In the past week or two my tintop acquired some "Varnish" on its bonnet with a few wind blown streaks down the front fender. I think it might be when I was parked at the local hardware shop.

First noticed it on a trip upcountry when I stopped for fuel.

Not sure what it is but it's clear and hard and looks like varnish - what is a safe way to remove it?

Try reading autopia for some ideas.

We have a young(ish) tree in our front garden and every year when it spouts it's leaves and blossoms it 'rains' little spatters of sap over the cars. I find a little paint restorer (I like to use Autoglym) cuts through it, but as it's effectively cutting into the paint finish It's not a perfect long term solution.

It's a shared tree with my neighbour (we have a joined front lawn and this thing is smack on the property line) but I think we're getting closer to a joint attack to get rid of the bloody thing once and for all - if the saps not bad enough it drops red berries that get trounced into the house by the kids too.

Sounds like an advert, but Spray and Shine from Greased lightning is pretty good and it will help leave a coating so that it is easier to remove next time.

Thanks for replies - I'm 100% sure it's not tree sap as it is in the form of a sheet of "Varnish" about as thick as a sheet of oil would be and about 6"X4" in size, you can feel it with the fingers and it's not very visible except if you notice it when light reflects of it. Looks almost like someone put a gallon tin on the bonnet, opened the tin and allowed a bit to slop over the edge f the tin.

Normally sap is in the form of drips or spots and not a poured sheet.

I will try a bit of mineral turpentine on a drip I can pull of the bonnet rubber at the front.

When the car is clean enough to photograph it will post a photo on here - at moment it is covered in mud.