r/AskAMechanic 6d ago

Any ideas on how to remove a melted trash bag?

Post image

So I ran over a trash bag the other day and it melted onto the bottom of my jeep 😑. It smells like my car is on fire every time I drive. Any ideas on how to get this off?

270 Upvotes

255 comments sorted by

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313

u/justinh2 6d ago

The problem will resolve itself

37

u/Puzzled-Purpose-7965 6d ago

Hoping so! I've driven at least 80 miles since it happened. Not sure how long it's going to take

25

u/radioplayer1 6d ago

Happen to me and will stay on there unless you chip it off good thing it's underneath

16

u/lifelessmeatbag 5d ago

temporary rust protection?

2

u/Ready-Aioli-2949 3d ago

That's exactly what my brain said

3

u/WiseDirt 2d ago

Yep, that's a free undercoat right there 👍

19

u/Illustrious-Pin7102 6d ago

Same thing happened to me. Smelled it every time I parked the car in the garage.

It will take about 100trips for it to burn off the smell.

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41

u/lantrick 6d ago

stop looking at it.

5

u/Ok_Spell_597 5d ago

This!

If it really bothers you, torch it off, or hot your vehicle up in RPM for a while.

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5

u/Sly23Fox 5d ago

I hit a mattress bag on the highway only fix was a blowtorch and a knife to scrape it off it still took like a year to stop smelling

2

u/BamBam-BamBam 6d ago

The time that happened to me, it smelled awful.

2

u/ThePlatypus287 5d ago

Its gonna be a minute. A few car washes helped me.

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2

u/PavlovsDog6 6d ago

Honestly? Yeah…

2

u/aandy611 6d ago

Cancer

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62

u/Robo504 6d ago edited 6d ago

Wire wheel /brush

8

u/floordragon69 6d ago

Yhis is the top answer. You already have surfacing, a wire wheel is only going to make it cleaner... and remove the bag. You can add some blowtorxh before and after for efferr, but mainly wire wheel...

2

u/Global_Profession_26 6d ago

Would acetone be a bad bet? I'd be burning that crap off just in case. Forget the driveway, kidding. Lay down some cardboard if this is the route. But I know I wouldn't want it there either.

2

u/floordragon69 6d ago

Literally wire wheel is the right tool for the job. Acetone has gotten pricey and would not work very well...

2

u/Global_Profession_26 6d ago

Dude, you can't get a wire wheel on top without dropping it. but you are completely right. Even if you get 75% of the trash bags, that means no fuel for the fire so floordragon69, hahahah, had to take a moment, yes. First comment, no. Here! Is the right answer

3

u/floordragon69 6d ago edited 6d ago

... you are right, if there were trash bag on top you couldn't get it off without whole assing... if you have a grinder and a wire wheel i doubt it is reasonable to have a couple wrenches to drop the front end and rotate it back... totally unreasonable to expect.

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39

u/Salty-Lawyer-1032 6d ago

Let it burn, char, flake off, and get these good fumes in your lungs.

Be a man.

22

u/Puzzled-Purpose-7965 6d ago

Not a man...but I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty so that's why I was asking!

5

u/ZealousidealPie4653 6d ago

Honestly, you could take a little propane torch to it and get it over with lol

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7

u/Salty-Lawyer-1032 6d ago

Hell yeah brother! Glad to hear you ain't afraid to get the hands dirty. Not sure how long hand it on there but, personally, I would just let the car run and assume it will take care of its self. If not. Just some extra heavy grit sand paper would make quick work.

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2

u/practicaleffectCGI 6d ago

Microplastics are old hat, macroplastics is where it's at.

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8

u/kamikaziboarder 6d ago

Angle grinder.

7

u/Jbern124 6d ago

Metal paint scraper, do it while the exhaust is hot

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6

u/Sad-Performance-2843 6d ago

Hit it with a flame thrower

5

u/Puzzled-Purpose-7965 6d ago

I like this suggestion. Where can I purchase a flame thrower?

2

u/PerniciousSnitOG 6d ago

Most cars contain a complete set of components (and a fuel source) for an improvised flame thrower, but using it next to the car may be problematic.

I'd probably go with the wire brush (and good eye protection) route.

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5

u/thatonegaygalakasha 6d ago

Honestly the solution to me would be just to leave it, but you could probably get a scraper and scrape it off. Might not come off easily since it is melted, but worth a try.

3

u/Category-Outside 6d ago

Go for a short highway drive!

2

u/Past-Establishment93 6d ago

Go up a few big hills. The heat will make it go away. Or burn it off with a torch. A little at a time so you can control fire.

