FLEET MAINTENANCE PART I
EXTERIOR TRUCK WASHING

INTRODUCTION

This course is designed to provide information with regard to exterior truck washing. It will help you identify your prospects, make product recommendations, and provide helpful information for selling and applying truck wash products.

CHEMICAL APPLICATIONS

Today appearance maintenance is of increasing concern to anyone who has a fleet. Years ago it made little difference what a truck looked like on the highway. Its job was to get there and back with whatever load it might be carrying. But that was before the days of consumerism, ecology and advertising.

In the course of cleaning the exteriors of trucks and other vehicles, you will encounter various kinds and degrees of soils to be removed. The type of soil will depend on how much the vehicle is in service and on the locality where it is in operation. For example, the cleaning of a concrete truck presents quite a different problem than the cleaning of a milk truck.

Furthermore, you must consider on which surfaces various cleaning compounds are safe to be used. Very strong alkaline products while performing an excellent cleaning job will tend to attack body finishes after only a few applications. Likewise, weaker chemicals may not do an adequate cleaning job and may require scrubbing. Still other cleaning compounds if not rinsed properly will give a streaky, unsatisfactory cleaning job. The point is this - there are cleaning compounds available for almost every kind of cleaning job, and with regular and intelligent use, our chemicals can provide clean vehicles at an economical cost.

There are basically three soil areas of exterior cleaning that you will encounter:

    1. The removal of road film, dust and dirt from the average vehicle.

    2. The removal of grease, oil and encrusted dirt that accumulates on wheels, fifth wheels, undercarriages, etc.

    3. The cleaning of specialized vehicles that transport such loads as concrete, lime, etc.

In all cases, consideration must be given to the soil to be removed and the surface to be cleaned. Never use a product without considering these two factors. While soil removal is the objective, you want to avoid damaging the surface of the vehicle. Also, you'll usually find that one cleaning compound will not effectively clean a total vehicle. In most cases, two or more cleaning compounds will be needed to do the job.

The simplest cleaning problem you will encounter will be the removal of road film, soil and dust from the average vehicle like buses, package delivery vans, and truck cabs. These vehicles come in a variety of sizes with a variety of surfaces to be cleaned. The two most common surfaces you will encounter are painted and aluminum.

At this point you will have to find out from your prospect either by observation or by conversation what type of equipment he has for washing. Most shops have some type of pressure washing equipment; for example, a Graco 10:1 or 5:1 or electric powered centrifugal pump. If they don't, here is your opportunity to change them over from the "brush and plenty of elbow grease technique" to a more efficient operation. Once you know what equipment is available you can select the best product to do the job at the best using cost.

For cleaning the average truck or vehicle, the best cleaners are those detergents having wetting and emulsifying properties for speeding up the removal of the soil encountered. Infrequently washed vehicles with considerable soil build up on them will usually require some combination of concentrated cleaning solution, heat, dwell time and brush agitation for the best results.

From an appearance standpoint light colored vehicles will have to be cleaned more frequently than dark colored ones since dirt shows up more conspicuously on them. In fact, it is becoming a growing practice of many fleet operators to wash their vehicles after each run or at the end of each day. I'm sure no one has to tell you what this practice will do to your income especially if the operator is washing a hundred plus vehicles each day. With more frequent washings, vehicles will accumulate less soil build up. The results will be a situation where operators can change over to less concentrated - less expensive cleaning solutions than those used for infrequently washed vehicles.

GENERAL TRUCK WASHING

The most common cleaning problem involves the cleaning of painted surfaces. These will take the form of over-the-road tractors, route trucks and package delivery vans to name a few. You have a full line of general light duty vehicle cleaners at your disposal for this type of job. None of the products should be applied at temperatures above 160°F and a thorough rinse should be provided. If a white film remains on a vehicle after it has been rinsed and dried there is a good possibility that one or more of the following situations existed:

    1) A thorough rinse was not provided.
    2) Either the surface of the vehicle was very hot or the temperature of the detergent solution was too hot and            resulted in premature drying.
    3) Excessive product concentrations were used.

