How we Safely Remove Tree Sap and Pollen From Vancouver Vehicles

With spring around the corner, it is the perfect time to get your car in for a wash to clean away all that winter grime. However, spring in Vancouver brings its own challenges when it comes to keeping your car clean, namely tree sap and pollen. As trees wake from their winter dormancy, they will start to produce more sap and many plants will start to release pollen into the air, both of which can settle onto your vehicle, placing its paint at risk. 

Why are tree sap and pollen a threat to your vehicle’s paintjob?

Tree Sap and Pollen both have properties that make them a threat to the paint job of your vehicle. Specifically, they pose a threat to your clearcoat, the thin, clear coating applied by the manufacturer that protects your paint and keeps it looking shiny and bright. Tree Sap is sticky which can cause more dirt and grime to stick to your vehicle and build up, it is also mildly acidic which can lead to it eating away at your clearcoat. Tree sap can also harden in the sun which can lead to permanent stains or etching that can be difficult to remove.

While pollen seems less damaging, as it isn’t nearly as sticky and often seems to wash off with the rain, it also poses a danger to your vehicles’ paint. For starters, pollen is abrasive which can lead to fine scratches or swirl marks on your vehicle’s paint. While it isn’t as acidic as tree sap, it is still acidic and will start to eat away at your clearcoat and your paint if it is left unaddressed. Microscopic pollen particles can also become embedded in the paint leading to it becoming dull and discolored.

How does Shine Auto Wash remove tree sap and pollen?

Many vehicle washes in Vancouver remove pollen and sap by using harsh detergents and acidic cleaners, then blasting it with extremely high-pressure water. While this wash may get the pollen and sap off of your vehicle, it comes at the expense of the long-term health of your vehicle’s clear coat finish.

Shine Auto Wash on the other hand makes use of non-acidic, non-corrosive and non-caustic shampoos and cleaning agents that have been specifically engineered to provide an effective and safe wash for your vehicle. We then use carefully calibrated water pressure and state of the art closed cell foam cleaning material, that doesn’t hold dirt or water, to safely lift contaminants, leaving only your vehicle’s finish behind. Unfortunately, while we can guarantee that our wash techniques will remove pollen from your vehicle, the extremely sticky nature of tree sap means we are unable to guarantee 100% of tree sap removal using our wash techniques.

Removing Tree Sap

In order to safely remove any remaining tree sap from your vehicle following a wash you should make use of a solvent like a dedicated bug and tar remover and microfiber cloths to safely remove the sap from your vehicle. You can also make use of a clay bar to remove any remaining residue from your vehicle following use of the solvent.

If you have any questions about our vehicle wash, please feel free to contact us.

Shine Auto Wash has been serving the Lower Mainland since 2009. With three convenient locations, Shine Auto Wash offers advanced automotive cleaning and protection technology and a service that is quick and efficient. 

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about car washes, we encourage you to call us in Vancouver at (604) 806-0800.