# a car question? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 11, 2000, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074 "2000-02-11T09:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074/1 "2000-02-11T09:28:00Z")
recently the car scraped against a building and got some paint scratched on the bumper. whats the best way to remove it… i dont really want to use some strong chemicals…since it might ruin the paintjob * * * Chief’s Domain - [http://www.seas.ucla.edu/~ravi](http://www.seas.ucla.edu/~ravi) ---
**Author:** ![Bobinelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8baadc/32.png) [@Bobinelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobinelli)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074/2 "2000-02-11T12:43:00Z")
Try using a cloth with a bit of petrol on it. ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074/3 "2000-02-11T12:45:00Z")
Well WD-40 is recommended for tar removal so that might be worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074/4 "2000-02-11T13:00:00Z")
- - - Dynamite. For further info, please see the “Anarchist’s Cookbook” thread. - MC ---
**Author:** ![InutilisVisEst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d2c977/32.png) [@InutilisVisEst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InutilisVisEst)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074/5 "2000-02-11T14:45:00Z")
I’ve had decent luck with a liquid (vs. paste) car wax. The solvents in that won’t dissolve the offending paint (for which your original paint will be thankful) but seem to get underneath and loosen it. ---
**Author:** ![Squid\_Vicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Squid\_Vicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squid_Vicious)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074/6 "2000-02-11T14:51:00Z")
You’re best bet is to use rubbing compound. As long as you don’t get too vigorous. Since the paint is imbedded and not chemically affixed, rubbing compound should take it off without harming your car’s paint. Of course, once you have shined up your bumper you may have to do the whole car 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074/7 "2000-02-11T14:56:00Z")
Depending on how old the paint is, and whether or not you’ve got a clearcoat, you could try the “polishing compounds” that come in a can. They also make compounds specifically for clear-coated paints. Be sure to get a “polishing” one though, the “rubbing” compounds are much more abrasive and mainly for oxidation removal. ---
**Author:** ![pmh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@pmh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmh)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074/8 "2000-02-12T02:05:00Z")
I would try InutilisVisEst’s, RSSchen, and Squid Vicious’ suggestions (in that order). Then, if still no luck, paint over it w/ touchup paint, wet-sand the immediate area to blend the paint (800 grit or finer under running water, very light touch), and several coats of wax since the clearcoat will be damaged in that area. ---
**Author:** ![pmh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@pmh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmh)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074/9 "2000-02-12T02:12:00Z")
Just had another thought, media-blasting. It’s like sand-blasting only w/ baking soda instead of sand. I’ve seen a good operator take the printing off a beer can w/o even scratching the Al. But, it’s definitely not a DIY thing. Check custom body shops. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-car-question/7074/10 "2000-02-12T16:55:00Z")
What type of bumper? Plastic? Metal? Try some soap & water as I don’t know if its plastic or metal.