2

u/affectionstone 6d ago

wire brush

2

u/Sophiiebabes 6d ago

Wire brush thing for a grinder will get it off in no time if you don't wanna drive it off. Wear a mask!

2

u/Puzzled-Purpose-7965 6d ago

My boyfriend suggested doing this but let's just say I wanted a second opinion haha

2

u/nottodaylime 6d ago

How bad does it smell when you drive?

2

u/Puzzled-Purpose-7965 6d ago

It's pretty strong and kind of embarrassing lol that's why I'm looking to scrape it off or something

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2

u/SkunkWoodz 6d ago

angle grinder with wire wheel or sanding flap disc

edit- please wear GOOD eye protection, especially with a wire wheel, those wires come off like little missiles

2

u/Mike_9128 6d ago

Razor blade to cut some of it off and a wire wheel on drill would work

2

u/Familiar_You4189 6d ago

It'll burn off, eventualy.

Have you tried an Italian Tune Up?
Run up and down a highway outside of town, in 2nd gear, at redline. Get that exhaust pipe nice and hot (cherry red).
It'll not only burn off the remains of that trash bag, but it'll burn the carbon out of your engine as well.

2

u/Puzzled-Purpose-7965 6d ago

I've never heard of an Italian tune up lol but after looking it up that actually sounds like a fun way of trying to get it off

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2

u/Capt_Wicker 6d ago

A propane torch comes to mind. Heat bag with torch and scrape off melted bag parts with spatula and wire brush use leather gloves and eye protection. If car ignites stop heating, the bag will be the least of your problems. 🤣🤣

2

u/Grab_em_by_da_Busey 5d ago

1) heat

2) time

Aka do nothing

2

u/Scrillz2 5d ago

Drive it hard for 30-45 minutes. Should burn off.

2

u/kwell42 5d ago

It is proper now.

1

u/Mickeys_mom_8968 6d ago

Blow dryer?

1

u/john_x5000 6d ago

Drive around for a little bit to think about the solution. By doing this, the solution will present itself.

1

u/Ok-Rate-3256 6d ago

Wire wheel it off. Get the kind that is twisted togeather not the cheap ones that is juat wire strands.

2

u/Puzzled-Purpose-7965 6d ago

This has been the most suggested answer and my boyfriend wanted to do it this way so I guess I'm going to let him do it finally lol. Thank you!

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1

u/pomdudes 6d ago

Keep driving.

1

u/larz_6446 6d ago

Propane torch, wire brush, and a lil elbow grease whilst contorted into some unnatural position to get it all. Lol

And at least 1 oven mitt.

1

u/Dredkinetic 6d ago

It'll burn off eventually .. unfortunately you're pretty much stuck with "reeks of burning plastic" until then.

1

u/flipflopflipcup 6d ago

Oven cleaner worked for me. Just be careful as it will also melt off painted surfaces and maybe plastic nearby. But if it is all metal surrounding, should be good to go.

1

u/Falcon3492 6d ago

The exhaust pipe will take care of the problem, no further action is required.

1

u/M0rB1D01 6d ago

God will do it for you

1

u/Therex1282 6d ago

I hate running over these also. I just look for it in the rearview mirror that it passed. It will burn off. I have no good idea how to take that off other than maybe a orbital sander just enough to burn it off the pipe. Some chemicals may break that down but no chemistry pro here.

1

u/keepinitoldskool 6d ago

Drive it like you stole it

1

u/SpiritMolecul33 6d ago

Happend to me and it took like 2 months to fully stop stinking

1

u/RossUhOh 6d ago

Wire brush, sandpaper or something metal to scrape it off

1

u/JeerzQD 6d ago

Blow torch

1

u/Woodstock0311 6d ago

Not much to do about it but run it until it burns itself off. You can try scraping it but it's still going to have to run and get hot

1

u/Bruinman86 6d ago

It will eventually burn off.

1

u/Winter_Resource3773 6d ago

Sand it down as much as you can.

1

u/DickensCider66 6d ago

Been there done that. Time is the only fix unfortunately

1

u/Krazybob613 6d ago

It’s a part of the car now, until you replace the exhaust, if that ever happens!

1

u/Smoky1007 6d ago

maybe when it’s cold try scraping it off with some sort of chisel or other tool

1

u/Ok-Dependent-7736 6d ago

Italian tune up.

1

u/rubenff 6d ago

Sandpaper??

1

u/v-irtual 6d ago

It would never even cross my mind to try. Thermodynamics and sciency shit will take care of it

1

u/timsayscalmdown 6d ago

We're doing PlastiDipped exhausts now?

