl alcohol 93%?

 

[dvblanch]

WD40 sprayed on a soft rag works well same as kerosene or diesel but smells much better will not hurt anything and can also wipe off after w some car wash soap and water

 

[toolenthusiast]

I use paint thinner or mineral spirits when necessary - I keep it in a spray bottle. It does NOT harm modern paint - meaning in the last ~40 years. If you have a classic car with lacquer paint, then test accordingly.

You must have different thinner than I do because my thinner will dull out the clearcoat within seconds. Then you have to buff it back to a shine, so you could have just buffed whatever was on the paint in the first place.