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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: TheBoy on 09 March 2008, 17:04:47

Title: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 09 March 2008, 17:04:47
I have a tar type substance in the boot - I suspect at some point in its like, oil/diesel has been pushed over, and this has soaked in to the sound deadening glued to the boot floor, turning it to 'tar'.

Any idea how to clean this out, and not really getting anywhere with it.
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 09 March 2008, 17:07:12
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I have a tar type substance in the boot - I suspect at some point in its like, oil/diesel has been pushed over, and this has soaked in to the sound deadening glued to the boot floor, turning it to 'tar'.

Any idea how to clean this out, and not really getting anywhere with it.

Traffic film remover?
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: CaptainZok on 09 March 2008, 17:09:53
A tunnie. ;D
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: markey mark on 09 March 2008, 17:15:16
scrape as much as you can then use petrol or thinners bud !
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 09 March 2008, 17:18:11
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scrape as much as you can then use petrol or thinners bud !
carb cleaner not touching it :(
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: waspy on 09 March 2008, 17:18:26
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scrape as much as you can then use petrol or thinners bud !

Yup, best bet. They use Diesel to remove tar from tools etc when laying it, but that'll smell for ages. Petrols nearly as bad, thinners is best  :y
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 09 March 2008, 17:50:02
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scrape as much as you can then use petrol or thinners bud !

Yup, best bet. They use Diesel to remove tar from tools etc when laying it, but that'll smell for ages. Petrols nearly as bad, thinners is best  :y
Thinners such as White Spirit or turps?
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: motmann on 09 March 2008, 18:10:36
cellulose thinners bud :y
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 09 March 2008, 18:12:55
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cellulose thinners bud :y
Thanks :)

Where do I get it, and is there a brandname (not necessarily to buy the brand, but to get an idea of what it is)?  :-[
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: waspy on 09 March 2008, 18:18:28
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cellulose thinners bud :y
Thanks :)

Where do I get it, and is there a brandname (not necessarily to buy the brand, but to get an idea of what it is)?  :-[

Do you know any one who sprays cars etc, they'll have some :y
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 09 March 2008, 18:21:36
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cellulose thinners bud :y
Thanks :)

Where do I get it, and is there a brandname (not necessarily to buy the brand, but to get an idea of what it is)?  :-[

Do you know any one who sprays cars etc, they'll have some :y
If I did, I won't have a rather great rust spot on the MV6  :'(

;D

Is it something the DIY shop would sell?
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: waspy on 09 March 2008, 18:24:43
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cellulose thinners bud :y
Thanks :)

Where do I get it, and is there a brandname (not necessarily to buy the brand, but to get an idea of what it is)?  :-[

Do you know any one who sprays cars etc, they'll have some :y
If I did, I won't have a rather great rust spot on the MV6  :'(

;D

Is it something the DIY shop would sell?

Car spares shop should sell it, my mate stocks it in his  :y
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 09 March 2008, 18:26:51
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cellulose thinners bud :y
Thanks :)

Where do I get it, and is there a brandname (not necessarily to buy the brand, but to get an idea of what it is)?  :-[

Do you know any one who sprays cars etc, they'll have some :y
If I did, I won't have a rather great rust spot on the MV6  :'(

;D

Is it something the DIY shop would sell?

Car spares shop should sell it, my mate stocks it in his  :y
Ta - I may try the miserable sod in town. Or may go to Halfrauds if its the sort of thing they would sell?
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: miggy on 09 March 2008, 18:32:58
Jamie

If you get no joy, give me a pm with your address and i will send you a litre of something we use in the lab, its good stuff and should make mincemeat of the tar residue.

 :y :y
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: bigphil1 on 09 March 2008, 18:33:39
How thick is it? because if it is pretty thick then some sort of freeze spray should sort it. Plumbers use it to freeze pipes, then it should just break away, in theory anyway!!