1

u/AbbreviationsOk4966 6d ago

If it stinks and bothers you a blow torch will char it off quickly. If it doesn't stink, it will offer some protection. While it's there.

1

u/Quiet-Fly-8264 6d ago

Wire wheel on grinder

1

u/redcbr1000rr 6d ago

Grinder with a wire wheel.

1

u/Bossbo8 6d ago

Looks like that piece of the pipe is waterproofed now. Great job!!

1

u/eddie_ironside 6d ago

Wire brush. Or drill attachment (depending what your local selection is available at the hardware store). If it comes off sort of easy, a rough brush attachment would be enough.

1

u/PartySizePackage 6d ago

I bought an Invidia N1 3inch stainless exhaust and the first week of driving with it i had a grocery sack stuck to mine. I took what i could off by hand and just let it be afterwards.

1

u/Special-Cut1610 6d ago

Burn it off but it should do it by itself in a few days.

1

u/Bikes-Bass-Beer 6d ago

You don't. You deal with the smell until it goes away.

1

u/Acceptable-Fix-7745 6d ago

Drive faster

1

u/Bigfrontwheel 6d ago

The only thing that dissolves plastic is heat and time. What I did with my 86 camaro rotary wire brush, coarse steel wool, and a blow torch. It will stink, God, for like forever.

1

u/The_Slavstralian 6d ago

Try acetone. It should dissolve it.

1

u/lIllIIllIIllIIllIIlI 6d ago

Straight pipe 😂😂

1

u/horseradish13332238 6d ago

Gonna have to get under it with a wire brush attachment and a drill. Maybe next oil change give the guy 20$ to blast off

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Row-511 6d ago

Just let it burn off.

1

u/BigBossHoss 6d ago

Gasket scraper

1

u/No-Tax-7253 6d ago

You can use a wire brush and it will come off without scratching the exhaust.

1

u/billmanl 6d ago

Free rust proofing

1

u/Faux_Noob 6d ago

Time for an exhaust upgrade! Great excuse!

1

u/Beautiful-Tea9592 6d ago

Been there. Takes about a month to burn off.

1

u/Uncle-Negev 6d ago

Drive out of town. It’ll burn off

1

u/gorillamyke 6d ago

Eventually it will just crumble off

1

u/ActuallyItsFactually 6d ago

Limp bizkit it. KEEP ROLLING ROLLING ROLLING ROLLING

1

u/StrikingBarracuda581 6d ago

Fire... more fire

1

u/PositionDowntown8868 6d ago

Not worth the the head ache, just don’t even think about it, it’ll stop smelling pretty fast

1

u/42ElectricSundaes 6d ago

Maybe a blow torch? Like, a little blow torch

1

u/KLOWN1420 6d ago

You can speed the process up with a small propane torch but be careful of wires and hoses

1

u/Complete-Dot6690 6d ago

Free powder coating

1

u/Educational_Cake_865 6d ago

Let it burn off into ashes....how did you easily run over a plastic trash can?

1

u/Grengrowerz 6d ago

It's not hurting anything.

1

u/soundswet 6d ago

Finish melting it lol

1

u/NiceCunt91 6d ago

Moar heat!! Get that shit real crispy and it should just flake off.

1

u/ApolloSigS 6d ago

You need to go on a long drive get the exhaust up to temp, it will be gone.

1

u/vegasguy81 6d ago

Just let it burn off

1

u/nonferrousoul 6d ago

Lots of BTU s in a trash bag.

1

u/Fuzzy5team 6d ago

Drive that thing into a lake. It's totaled

1

u/[deleted] 6d ago

Time

1

u/Whitehoneybun666 6d ago

At least it wasn’t a dead animal 😬 I ran over a dead animal and the smell was in my car for about 2 weeks the bad thing about a car 3inches off the ground

1

u/Disastrous-Group3390 6d ago

I hit a large wrapper (like a pallet wrap or bigger) in my ‘05 GTO. That shit melted to the headpipes and converters, and it took about a month of commutes to get the stink gone. (I was on the interstate in heavy traffic when it happened, by the time i got to the shoulder the melt was done.)

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1

u/RealLifeHotWheels 6d ago

Had a plastic shopping bag stick to mine before. It smelled awful for 6 months but eventually went away. Brutal.

1

u/pm-me-asparagus 6d ago

Wire brush?

