JUN-JUNG

I have about an inch diameter tree sap on the top.
has anyone removed tree sap on ur soft top?

thanks in advance.

dozen5

check in here.

wash & wax thread
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=324082

bborzell

This is going to sound both counter intuitive and dumb, but I know it works well on car finishes that have been bombarded by tree sap or "honeydew" from aphids (which is often mistaken for tree sap); Best Foods Real Mayo. Not the low fat or salad dressing variety, but the real thing works very well to take off a wide range of crap on paint finishes. You simply put in on like wax and wash off. In my experience, it outperforms most of the commercial "bug and tar" removers.

WARNING!!! I have no idea whether putting what constitutes a large glob of fat on the top material will do.

If you use mayo on the finish, it is advisable to apply a new coat of wax as the mayo will take the old wax off. Whether it has any similar effect to the coating of the top, I don't know. I'd advise doing a Google on Tree Sap and convertible top.

Filthy Beast

I used alcohol and a Q tip...well several Q tips and it came off with no effects to the top. After that i used the Ragg Top cleaner and protectant

MikeyC

I just use vinyl cleaner. The important part is to scrub the stain lightly with an old toothbrush or a soft bristled detail brush. Sometimes I use 303 top cleaner, sometimes Megs #?? intensive vinyl cleaner, or if the stain is really bad some Turtle wax bug & tar cleaner (the one that comes in the metal can not the spray).

I would stay away from alcohol as the post above suggests. That's a pretty strong solvent and likely would remove moisture from the vinyl which FILTHY BEAST corrects by adding Ragg Top protectant afterward. However, I would still be concerned with discoloration as alcohol is a very strong solvent.

Filthy Beast

Mickey:

I guess i need to clarify this a little bit. This was pine tree sap. I tried everything
i could possibly think of and nothing worked except the alcohol. Now that being
said if you can do it with something else and it works by all means use it. I would
use alcohol only as a last resort.

Bill

Edit....this was 2 years ago and no discoloration

MikeyC

Pine trees are one of the most common types of tree we have in New England. I can assure you I have quite a bit of experience with pine sap. I have never had a problem removing various types of sap from my top using the methods I describe above. However, I do agree that alcohol will almost definitely get sap off, but that it is a last resort. My concern is that continual or excessive use of alcohol will discolor the top.

Filthy Beast