How do I remove this stuff?

...the junkyard equivalent of the Lumber Crayon?

I need to get it off without ruining the paint underneath. I've used mineral spirits to remove it from chassis parts, but never from body parts.

Any suggestions?

Mineral spirits shouldn't hurt the paint. If you want to get fancy, a can of 3M trim adhesive remover will work as well.

Or try "Bug & Tar" remover ?

When I read the title I thought this was going to be another Herculiner thread.

WD-40 about the only thing it good for....

This is the type of thread where someone usually suggests toothpaste.

I'm not suggesting toothpaste, I'll second the "bug and tar"

Miata headlight cover?

thatsnowinnebago wrote: Miata headlight cover?

Yup.

I still have some of that stuff on my Subaru's windshield from the autocrosses I went to. They put a mark at the top-left corner of the windshiled to indicate my car passed tech inspection. Maybe I'll remove it, someday...

Good - no hooti involved.

Non acetone nail polish remover. Seriously. I was given that tip by a guy at a high quality junkyard, and it worked great on a door I had for my Integra.

I tried WD40 first. I've used it as bug and tar remover and I knew it wouldn't hurt the paint. No luck.

Then I cautiously tried a little bit of mineral spirits. Then a lot of mineral spirits. Still nothing.

Next came compound. Nope.

Finally, with a steady hand, a brand new razor blade and a lot of water, I was able to very carefully scrape it off without damaging the paint. I finished it up with some wet compound.

It came out pretty good, but the next time I'm at the junkyard, I'm going to suggest that they switch brands.

3M makes a product called prep-sol. It's pretty good at getting off stuff like that. Laquer thinner will also work, if you use it carefully.

car39 wrote: 3M makes a product called prep-sol. It's pretty good at getting off stuff like that. Laquer thinner will also work, if you use it carefully.

Tried Prep-Sol.

I was S.O.L.

I had a can of marking paint go off in the back of my expedition covering the back of the drivers seat with bright orange paint. It got it out with out damage the material.

Worth a try and just good stuff to have in your arsenal of spray cans

Obviously try a small corner first as it may also take the paint off but I would bet a rag with it sprayed in it and a quick wipe would get it.

Shotgun.

Small shaped charge of high explosive?

porksboy wrote: Small shaped charge of high explosive?

Salanis wrote: Shotgun.

Six in one, half a dozen in the other......

Gasoline is my favorite solvent b/c my bike has an easy source. I've had to scrape the hell out of stuff to get it off my paint before too though. The clay bar takes paint overspray off pretty well without damaging the paint under.

plastic scraper

MrJoshua wrote: plastic scraper

Nope. Tried that too.