Good luck
Phil
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Dave-C on 09 March 2008, 18:38:22


Are you fitting a towbar :question :question :question
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Andy B on 09 March 2008, 19:22:34
Don't go too aggresive with the type of thinners, or you'll have a bright steel boot floor.  ;D
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 09 March 2008, 19:28:57
Remember, this is having to lift the sound deadening - the oil/diesel has turned the sound deadening to tar. And the sound deadening is stuck down very hard :(
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: markey mark on 09 March 2008, 19:50:28
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Remember, this is having to lift the sound deadening - the oil/diesel has turned the sound deadening to tar. And the sound deadening is stuck down very hard :(

use a paper scraper to get the thick stuff off then thinners to remove residue bud ! :y
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 09 March 2008, 19:53:29
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Remember, this is having to lift the sound deadening - the oil/diesel has turned the sound deadening to tar. And the sound deadening is stuck down very hard :(

use a paper scraper to get the thick stuff off then thinners to remove residue bud ! :y
My paint scraper ain't touching it - its very hard in places (and soft in others).
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: markey mark on 09 March 2008, 19:55:45
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Remember, this is having to lift the sound deadening - the oil/diesel has turned the sound deadening to tar. And the sound deadening is stuck down very hard :(

use a paper scraper to get the thick stuff off then thinners to remove residue bud ! :y
My paint scraper ain't touching it - its very hard in places (and soft in others).

try warming it with heat gun or your hairdryer ::) ;D
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 09 March 2008, 20:37:20
seriously dont use strong stuff..

much better show it to a car painter..or you will end up with a new

paint !!

Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: albitz on 09 March 2008, 20:55:03
i think i would give parrafin a try after it was soft. :-/
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: EddieX on 09 March 2008, 21:02:33
This could be a long job. Get cellulose thinners first, apply liberally with a rag to try soaking up the oil/diesel, then leave the boot open in the sunshine for as long as possible to dry and ventilate the smell.

If that don't work, remove the sound deadening with a decorator's scraper and a heat gun. Clean off residues with the thinners and paint over the inevitable scratches with a heavy duty primer like that Hammerite pink stuff.
Then fit new sound deadening. It is self adhesive but you will need a heat gun to soften it so that it moulds to the contours of the boot floor.

PS.  Hellfrauds no longer stock cellulose thinners.

PPS. Those sound deadening pads are not cheap.

HTH.
Eddie.
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 09 March 2008, 21:20:19
Hmmm, thinking about doing what a previous owner had - putting a lot of newspaper in there and leaving it ;D
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Entwood on 09 March 2008, 21:57:46
Get a small tin of "Hammerite Thinners"  ... these are cellulose thinners and cleaned a nasty oil stain in the boot of my Granada some time back ...
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Dave-C on 09 March 2008, 22:22:44
I think that Hammerite thiners are Xylene based and may harden the tar...  think it's a case of try a patch at a time with all sorts of different mediums....  

Could try a heat gun (in a well vented area) and a scraper.. as already said..

DC
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Kevin Wood on 09 March 2008, 22:26:03
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Remember, this is having to lift the sound deadening - the oil/diesel has turned the sound deadening to tar. And the sound deadening is stuck down very hard :(

use a paper scraper to get the thick stuff off then thinners to remove residue bud ! :y
My paint scraper ain't touching it - its very hard in places (and soft in others).

try warming it with heat gun or your hairdryer ::) ;D

This is the key. Had to remove some to fit the towbar and it wouldn't shift until I heated it a little with a hot air gun. Then it went like butter and could be scraped off easily. :y

Kevin
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 10 March 2008, 08:59:19
Scrape the loose/soft stuff off and then pop some paint over the whole lot....just like they did when they built it!
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 10 March 2008, 11:08:00
I shall try some heat on it if we get a dry day soon ;).  I'm guessing I need to remove all of the stuff that is discoloured?

