While washing my White CS today, I noticed a large glob of tar (about the surface area of a half dollar coin) stuck to the trim just behind the front left tire (right where the front of the driver's side door ends). I scraped the tar off with a water-soaked towel and then removed the rest of the smudge with tar and bug remover. There's now a bright blue (almost turquoise) stain where the tar had been. I scraped at it with my fingernail and it won't come off. I can't feel anything either (i.e. the blue area feels exactly like the unstained white area around it). It almost looks like the stain is under the paint, or like there was some sort of chemical reaction to the paint that turned it blue. Does anyone know what this is?

Use any oil based product to remove tar, ie. WD40 or even cooking oil.

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Peter
www.foto-box.smugmug.com

The tar and bug remover spray I used took the tar right off. It's the apparently permanent blue stain that was left behind that is my concern.

Did you try some polish on the area?

Second the WD-40 suggestion. Try it on a small spot.

Here's a picture of the mysterious blue stain. I rubbed very hard with some polish (not too abrasive -- intended for mild scratches). Now the blue stain is very shiny!

Attached Thumbnails

 

I also tried WD-40 -- no luck. I think maybe that tar somehow dyed the paint.

I normally wouldnt suggest clay for something like this, but I'm going to anyway, even if it is a longshot. Try a medium grade bar as opposed to a mild bar though. That might have enough bite to knock down some of this stain.
What polish did you try using? It may not have been aggressive enough. Either some type of chemical cleaner like professional polish or something stronger like ssr2. (2.5 and 3 are usually best if applied by machine. If you dont have a machine and really want to try and go after it, try some 4" pads on a cordless drill. Just be really careful and monitor your work. It looks like its on the inside of the wheel well too... so maybe try that area first if you go w/ the drill.
I'll post up some links in a few. Otherwise, I must say, thats one of the strangest things I've seen .

Heres some links for you.

Clay
200 gram Medium Grade Purple Clay

compound/polish page:
Polishes, Swirl Removers, Paint Cleaners & Compounds

Pad/Backing Plates
Buffers, Pads & Accessories

(hope mods dont mind the links... my vendor status is pending)

Thanks for the suggestions Chris. I'll try the clay and a more abrasive polish tomorrow. I'm also going to show the blemish to the detailing shop that installed my clear bra and see if they have any suggestions.

That blotch sort of reminds me of an image in a Rorschach test. I see a person wearing a trenchcoat with his hands in his pockets leaning back really far, as if he's doing the limbo.

*snarf*

i wonder if the detailing shop will suggest something to bleach out the stain... makes sense to me.

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2000 grit sand paper, then polish. If the sandpaper won't phase it quickly, then it will need to be painted.

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LL

Is the clear plastic protection stained or the paint?

Langka will take that right off, if you know someone who went to Croctoberfest everyone got some for free in their goodie bags, if not Langka is based in Washington state, give them a call and they can get you some asap. Tell them you saw it here. (Or click their banner ad here and order some)

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