TRAILER CLEANING:

The hardest cleaning problem involves the cleaning of prepainted aluminum trailers and fiberglass reinforced (FRP) trailers. There are two very effective methods that can be used. The first involves using a high alkaline cleaner like TW 90 or TL-2, brushing it and then rinsing. The brushing step is necessary for breaking the surface bond of the soils. The second method is a "shock treatment" which, while expensive, will do an excellent job. The "shock treatment" consists of applying an acid product such as TL-1 to the vehicle and then immediately following it with an alkaline application without rinsing in between. KJP-230 will work in some situations for the alkaline application; however, TL-2 is formulated for transportation cleaning and will generally do a superior job. T20 Aluminum brightener can be used as an alternative acid product, but it is not as effective. When using the "shock treatment" both products should be used at approximately 1:30 concentration. HF (hydrofluoric) acid and alkaline products cause a chemical reaction which results in the loosening of the soil. CAUTION! Care must be taken when using this method. Be sure to apply the alkaline material first to glass and chrome areas as protection from acid etch which can occur from a acid overspray when cleaning a trailer. Finally, be sure to give the vehicle a thorough rinse.

Aluminum trailers present yet another problem. Here the object is not only to clean the vehicle, but also to brighten its surface. This can be done with either acid or alkaline brightener. Both kinds of brightener cause an etch in their cleaning process. Acid brightener produce a brighter finish job than do alkaline brightener and cannot be expected to perform equally. Milanco acid brighteners, M.A.B. and T-20 and the alkaline brightner, TL-2, will produce surfaces that are bright and free of corrosion. Brighteners are not just raw materials like some that are on the market. They contain inhibitors that allow them to act on dirt and soil without harshly affecting the aluminum surfaces. Don't misinterpret this, though! All brighteners will slightly attack the aluminum surface -- they act by removing the top layer of aluminum oxide which forms when aluminum is subjected to the environment. When this layer of aluminum oxide is removed, a bright, shiny aluminum surface remains. However, remember not to be disappointed when using an alkaline brightener. The finish job will be less dramatic than an acid job. The alkaline brightener is useful in areas where EPA restrictions prohibit the disposal of acids in the sewerage system.

The application of T-20 Aluminum Brightener requires some caution not only because they are highly acidic and alkaline products, but also because if misapplied can cause unsightly streaking. These products should be applied from the bottom-up, never from the top-down, in order to avoid streaking. After a short period of dwell time (never let these products dry on the trailer) follow with a thorough rinse in the same manner (from the bottom-up). In the case of M.A.B. or T-20 rinsing can take place after the product begins its etching action which is visible by a foaming reaction on the surface. Normal using concentrations will vary with these products and with temperatures. These products should be used in the range of 1:10 to 1:40 depending on the condition of the trailer. Keep in mind when heating these products that their chemical reaction will approximately double with every 50°F rise in temperature. This, however, does not mean that the cleaning ability doubles, but only increases, with a rise in temperature. Other variables like concentration, dwell time and agitation also play a part.

In some fleets, you will find aluminum trailers which have unsightly black areas on the front top corner(s). This is caused by an accumulation of diesel smut coming from the exhaust stack of the diesel tractor. TW-90 and TL-2 will eventually remove this, but only after repeated treatments. If your prospect or account should want to remove it fast, apply TL-2 at 1:25 through a pressure washer. Heat will aid the cleaning process since you are essentially removing a carbon soil. This soil will roll off of an aluminum trailer but brush agitation will most likely be required on an aluminum prepainted trailer. Again, be sure to start from the bottom-up to avoid streaks. Also, make sure that no painted signs or decals are near the area where you are working on the trailer -- these products could cause some discoloration or fading of the paint. This application must be immediately followed by a thorough rinse.