The really 'wet' parts I'm managed to dig out by hand mostly, but after a few hours, you can see black liquid just seeping out of the adjacent (and presumed dry/solid) bits, hence why I think I may have to remove it all :(

Until I can, I guess do what a precious owner had done - lay a load of newspaper over it, and refit carpet....  ....out of site, out of mind ;D.  Is there any way of temporarily masking/removing the smell - oopen the boot and there is a whif of fresh diesel?
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: ians on 10 March 2008, 15:43:07
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I shall try some heat on it if we get a dry day soon ;).  I'm guessing I need to remove all of the stuff that is discoloured?

The really 'wet' parts I'm managed to dig out by hand mostly, but after a few hours, you can see black liquid just seeping out of the adjacent (and presumed dry/solid) bits, hence why I think I may have to remove it all :(

Until I can, I guess do what a precious owner had done - lay a load of newspaper over it, and refit carpet....  ....out of site, out of mind ;D.  Is there any way of temporarily masking/removing the smell - oopen the boot and there is a whif of fresh diesel?

I'm sure you'll get plenty of suggestions... ;)

If its the kind of quantity I'm imagining , I think you need to go the heat/meachical removal (scraper/wooden spoon) way to start with.

Then try solvents on a small bit to start with and see what disolves it.

I'd start with mild solvent and progressively get more aggressive, but wear gloves and be careful if space is confined (like a car boot for example ;)).

eg
water
washing up liquid
meths
white spirit/turps
paint brush cleaner?
petrol
paraffin
diesel
cellulose thinners (nail varnish remover - but I think you would need a catering pack...)

Must have been something pretty agreesive to attack the insulation - I wouldn't think petrol or diesel would do it..  (I have a colleague who took a car battery to the tip.  Put it on the back seat.  You can imagine the rest.. ::) £1000 insurance claim)


Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Dave-C on 10 March 2008, 17:26:00
To diversify only slightly, there was a Capri in a garage near to me in Stoke, a battery was left on the roof, it leaked, and rotted through the roof!!!!  The Capri in question was one of the original Professionals screen cars which had been garaged in anticipation of a rebuild....

I'm told it's all OK now...

DC
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Auto Addict on 10 March 2008, 17:30:01
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Hmmm, thinking about doing what a previous owner had - putting a lot of newspaper in there and leaving it ;D

Caravan monthly? ::)
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Dave-C on 10 March 2008, 17:34:51
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: waspy on 10 March 2008, 17:38:43
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Hmmm, thinking about doing what a previous owner had - putting a lot of newspaper in there and leaving it ;D

Caravan monthly? ::)

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: albitz on 10 March 2008, 17:44:36
bmw mags ? ;D
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Dave-C on 10 March 2008, 17:54:29
Tar Substance :question :question

Seaman ::)
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Kevin Wood on 10 March 2008, 18:22:30
Do you really need to remove it? Surely there must be something that would harden it or form a barrier?  :-/

Kevin
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 10 March 2008, 19:39:11
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Do you really need to remove it? Surely there must be something that would harden it or form a barrier?  :-/

Kevin
if you can think of something :y
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: davlad22 on 10 March 2008, 20:47:13
I wouldn't be tempted with a metal paint scraper, it'll hack all the paint off the boot floor and make it more susceptible to rust and rot.

How about the old driveway cleaner stuff like gunk? Make sure you're tooled up with gloves and mask etc  :y

Enjoy  ;D
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 10 March 2008, 20:52:07
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I wouldn't be tempted with a metal paint scraper, it'll hack all the paint off the boot floor and make it more susceptible to rust and rot.

How about the old driveway cleaner stuff like gunk? Make sure you're tooled up with gloves and mask etc  :y

Enjoy  ;D
I was surprised that carb cleaner barely touched it....
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: davlad22 on 10 March 2008, 21:03:30
Always tempted with a good dose of petroleum spirit for such tasks AWAY from naked flames (and your heat gun) obviously!?!

