Remove decal from PPF

[skinnyb]

So I did a thing today and traded my grabber blue GT for a very pristine low mileage Mach 1 in fighter jet grey. Full ppf and ceramic. Very stellar car. That said the sales staff put a damn dealer sticker on the bumper before I could get to him. Just need advice on removing it. I have every chemical known to man but don't want to damage the ppf. Gonna try a bit of gentle heat with a blow dryer to see if it will peel easily but want a chemical to remove the residue. @DFB5.0 , thinking KCx TEA rather than Eulex for sure but is TEA too strong for ppf?

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[DFB5.0]

The hair dryer should do the job, just be very careful! If you do need some chemical assistance to remove any residue, the very lightest amount of TEA applied to a towel and not the surface, rinse well. I certainty wouldn’t use Eulex.

Congrats by the way.

 

[S550HPP]

Tell dealer to remove you never approved. If they damage PPF they have to replace.

 

[DFB5.0]

Tell dealer to remove you never approved. If they damage PPF they have to replace.

You could sort of understand putting one of those stickers on a drab mid range SUV, but on a Mustang Mach 1? Idiots!

 

[skinnyb]

You could sort of understand putting one of those stickers on a drab mid range SUV, but on a Mustang Mach 1? Idiots!

They clearly weren't car people. It is a Ford/Nissan dealer ugh. BUT they were drooling over my blue one, grabber blue is very popular

 

[skinnyb]

The hair dryer should do the job, just be very careful! If you do need some chemical assistance to remove any residue, the very lightest amount of TEA applied to a towel and not the surface, rinse well. I certainty wouldn’t use Eulex.

Congrats by the way.

Roger that, and thank you. I will hit it with a little heat and see how it goes. Definitely not Eulex, I know it melts plastic. But wasn't sure if TEA was too strong. I haven't had to use it much at all, used it remove a decal on my windshield a couple weeks ago. I also have the KCx Orange Power, it might be more gentle... Will try just soap and some rinseless first but if the sticky won't let go, will go stronger...

 

[DFB5.0]

Roger that, and thank you. I will hit it with a little heat and see how it goes. Definitely not Eulex, I know it melts plastic. But wasn't sure if TEA was too strong. I haven't had to use it much at all, used it remove a decal on my windshield a couple weeks ago. I also have the KCx Orange Power, it might be more gentle... Will try just soap and some rinseless first but if the sticky won't let go, will go stronger...

Having looked into it further, using a solvent like TEA or TarX on PPF is a mixed bag. Some say don't do it, some say you can but with caution.

Petroleum-Based Products -
Products containing petroleum, such as tar removers, can cause damage to PPF. They can weaken the adhesive and, in some cases, even cause the film to discolor or bubble. It’s advisable to use PPF-safe alternatives, such as mild soaps, when cleaning or removing contaminants from the film.

Solvents and Harsh Chemicals -
Acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and similar solvents can be detrimental to PPF. These chemicals can degrade the adhesive, making the film less effective at protecting your vehicle’s paint. Always choose gentle, PPF-friendly cleaning solutions for the best results.

Can I apply TarX on PPF?
Certainly, but exercise caution. Work on a cool, small section at a time, and ensure not to let it sit for longer than 30 seconds. Rinse off thoroughly with soap afterward. Repeat the process if needed.

What I think you will find is that the sticker will remove easily with little to no residue remaining, mainly because the sticker is so new and hasn't weathered. Use some light heat while gently peeling it away, you could use some rinse-less as lube if you are that concerned. I would then use rinse-less to wipe the area, if residue remains, use something like Carpro Eraser or maybe the Orange Power if needed.

Oh, and this is why having some specialty products on hand is so valuable.

 

[kilobravo]

Couldn't resist, eh Alex? <smiling> Congrats on the switch although I'm gonna miss the GB girl photos.

Regarding the decal, did you try Goo Gone or another citrus remover? My goto stuff for vinyl adhesives is 3M's Adhesive Remover when Goo Gone doesn't hack it. If you soak a paper towel or two in Adhesive Remover and let it sit on the decal for awhile, when you come back, the adhesive should have given way to the solvent and the decal should just slide right off.

As for PPF, it's pretty darn durable unless you overheat it. Good luck.

 

[MAGS1]

Agree with KB, try 3M adhesive remover on a rag or paper towel. It works well.

Be careful heating up the PPF. If you heat it up too much to get the sticker off, you could pull the PPF with it. If you have access to a steamer, that should work too. Same principal applies there as with heat. Just be careful peeling that sticker so you don’t pull up on the PPF.

Congrats on the Mach!

 

[FUN2RIDEFAST]

So I did a thing today and traded my grabber blue GT for a very pristine low mileage Mach 1 in fighter jet grey. Full ppf and ceramic. Very stellar car. That said the sales staff put a damn dealer sticker on the bumper before I could get to him. Just need advice on removing it. I have every chemical known to man but don't want to damage the ppf. Gonna try a bit of gentle heat with a blow dryer to see if it will peel easily but want a chemical to remove the residue. @DFB5.0 , thinking KCx TEA rather than Eulex for sure but is TEA too strong for ppf?

3M adhesive remover. They carry it at O'Reilly and through Amazon. It's not cheap but it's an outstanding product I've been using for years. Red and white container.

 

[RescueLt]

I’ve always used gentle heat to remove the decal, followed by Goo Gone on a microfiber towel to remove the remaining adhesive. Haven’t damaged anything yet. Just go nice and easy with the heat. Good luck with the new ride!

 

[MiamiGT350]

I’ve always used gentle heat to remove the decal, followed by Goo Gone on a microfiber towel to remove the remaining adhesive. Haven’t damaged anything yet. Just go nice and easy with the heat. Good luck with the new ride!

Let the Goo Gone soak for 5 mins and it should come off easier.

 

[skinnyb]

Well thanks y'all for the advice. I was WAY overthinking it. I bought the car yesterday afternoon and the decal had been on less than 24 hours. I wiped with some waterless wash to make sure the surface was clean and literally took my thumb nail and picked at the edge and it peeled right off and left nothing behind. Very easy, then wiped again with waterless wash (Armour Detail Supply Adapt) and it is perfect. It didn't stick to the PPF at all... Very nice.... Crisis averted..

 

[S550HPP]

Good thing you got to it right away!!! Lucky outcome!

 

[S550HPP]

Very nice looking car I love M1 look.

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