I had small bits of weeds stuck to my new car (from a storm), which were then baked onto the paint by the hot sun. I got the weeds off by washing, but there remains small brown stains, specks, really, where the weeds once were. A friend told me lacquer thinner is completely safe to use on a car paint. Where can I get a definitive answer on this? Thanks.
using lacquer thinner on car?
Jul 30, 2006
4 Replies
The definitive answer comes by trying it on an unimportant area and see if it damages the paint.
A second level answer is -dont use it at all. Find something less aggressive, like car polish, etc. I have used kerosene to remove tar spots, because kerosene is such a lousy solvent, it will take tar but not usually attack paint. Lacquer thinner may be too strong a solvent to use on paint.
They have changed the paints a lot from what I'm used to, but generally laquer thinner will dissolve paint. I would never think of using it unless I were going to repaint the car. Mineral spirits should be OK or shop for the right Mcquire's product or other cleaner to do the job right. Tell your friend you would like to experiment by polishing his hood with laquer thinner.
I think that lacquer thinner will dissolve the paint in short order. You might give the local detailing guy a try though. Before that try a little formula 409 or similar in one small area.
Didn't he also say that it was perfectly safe to smoke cigarettes at the gas station while filling up? I mean, how knowledgeable is this friend of yours? ;)
Lacquer thinner seems to dissolve about anything, and I've seen it affect even enamel paint and have even used it to glue plastic together.
It seems that all the bug and tar removers are kind of oily, like mineral spirits. I use wax remover that I bought when I painted a car several years ago, and it's made to be safe for all paints.
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