Hardened bird droppings on paint - please help!

G

GeoFX

New member
I recently purchased a '97 Infiniti J30 with only 55K on it as a second car. I did notice it had some dried bird droppings on the roof that I "thought" could be easily taken off. Unfortunately it's been waaayyy harder than I thought.



Anybody have any ideas how to get rid of this stuff? It's like concrete. I've tried wetting it down with a Dawn/water solution, Meguiar's quick detailer, Eagle One glass cleaner, WD40,vinegar/water solution to take it off. I've even tried wet sanding with 2500 grit paper but all it did was tear a hole in the paper (the crap is on the surface). I went to the body shop and they said the only way to get it off was to repaint the roof - this seems excessive so I'm hoping someone here has a better idea.



Tapping it with a rubber mallet got some of the stuff off but it's like concrete.



Anyway, here's a pic of the stuff...I think they are bird droppings but could be something else I suppose. It has the characteristic coarse sandy texture of dried bird droppings I've read about.



Thanks!



p3180011_small_172.jpg
 
BigJimZ28 said:
spray some bug & tar remover

on rag and sit on there for 20-30min

and see if that helps to soften it
Click to expand...



Would the bug and tar remover be anymore powerful than the stuff I already tried?



No claybar yet. I'm not sure if clay would be able to pick up this stuff...
 
It's well worth trying the bug and tar remover first if you have some laying around. Like was already said, soak a rag with it to increase the dwell time.



Clay can remove some stuff that might surprise you. No guarantees on your problem, but I used to have some splattered dots on my car, not sure what it was, that nothing including scrubbing with APC would get off. Clay took them off practically like using an eraser. Clay Magic is available at Autozone for about $11 if the bug and tar remover doesn't work.
 
GeoFX said:
Would the bug and tar remover be anymore powerful than the stuff I already tried?



No claybar yet. I'm not sure if clay would be able to pick up this stuff...
Click to expand...

I don't think it is really the "powerfulness" of the stuff that you are trying, but rather which product would be best for this purpose. Dawn is great for grease, but doesn't cut it for dried bird poop. The 2500 grit is powerfull, but it isn't effective on bird poop. It might be beading up inder the paper instead. Also, you run the risk of samaging the surounding clear while trying to get the poop off. Nothing else you listed seems to be strong enough



So basicall, use something mean for the task. Let the Bug and Tar remover sit for a long time to see if you can soften it. Try some clay.



Good luck getting the etching out after you have removed the poop.
 
Also you could try warm (almost hot) water and keep replenishing it to soften it and hopefully lift it off. That must have been some dump.
 
Get some VERY hot water spray it on along with some bug and tar remover.



Next, powerwash it off. Should do the trick.
 
maybe try fk 1119 or 883, which are part of their paint decontamination kit. I have had good luck removing almost anything with those including dried paint and tar. You would also realize the added bonus of having your paint decontaminated, it is a 1997 so it could probably use it. Others are correct that the easiest solution would be treating with real hot water and then soaking it with the bug and tar remover. My brother has a 1997 j30t and his paint is still gleeming, the paint infiniti used for those j's is tough and can take a beating in most cases. Such and individual design for it's time, good purchase.
 
If what you tried hasn't taken it off, I don't think it's bird poop. It looks more like tar to be honest with you. Perhaps even roofing tar. You may want to try a product called Goof Off or Goo Gone. Be forewarned now... those two products are VERY potent both in smell AND function so work carefully in a well vented area. You may even want to just dab a cotton swab (q-tip) into the Goof Off and let is sit on small portion of the splatter for a few seconds may be 30 seconds at most to see if it softens it up a bit.



Good luck,

Mike
 
Goo gone is pretty good. I used that to get off Tar on my rocker panel and lower painted surfaces of my passenger door. I had left the tar to dry for two months in summer heat, Goo gone still broke it down with minimal agitation.
 
mixxmstrmike said:
If what you tried hasn't taken it off, I don't think it's bird poop. It looks more like tar to be honest with you. Perhaps even roofing tar. You may want to try a product called Goof Off or Goo Gone. Be forewarned now... those two products are VERY potent both in smell AND function so work carefully in a well vented area. You may even want to just dab a cotton swab (q-tip) into the Goof Off and let is sit on small portion of the splatter for a few seconds may be 30 seconds at most to see if it softens it up a bit.



Good luck,

Mike
Click to expand...



Goo Gone is not that potent...I would definately still use it with caution but its MUCH more gentle than Goof Off, thats for sure.
 
BMW335i said:
Goo Gone is not that potent...I would definately still use it with caution but its MUCH more gentle than Goof Off, thats for sure.
Click to expand...



I tried some citrus-based solvent (not Goo Gone but pretty much the same stuff) and that didn't soften it up at all after 5 minutes. If Goof Off is more potent I can try that tonight. Anyone have experience getting rid of tar (or bird droppings - have no idea what this is) using nail polish? Or is Goof Off gonna be pretty much the same thing?



Thanks!
 
GeoFX said:
I tried some citrus-based solvent (not Goo Gone but pretty much the same stuff) and that didn't soften it up at all after 5 minutes. If Goof Off is more potent I can try that tonight. Anyone have experience getting rid of tar (or bird droppings - have no idea what this is) using nail polish? Or is Goof Off gonna be pretty much the same thing?



Thanks!
Click to expand...

try the bug & tar remover as I described before

then get back to us with the results

and i will help from there:idea
 
Success! :spot My GF swabbed some nail polish remover on the crap that removed it. I was then able to wet sand any of the leftover stuff and buff the clearcoat. All looks well now. Guess she's a keeper, huh? ;)



Thanks for all the help!
 
Years ago I had a H000J glob of bird crap on my car that had hardened. I "think" I used a very very small amount of paint thinner or something of that nature. Came right off and didn't harm my paint.
 
A couple of weeks ago my car got bombed from a migrating flock that decided to stop for a rest in the very tree I was parked under! The temp was very cold, in the 20's, and when I got home I discovered that the droppings on the hood where hard to remove as usual... BUT... the droppings on the trunk and roof came off whole, just slid off as I sprayed them.



My theory is that cold had something to do with affecting the adhesion. So try a little experiment, place an ice cube on the dropping and let it all get good and cold for a while. THis will also serve to soak the offending poop bomb.



I'm curious if this method will work, it certainly can't hurt to try.
 
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