This spring, 2 of my cars got nailed by crap from a poplar tree (never happened before in 10 years!). One car is old ('88 90q) with black paint that is a little rough. It is covered with amber lumps that are pretty hard. Many of them can be removed using your fingernail, but there are seemingly thousands of them! The other car is an '01 S4 (also black) that got many fewer lumps but they seem harder to get off.

Here's the question. At some web site (I forgot which) DriGas (sp?) was mentioned as a detailer's secret weapon against sap. I've looked for it by brand name but haven't found it yet. Found other brands that have either methyl alcohol or isobuytl alcohol. Anybody know what's in DriGas. Any experience with long term effects of either alcohol on paint? I'm willing to try anything on the 90q, but not on the S4. BTW, clay bar followed by IHG and random orbital buffer removed many of the lumps on the S4 but left behind marks in the clear coat that I couldn't get out. Trying to decide how aggressive I want to get to remove these marks. Any ideas? May be forced to a professional detailer for the S4?

You gotta stay on top of these situations when they occur. Don't rub the black car too hard or you'll get tiny scratches that may stick around.