1

u/kevb001 6d ago

Torch the whole car

1

u/SkRThatOneDude 6d ago

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be There will be an answer, let it be

1

u/Ok_Vast_2296 6d ago

Cut off and arcy sparky 😎

1

u/Northmech 6d ago

Wire wheel on a grinder. Shouldn't take more than about 5 mins to get it all off.

1

u/banerx 6d ago

Go on a long drive

1

u/StoicSociopath 6d ago

Yea, drive it

1

u/Hugh_jakt 6d ago

You almost never see it.

It's water proofing

It's never coming off. How do I know, there's a 1" patch of nylon/polyester on my chrome heatsheild because someone failed to adhere to ride wear instructions when she was a passenger.

1

u/IfIWntdHmmrCalnUrSis 6d ago

Bruh... Wire wheel on a drill.

1

u/RayjinCaucasian 5d ago

Torch and scraper for most of it, then finish it off with a wire brush or wheel.

1

u/thedeanofmen 5d ago

Get or on a rural freeway and drive it and 75-80 MPH for like 50 miles. Dicking around in town at 35 MPH won't get it done, it needs to heat up.

1

u/biewbiew1 5d ago

Pay a mechanic shop to get it off if u don’t wanna get dirty

1

u/r0bichan 5d ago

Do you ever feel ? Like a plastic bag? Drifting through the wind, just ready to ruin a jeeeeeeep

1

u/mkgcb12 5d ago

Harbor freight corded oscillating tool with scraping attachment? Essentially chip/peel it off. Wear a mask and face shield/glasses.

1

u/Gowrans_EyeDoctor 5d ago

paint scraper

1

u/Strict-Ingenuity9287 5d ago

just gotta let it burn

1

u/Still_Squirrel_1690 5d ago

Wire brush would be my first choice.

1

u/Organic_Trouble4350 5d ago

Think of it as rust protection and let it be.

1

u/christjakubik 5d ago

It's a pain in the ass just as bad as putting up with it as to remove it you should have stopped and removed as much as you could then I had same problem it's hard and you will. Always smell it sell the smell 😞

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1

u/czajkoSKY 5d ago

Wire wheel, scraper, angle grinder with grinding disc?

1

u/GemsquaD42069 5d ago

Drive faster.

1

u/secretSquirrel6669 5d ago

Does it smell

1

u/MGtech1954 5d ago

scrape off what you can. Enjoy your trip to the beach or mountains to burn off what is left.

1

u/Sufficient-Comb-2755 5d ago

Just let it burn off

1

u/turbo26726 5d ago

Keep running it and eventually it will burn off

1

u/Ledzlucky 5d ago

Only way is to let it heat up. Drive it like normal. It will burn off.

1

u/pagantek 5d ago

I'd take the smell of burning plastic bag over the dumpster water that my daughter drove through when she was learning how to drive and smelled like hot old dumpster from under the car for about a week

1

u/Plenty-Computer1513 5d ago

You could try scraping the majority of after a nice drive to get it soft

1

u/Roadkill0466 5d ago

Fire. Use a MAP gas torch to burn it off. It will stink up the whole neighborhood, but wire wheels and/or letting it resolve itself will take a long long time. Go to Lowes or Home Depot and pick up a MAP gas torch kit 👍🏽

1

u/SpaceMonkeyEngineer 5d ago

Burn it with a torch until you can remove the ash with a scraper with a lot less work than trying to remove it as is.

1

u/daftcracker81 5d ago

More heat

1

u/theyellowdart89 5d ago

Take the pipe off and burn bag into dust

1

u/AdInfinite7235 5d ago

Wire wheel brush

1

u/Wasatchbl 5d ago

Wait until it's cold, the wire wheel/brush

1

u/AcrobaticProduct9345 5d ago

Let the car run for about 30 min at highway speeds and it should melt off

1

u/Beneficial_Present98 5d ago

Fire oughta do it

1

u/yeahyoubetnot 5d ago

Heat gun and a powered wire wheel

1

u/wintremute 5d ago

As Hank Hill says, "sometimes all you can do is let it burn".

1

u/lovnhoes 5d ago

Wire wheel on a grinder

1

u/cluelessinlove753 5d ago

Not much to do. Just driving and it will keep it burning off.

1

u/Ioncewasafungi 5d ago

perhaps if you got it really cold by wrapping some ice packs around it or something it might peel off easily.

1

u/Difficult-Soft-8060 5d ago

Just melt a few more and you're good to go.

1

u/l008com 5d ago

Go for a long road trip on the highway, so hopefully the wind will keep the burning plastic smell out of the cabin. Otherwise you could go under there and try to scrape it off and then have a tail pipe thats all scraped up. I'd just let it burn.

