New 370 w/ tape markings

Apache_Driver

Hello all,

Picked up my Z three days ago, and have had my hands all over it since. One thing I'm noticing a lot of is what appears to be tape markings or tape glue residue on the front hood and roof. I can rub some of it off with windex and a paper towel, but to get it all is going to involve either some serious friction or some kind of product that will loosen the glue without damaging the clearcoat.

I think the stuff is from whatever adhesive they use to put those white plastic sheets on the vehicle during shipping from the factory. But to be honest, I can't be sure what the source is. Regardless, has anyone else had this and found a successful way of removing the stubborn stuff without hurting the clearcoat in any way? I'm always afraid to put any chemicals on the paint before I get a few coats of wax on her (only factory wax is on atm), which is why any advice would be welcomed. Can include pics if necessary.

Cheers

DirtyDave

I'd try clay bar first.

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kenchan

Windex and papertowel?! You just swirled your paint.

For adhesives use any of the below on a clean surface:

-3M adhesive remover with soft microfiber towel, wax afterwards.

-Claybar and quickdetailer, soft microfiber towel. (This is what I used).

-WD40 with soft microfiber towel, wash and wax afterwards.

-RC car motor spray or nitro-cleaner with soft microfiber towel, wash and wax afterwards.

-Gasoline with soft microfiber towel, wash and wax afterwards.

Don't use paper towels on the car's panels as it will scratch the surface and be visible.
You can use soft papertowels on your wheels as needed.

NewYorkJon34

I had the same thing on my car when I first bought it, don't feel bad it's just the stickers they put on the car when Nissan ships the cars to different dealerships. It should have been cleaned off when you bought it but not everything goes perfect. When you wash your car next just use alil force on the the left over sticky crap.

Zsteve

WD40 is good for alot of things and is safe. Good for cleaning windows with hard water stains etc.

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Apache_Driver

Awesome advice... I will use all the above advice and come back and let you know which one was the best for the job at hand.

Soft paper towels, such at those sold by Griots Garage, do not swirl your paint, and neither does windex. Windex is actually the preferred method for removing a lot of nasty sticky things, such as "Love Bugs", in the South that stubbornly adhere to paint surfaces. We use regular paper towels (not Griots) to apply Speed Shine to my father's rather delicate Ferrari's and haven't ever had a problem with paint swirling... so I'm not too sure I would be super paronoid about hurting your car with them, unless you are using those cardboard paper towels they sell for hospitals and airport bathrooms.

Clay bar will be the first to bat, as I plan on waxing today anyways.

Cheers

azn370z

I had glue residue from tape on my honda prelude and i thought soap and water would do the trick but after months of washing the car it didn't go away. I read about goo gone on the forums and it took it right off without any pressure or repeated scrubbing. You can buy it at a place like target, i recommend you try using it on the inside the door jams to see it has any affect on the paint.

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Apache_Driver

Thanks Azn370z... I actually have a bottle of Goo Gone lying around in the garage somewhere.

I've only every used it on my old Jeep Wrangler who's paint job I never cared about, and on the rims of my RX-8. After using it to remove "Love Bugs" (this swarm of pointless bugs that comes out in the deep south once a year and sticks like glue to your car) from my jeep, I would always have blue residue (the color of my jeep) on the rag I was using to take it off. Maybe if I had a few coats of wax on her that wouldn't be a problem, but it since made me paranoid about using it on paint surfaces. If you didn't have a problem and it worked, then I will absolutely try it if all else fails.

It's actually snowing outside right now in the DC area and I'm not going to take my baby out of the garage till it quits. Going to try clay bar on one spot, WD-40 on another, and 3M adhesive remover last because I found a bottle of that lying around.

Seems like such a minor problem, but I appreciate all the help because I want to keep the paint showroom perfect for as long as I can. Thanks again for the continuing advice.

Cheers

kenchan

depends how much pressure you use with those paper towels. im an avid Griot's user so ive tried their towels before and they are great for paint...but for wheels mostly. i use papertowels to remove bird crap but that's about it.

when working on a long adhesive marking you're probably talking about from those white packaging sheets car manufactures put on, use a soft microfiber towel.


you use products from Griot'sGarage yet you're using windex?
windex belongs on your stove tops. get at least their WindowCleaner for glass. use the right products for the right task.

Apache_Driver

Kenchan: the bit of *edit* amonia in windex works wonders on many car related things. We're going to have to just agree to disagree on that point, because windex will always be a part of my cleaning arsenal. I have a lot of experience with the Griot's windowcleaner, and sure it's great for when you want to show your car, but for daily maitenance, unless you want to spend 30 minutes on your windows, it's a pain buffing off all the milky residue left behind. If you have the time, of course it's a better product, but for quick cleaning of bug guts and crud off of windows and lights, I still will always go to windex.

I will use your advice and stick to microfiber towels. I don't make a practice of using windex on paint, believe me, I just had it in my hand when I saw the first adhesive mark and thought what the hell, lets see what this does. Will use your advice fully once this weather clears up. Thanks again for your time and the advice.

Cheers

PapoZalsa

Goo Gone is good to remove glue residues.

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370Zsteve

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Apache_Driver

Fixed... not sure if you found the spelling funny, or the idea of using windex on a car absurd. Hopefully the former, because at least that's fixable.

Cheers

kenchan

naw, WindowCleaner is just a dilluted mix of rubbing alcohol and distilled water actually. no residue left behind. you either are using paper towels or dirty mf towels, or not the right mf towels made for glass.

it's actually windex that leaves behind residue that will fog up later on when used on the inside glass.

the amonia D in windex will loosen the adhesives if you have window tint... it's one of the arensals i use when i REMOVE tint, actually. that's probably why it sort of worked on removing the adhesive residue you had on the paint.

i dont use windex on a regular basis as it just does not work as well as Griot's WindowCleaner or my favorite, Prima Clarity. you can use Clarity over plastic screens even...like my LCD's and blackberry.

there's so much great glass cleaners out there you should open up and try some other brands. even stoner's invisible glass is more effective than windex. someone saying that they're using windex on cars is equivalent to someone saying they use armorall on cars.

you asking how to remove such basic things (such as adhesive residue from paint) tells me you dont have much experience with detailing. which is fine, just do yourself a favor and try other things.

Apache_Driver

Absolutely. I will try other window cleaners as you have suggested. I have done my fair share of detailing, but clearly not to the level of you or other more experienced detailers on this forum. My father and I use windex and speedshine post Sunday drives on his vintage Ferraris, but that doesn't exactly make it right.

Clay bar and a little bit of dawn dish soap worked fine to get the tape markings off. Once the weather clears up I will follow up with a full waxing as suggested. Thanks for all the tips everyone. I am learning a bunch from all your experiences and am greatful. Kenchan, I'm definitely coming to you in the future for any further detailing questions. Going to have to set some money aside for more detailing products, for sure, but from the sound of things it's totally worth it. Thanks again for taking the time putting in your input.

Cheers