Maple Tree Sap Removal

HELP!!!! I parked my truck for a few days under a maple tree while I was out of town. And now I have thousands of little dots of sap all over the hood, windshield, roof and fenders of the truck. Took it to the car wash and nothing.

I've tried, bug n tar remover, goof off, a de-greaser, I was so desperate I even tried brake fluid, and none of these have worked. Hope I didn't ruin the paint with all this stuff.

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

The Bird knows SAP.... wait for it...

Have you tried the WD-40? I believe BIRD suggests that.
Have you tried vinegar?

lol, Im pretty sure brake fluid is not good for paint.



I get those all the time in the summer, if your talking about the really tiny dots. they usually go away after a wash or two. If nothing else works use a orbital polisher with a light abrasive pad and polish.


Give Goo-Gone a try too.

rubbing alcohol, then wd-40 for any remaining residue. use a soft cloth, not a paper towel.

IRONMAN said:

Have you tried the WD-40? I believe BIRD suggests that.
Have you tried vinegar?

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I haven't tried either one of those, I will go out tomorrow and get both and try them.

Ducati said:

lol, Im pretty sure brake fluid is not good for paint.


Give Goo-Gone a try too.

Click to expand...

I wasn't even thinking when I grabbed the brake fluid, I was in full panic mode.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

BIRDMAN said:

rubbing alcohol, then wd-40 for any remaining residue. use a soft cloth, not a paper towel.

Click to expand...

Thanks Birdman, will do as recommended. Much appreciated.

Pancakes will work just fine for maple syrup.

I cut down four ponderosa pines in the yard so my baby was safe.

Don't forget to give it a good waxing after the alcohol strips off the old stuff.

Hope you got that brake fluid off quick or sap is gonna seem like nothing compared to what brake fluid will do to paint. Don't believe me, put some brake fluid on a towel or painted surface and check it out 48 hours later. Towel will have holes in it and paint will be bubbled or gone.

I want to say thank you all for the suggestions. I finally got that crap off. And it wasn't tree sap, it was some little insect poop, they live on the leaves of the maple tree.

It took the rubbing alcohol to get that stuff of along with a lot of buffing. Now I put a good coat of wax on, so if it happens again it'll come off easier.

And yes, brake fluid, very bad idea. My hood graphic is a little faded where I put it.