How to Kill Tree Sap Before It Kills Your Paint

Right, so here is the go. Tree sap is basically acidic glue. In the Aussie autumn, the sun is still brutal, and that heat acts like an oven, baking the sap into your clear coat. I once had a customer bring in a white Hilux that had been sitting under a pine tree for a month in Queensland. By the time I got to it, the sap had actually cracked the paint. Don't be that bloke. If you see it, get it off fast. But don't just go scrubbing at it with a kitchen sponge or you'll be calling me for a full paint correction.

Anyway, that's pretty much it. Get onto it early, use plenty of lube, and don't scout the paint. If you're really worried or the sap has already etched (you'll see a dull ring even after the sap is gone), you might need a light machine polish. But for 90% of jobs, a bit of the old hand sanitiser and some patience will do the trick. Give it a crack this weekend before the sun ruins your finish. Cheers!