Help With Removing Black Tar-Like Adhesive

Per the title and the attached photo, I could use some help with identifying and removing this rubbery tar-like adhesive that is on my bottom dash rail. I removed the dash pad because I have always liked the look of the body color on the top and bottom rails, but this adhesive was left behind and shouldn’t have even been used to begin with from what I understand.

So far, I have tried 3M adhesive remover that didn’t seem to do much of anything. I may try this again though since I want to be sure that I put enough on the surface and leave it there for enough time. I have also tried a heat gun to loosen it, but that also did not seem to work. I am trying to just remove the adhesive and leave the paint intact, so I am being cautious with my attempts.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

The photo seems to be upside down. I tried to attach it multiple times and couldn’t turn it around, so I hope it is still a useful picture.

Edited by mx5nut, 28 November 2021 - 05:14 AM.

It all depends on what was used as it ain’t standard. Just work your way through different solvents until you find one that works.

Try a hair dryer and a plastic scraper to remove the bulk of it. You can try turps/white spirit which shouldn't damage the paint or even petrol, but wash off afterwards.

If it resembles weatherstrip adhesive (which in turn often resembles silicone gasket maker) and you can (with effort) peel or scrape bits of it off, then try a citrus based adhesive remover.

 

As you've mentioned, you have to find a way to let the remover soak on the goo for a few hours. If that black stuff is an adhesive, I doubt there is anything out there that will let you "wet and wipe" it off. But soaking will help break the grip of the adhesive to the surface, and then you can scrape it off (still takes some time and effort, but at least you see your work paying off.)

 

I like the citrus based removers for this, because 3M adhesive remover is much more volatile and evaporates much more quickly. I put the citrus adhesive remover on the goo then cover it with plastic food wrap. This keeps it in place for hours. The next day, take the wrap off and give it a go scraping it off. This is what I do when cleaning up for new weatherstrip seals.

 

But if the stuff is kind of hard to the touch, like dried putty, then the worst case scenario is that it was a urethane adhesive such as those used to glue in windscreens and other auto glass. Then it's not coming off without a grinder. If anyone gets frustrated with gluing weatherstripping or vinyls and resorts to urethane adhesive, you may well regret it down the road... unrelated word of warning.

 

Dave

I like the citrus based removers for this, because 3M adhesive remover is much more volatile and evaporates much more quickly. I put the citrus adhesive remover on the goo then cover it with plastic food wrap. This keeps it in place for hours. The next day, take the wrap off and give it a go scraping it off. This is what I do when cleaning up for new weatherstrip seals.

I like this idea and hadn’t thought of putting plastic wrap over it and then coming back the next day.

I'd soak it in white spirit

Petrol brushed on to soak in works well on many things as a cleaner/solvent (lighter fuel for small amounts) but no smoking, etc nearby for a while !

 

Also a Tar Remover product from Halfords might do the job.

AutoGlym Tar Remover:-

https://www.halfords...5ml-140632.html

Edited by mab01uk, 02 December 2021 - 06:28 PM.

As an update, I tried a citrus based adhesive remover and covered the are in plastic wrap overnight, but saw no results whatsoever. Some spots seemed slightly softer, but I may have imagined that. My next step is to try white spirit (mineral spirits in US?) to see if that helps.

If white spirit does not help, I think my last resort will be to use a paint stripper on the area and then maybe do a paint or even vinyl wrap to just have it look presentable in the near term.

Hopefully it wasn't leftover urethane adhesive as used on windscreens on modern cars (or an epoxy.) Then you'll need to break out the grinder or sander to get that off. Paint stripper might not affect a urethane (a good one might soften an epoxy.)

 

 

Dave

I know about rubber pads to be put on the angle grinder or a drill, but I have no idea if this could work?

Maybe it is interesting to try it on a hidden area?

 

Gilles

Edited by Gilles1000, 07 December 2021 - 11:06 AM.

I had to remove bitumen flashing tape from mine and used white spirit

I know about rubber pads to be put on the angle grinder or a drill, but I have no idea if this could work?
Maybe it is interesting to try it on a hidden area?

Gilles

I think this is going to be my next and last step before going to a body shop. They are fairly inexpensive in Amazon and just attach to a drill, so should be easy to try. If the eraser wheel doesn’t work, I will see if a body shop can just strip and repaint this one area in the short term so it looks more presentable.

I got the eraser wheel and am REALLY happy to report that it is working! Ironic that the method with no chemicals is that is most effective. The downside though is that there is rubber dust all over the interior that I will need to clean up.

I’ll have to post some “after” pics in the next couple of days when I get finished.