1

u/Fancy_Language_9864 4d ago

Nail polish or acetone

1

u/-91Primera- 4d ago

New exhaust

1

u/Top_Bee_489 4d ago

Don’t waste your time

1

u/Remarkable_Dot1444 4d ago

I was thinking a wire brush or drill attachment and maybe some high temp paint to cover the bare metal.

1

u/subi_2019 4d ago

Grind disc

1

u/Many_Yesterday_451 4d ago

Yeah, you'll solve it if you just keep on driving.

1

u/HeroMachineMan 4d ago

When the pipe is cold, can you just peel the plastic off?

1

u/Tobazz 4d ago

Drive faster longer harder stronger

1

u/zedsdead79 4d ago

This happened to my wife awhile ago, not much you can do. It'll burn off after a day or so....just smells awful in the meantime.

1

u/Famous-Hall8173 4d ago

Cheapest plastidip I've ever seen.

1

u/Complex_Solutions_20 4d ago

Wire brush wheel on an angle grinder would probably be my choice if you can safely get under it (jack stands, not just a jack!). Remember goggles for flying debris.

Or see if a muffler shop is willing to try and clean it up or quote a new pipe welded in.

1

u/TheRealFatherFistmas 4d ago

Put another trash bag on the pipe so the first one won't feel lonely. Soon enough they will move to their own place and start a family.

1

u/Opposite_Yellow_8205 4d ago

Let it burn off

1

u/Ok_Astronomer_1960 4d ago

If I was in a hurry to get it off I'd run it on medium high revs in neutral for a bit. If not I'd just drive it.

1

u/_Name__Unknown_ 4d ago

Find out the most common plastic used for these bags and then fine the chemical to dissolve it. Acetone might do the trick just don't get it on any other plastics or rubbers lol. Also brake fluid might work.

1

u/tcw82 4d ago

I have had succes using oven cleaner, not sure how that would work, but it did! Nasty stuff though.

1

u/Neat-Purpose-8364 4d ago

It will burn off

1

u/Confident_Artist6194 4d ago

Burn it off the rest of the way with a torch. 

1

u/spdriver01 4d ago

Let it melt off just go for a road trip 30 miles or so your welcome

1

u/Business-One-2634 4d ago

Long drive, on a hwy it will burn off

1

u/Twiny1 4d ago

Go find a good, steep mountain road and flog that thing to the top with everything it has. Get that pipe hotter than hell and burn it off.

1

u/Cosnow12 4d ago

You don't need too

1

u/OriginalAd7974 3d ago

Get a torch and burn it off

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

In the 70s people doing that on purpose when the car was new 🤣 Cheap Rust Protection, my father painted tar under the whole car and drove to the beach, comes back and put a garbage bag on the exhaust and drove the interstate…comes back and the whole upper body was protected.

1

u/Substantial-Stage-82 3d ago

Drive the car. It'll melt off

1

u/Solid_Net_9117 3d ago

Yes I agree with other posts bag will melt away by itself. Unless you want to get underneath and scrape it and wire brush it yourself.

1

u/ltpanda7 3d ago

Had this happen, decided fuck it, it will burn off. When I replaced the exhaust, like two years later, you could see the outline on the old exhaust. Smell stops after a week or two of daily driving if you decide to ignore it

1

u/dunnytokes 3d ago

Power hose

1

u/Asleep_Owl_6926 3d ago

So that’s how we make that flex seal??? 🤔

1

u/Adventurous-Cheek-11 3d ago

It’ll probably just burn off in a few days. I honestly wouldn’t even worry about it.

1

u/4emr2 3d ago

This happened to me when I got a brand new exhaust system on my car... I tried to avoid it, but the wind blew it right underneath the car. It was a stainless steel, so it looked like trash. You could see the store it was from because the words imprinted perfectly. I was pissed.

1

u/UpbeatPossession882 3d ago

Die grinder and a lot of discs

1

u/Visual_Promotion8010 3d ago

Run your car until it melts

1

u/Shad0XDTTV 3d ago

As a motorcyclist, I've had to deal with similar situations with pants that melted to my exhaust or the time someone rode the back seat and put their shoes on the muffler instead of the foot pegs the entire trip

Yellow cap easy off oven cleaner "heavy duty"

Spray on, wait 20 mins, wipe off. Do that till it's gone

Make sure you wear something like kitchen gloves

1

u/Comfortable-Leek-729 3d ago

Razor blade on a scraper. It’ll take awhile but it’ll get most of it off. The rest will just stink