Removing Road Paint

[Skier404]

Good friend/customer called me with question/SOS. He was driving on a freshly lined road and got yellow road paint splatter in 2 fender wells, any recommendations for removing it? 2023 GMC Sierra 2500 At4, with plastic fender liner. Dealership has offered to replace the fender liners, but will still have to clean the black plastic trim.

Thanks in advance.

 

[dbrun]

I haven’t done this, but I seen or read someone used high ph carpet cleaner and plastic scraper.

I believe there is a product called lift off by mostenbockers for paint removal, just looked it up, it’s lift off graffiti remover. I think you can get it at Home Depot. Not sure if it will remove road paint. Mike recommended it to me, but have not got the vehicle back to try it on.

Wd 40 and heard of Vaseline working. Wish I have tried one of these to actually help with a real world experience.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Good friend/customer called me with question/SOS. He was driving on a freshly lined road and got yellow road paint splatter in 2 fender wells, any recommendations for removing it? 2023 GMC Sierra 2500 At4, with plastic fender liner. Dealership has offered to replace the fender liners, but will still have to clean the black plastic trim.

Thanks in advance.

I had a black Honda that had this problem, somehow had the yellow DOT or Department of Transportation yellow paint on the back bumper. I tried claying with an aggressive clay bar and it work a little, but was really slow and for the most part, ineffective.

With nothing to lose, I tried Stoner's Xenit Citrus Cleaner. It worked. Actually, chemically dissolving and loosening the DOT paint worked easier and faster than trying to mechanically remove the paint with clay.

Here's the secret technique however, you don't just spray it on and wipe. Instead, dampen a portion of a microfiber scrap towel with the Xenit and then hold this dampened portion of the towel against any paint you want to remove and have patience. You can't by patience, you just have to be patient. Use time to your favor. Allow the different citrus oils found in this product to penetrate and loosen the bite the DOT paint has onto the surface you're trying to clean and then scrub/wipe.

I can't say for sure this will work for plastic trim as most plastic trim is the hated pebble textured plastic, which enables offending substance, like wax or paint to strongly embed into the voids in the plastic, making it more difficult to remove.

For $12.00 a can, it's worth a try. It's also very non-invasive.


Mike

 

[TMQ]

Got this tip from a painter---use paint reducer.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Got this tip from a painter---use paint reducer.

Good tip. Have you ever had the opportunity to use paint reducer on DOT paint? DOT paint is tough as nails.

For those reading this into the future, you can find automotive paint reduce at any local PBE store.



Mike

 

[JR107]

Good tip. Have you ever had the opportunity to use paint reducer on DOT paint? DOT paint is tough as nails.

For those reading this into the future, you can find automotive paint reduce at any local PBE store.



Mike

The newer DOT paint that is reflective is typically a cold sprayed thermoplastic polymer or methyl-methacrylate based. Straight MEK and or toluene are about the only things that could remove them. If those got on black plastic, it is a lost cause. Parking lots vary since it is either owner/cost/traffic/time dependent, those aren't nearly as tough as the former mentioned coatings.

Maybe everywhere except California. They probably use some eco vegan fair trade paint at 10x the cost but washes off with a pressure washer. I digress.

 

[paul a.]

For what this is worth, my wife had road paint in her pass side wheel wells about 8-9 months ago. Her car was due for an oil change and i always rotate her tires every oil change. While i had the pass side wheels/tires off the car i pulled out both wheel well liners. 2-3 8 mm's and about 6-8 plastic xmas tree looking fasteners.

It was sooo much easier getting rid of those thousands of yellow dots with the liners on the table in the garage upside down. I soaked the areas with acetone and paper towels and let that dwell a bit. Then plastic razor blades and scrape.