Tar like substance in the boot

[ians]

I shall try some heat on it if we get a dry day soon .  I'm guessing I need to remove all of the stuff that is discoloured?

The really 'wet' parts I'm managed to dig out by hand mostly, but after a few hours, you can see black liquid just seeping out of the adjacent (and presumed dry/solid) bits, hence why I think I may have to remove it all

Until I can, I guess do what a precious owner had done - lay a load of newspaper over it, and refit carpet....  ....out of site, out of mind .  Is there any way of temporarily masking/removing the smell - oopen the boot and there is a whif of fresh diesel?

I'm sure you'll get plenty of suggestions...

If its the kind of quantity I'm imagining , I think you need to go the heat/meachical removal (scraper/wooden spoon) way to start with.

Then try solvents on a small bit to start with and see what disolves it.

I'd start with mild solvent and progressively get more aggressive, but wear gloves and be careful if space is confined (like a car boot for example ).

eg
water
washing up liquid
meths
white spirit/turps
paint brush cleaner?
petrol
paraffin
diesel
cellulose thinners (nail varnish remover - but I think you would need a catering pack...)

Must have been something pretty agreesive to attack the insulation - I wouldn't think petrol or diesel would do it..  (I have a colleague who took a car battery to the tip.  Put it on the back seat.  You can imagine the rest.. £1000 insurance claim)

[Dave-C]

To diversify only slightly, there was a Capri in a garage near to me in Stoke, a battery was left on the roof, it leaked, and rotted through the roof!!!!  The Capri in question was one of the original Professionals screen cars which had been garaged in anticipation of a rebuild....

I'm told it's all OK now...

DC

[Auto Addict]

Hmmm, thinking about doing what a previous owner had - putting a lot of newspaper in there and leaving it

Caravan monthly?

[Dave-C]

 

[waspy]

Hmmm, thinking about doing what a previous owner had - putting a lot of newspaper in there and leaving it

Caravan monthly?

[albitz]

bmw mags ?

[Dave-C]

Tar Substance :question :question

Seaman

[Kevin Wood]

Do you really need to remove it? Surely there must be something that would harden it or form a barrier?  :-/

Kevin

[TheBoy]

Do you really need to remove it? Surely there must be something that would harden it or form a barrier?  :-/

Kevin

if you can think of something

[davlad22]

I wouldn't be tempted with a metal paint scraper, it'll hack all the paint off the boot floor and make it more susceptible to rust and rot.

How about the old driveway cleaner stuff like gunk? Make sure you're tooled up with gloves and mask etc  

Enjoy  

[TheBoy]

I wouldn't be tempted with a metal paint scraper, it'll hack all the paint off the boot floor and make it more susceptible to rust and rot.

How about the old driveway cleaner stuff like gunk? Make sure you're tooled up with gloves and mask etc  

Enjoy  

I was surprised that carb cleaner barely touched it....

[davlad22]

Always tempted with a good dose of petroleum spirit for such tasks AWAY from naked flames (and your heat gun) obviously!?!

However, as it's 'tar' like, you could try something designed for that job like really strong autoglym wheel cleaner, or tar remover, again it stinks though.  :-/

[Bandit127]

cellulose thinners bud

Thanks

Where do I get it, and is there a brandname (not necessarily to buy the brand, but to get an idea of what it is)?  

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0182560
http://www.birdbrand.co.uk/msds/Cellulose%20Thinners.pdf

It's going to be hard work, whatever you do. Except the newspaper...

[Richie London]

i had this in my rover a couplke of yrs ago and my m8 gave me this stuff called bio t tar and asphalt remover. it came off straight away, you have to rinse it well after though, sorry i dont know where you can buy it though

richie

[TheBoy]

i had this in my rover a couplke of yrs ago and my m8 gave me this stuff called bio t tar and asphalt remover. it came off straight away, you have to rinse it well after though, sorry i dont know where you can buy it though

richie

got any left?