However, as it's 'tar' like, you could try something designed for that job like really strong autoglym wheel cleaner, or tar remover, again it stinks though.  :-/
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Bandit127 on 10 March 2008, 21:13:28
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cellulose thinners bud :y
Thanks :)

Where do I get it, and is there a brandname (not necessarily to buy the brand, but to get an idea of what it is)?  :-[
http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0182560
http://www.birdbrand.co.uk/msds/Cellulose%20Thinners.pdf

It's going to be hard work, whatever you do. Except the newspaper...
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Richie London on 10 March 2008, 21:58:49
i had this in my rover a couplke of yrs ago and my m8 gave me this stuff called bio t tar and asphalt remover. it came off straight away, you have to rinse it well after though, sorry i dont know where you can buy it though

richie
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 10 March 2008, 22:08:09
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i had this in my rover a couplke of yrs ago and my m8 gave me this stuff called bio t tar and asphalt remover. it came off straight away, you have to rinse it well after though, sorry i dont know where you can buy it though

richie
got any left?
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Entwood on 10 March 2008, 22:17:53
A google found this ... any good ??   :)

http://www.dawginc.com/industrial-cleaners-degreasers/tar-remover-asphalt.php

dang its USA ..
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: waspy on 10 March 2008, 22:21:07
TB. I've just spoken to my mate who works for tarmac. He says the best thing to do is to use petrol or cellulose thinners, this will soften the tar to fetch it up, then use wash powder (Daz is fav) to get rid of the residue & smell. It may take a few goes with the powder to do the trick. This is the best way apparently. HTH
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: lee4206 on 10 March 2008, 23:28:53
what about dry ice or if you can get it liquid nitrogen.   liquid nitrogen works very well  just tip it on and hit it with a hammer comes off in big chunks you can just bin dry ice takes a bit longer but works in the same way.
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: albitz on 10 March 2008, 23:39:49
if you used liquid nitrogen and tapped with a hammer i think the metal underneath the gooey stuff might shatter as well. :o
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 11 March 2008, 13:30:40
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TB. I've just spoken to my mate who works for tarmac. He says the best thing to do is to use petrol or cellulose thinners, this will soften the tar to fetch it up, then use wash powder (Daz is fav) to get rid of the residue & smell. It may take a few goes with the powder to do the trick. This is the best way apparently. HTH
I may give that a go in a small corner and see - I lifted out about another kg of the stuff earlier, but barely touching it :(
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 11 March 2008, 13:33:18
Also, remember, its not tar - I think its sound deadening soaked in oil or diesel (or both!).  Its like the oil has 'melted' the sound deadening.  It some areas its like its true set again, other areas are bit like a very eleastic plastacine...
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Richie London on 11 March 2008, 16:56:49
sorry i didnt reply last night as my lappy crashed. m8 only gave me a small amount as he said it wwas expensive. havent seen him for about a yr now as ive moved. sorry m8

richie
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: TheBoy on 11 March 2008, 18:32:27
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sorry i didnt reply last night as my lappy crashed. m8 only gave me a small amount as he said it wwas expensive. havent seen him for about a yr now as ive moved. sorry m8

richie
No probs, thanks for reply :y
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: Gaffers on 11 March 2008, 18:44:39
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what about dry ice or if you can get it liquid nitrogen.   liquid nitrogen works very well  just tip it on and hit it with a hammer comes off in big chunks you can just bin dry ice takes a bit longer but works in the same way.

Damn I'm all out of liquid nitrogen, used the last bit on a wart.  Anyone else got any hanging arund the garage....  ;D ;D ;D

Sorry mate couldent resist   ::) ::)
Title: Re: Tar like substance in the boot
Post by: lee4206 on 11 March 2008, 19:45:53
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what about dry ice or if you can get it liquid nitrogen.   liquid nitrogen works very well  just tip it on and hit it with a hammer comes off in big chunks you can just bin dry ice takes a bit longer but works in the same way.

Damn I'm all out of liquid nitrogen, used the last bit on a wart.  Anyone else got any hanging arund the garage....  ;D ;D ;D

Sorry mate couldent resist   ::) ::)

thats ok guess im just lucky having a mate who works in the hospital and can get it :y