Do not attempt to do too large of an area. Remember these cautions when working with our aluminum trailer cleaners/brighteners:

    1) Avoid streaks by applying trailer cleaning products from the bottom-up.

    2) Immediately follow all applications with a thorough rinse starting from the bottom-up.

    3) Do not allow M.A.B. or T-20 to dry on glass -- it will cause a permanent etch.

    4) Do no t use M.A.B. or T-20 on anodized aluminum --it will cause a milky appearance that will have to be            hand buffed.

    5 ) Do not use TL-2 on or near painted signs or decals -- they may cause bleeding. Pretest a small area to            determine safety.

    6) Clean only small areas of the trailer at a time to avoid drying of the chemical on the surface, i.e. work no            more than 10' - 20’ sections at a time.

REFRIGERATED TRAILER CLEANING

Some common carriers and practically all food carriers have specialized temperature controlled trailers for hauling products such as meat, perishable food, and certain liquids which are susceptible to freezing. As a result these units are heavily insulated around floors, sides, and doors. Smooth fiberglass sections or aluminum are used on the inside walls and ceilings, and usually the floors are made out of rigid aluminum. In this case where foods are hauled, these trailers must be cleaned to meet rigid U.S.D.A. restrictions, and the cleaning material must be approved by the U.S.D.A. Most of these carriers clean the inside of these trailers with either a steam cleaner, high pressure hot water washer, or one of these combinations with foam. We have various U.S.D.A. approved liquids and powders which can be used to clean these units. Consult the factory for the correct cleaner for your application.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE (P.M.) CLEANING

Mechanics don't like to work in dirt and grease. Good shop foremen will not want them to work under these conditions because it slows them down and costs extra money in the long run in terms of downtime, equipment road failures, corrosion and labor. For example, a mechanic will spend at least an hour and a half each day cleaning up before maintenance procedures can be undertaken. These kinds of expenses, if excessive, can literally put a trucking company out of business.

Preventive maintenance cleaning means cleaning a vehicle to prepare it for a preventive maintenance check. This entails cleaning the entire power unit which consists of the engine, transmission, greasy fifth wheel, wheels and wheel wells, and chassis. Most fleet maintenance centers have steam cleaners or hot/cold pressure washers for this task. This kind of equipment as well as foam and central cleaning systems are very useful in any P.M. program.

If a company is not using a pre-soak of some type, here is where you can really cut time by selling either a solvent degreaser system or a foam detergent system. The solvent degreaser system is most useful on areas of great grease accumulation such as engines and fifth wheels. EC-320 cleaner in a universal sprayer will penetrate grease and oil fast and loosen it so that it can be flushed down. Spray this mixture on dirty greasy areas, allow a short dwell time (5 minutes) and rinse using a pressure washer or steam cleaner.

The foam detergent system may be preferable to the solvent degreaser system for most applications. However, it cannot be expected to replace it where there are heavy accumulations of grease and oil as may be found on fifth wheels or around lubrication fittings. Foam cleaning is a useful means of producing and applying a stable detergent foam onto the vehicle or wherever soaking action is desired. It is ideal for fleet maintenance programs where tractors are cleaned prior to inspection. Unlike the solvent degreaser system, it can be applied to painted surfaces for total tractor cleaning. A quart of concentrate detergent like TL-2 mixed at 1:10 is sufficient to completely foam down a tractor. This should be followed by an application of one half gallon of the same concentrate mixed at 1:50 through a steam cleaner or pressure washer to wash away the soil held in suspension by the foam. A final clear water rinse will make the tractor ready for inspection. Here are some of the reasons maintenance personnel will like working with foam:

    1) There is little splash back when the foam system is used. This makes the cleaning operation safer, more     economical and more pleasant than other systems used by personnel.

    2) A foam generating wand saves on the use of cleaning solutions by creating a thick lather which clings to      the vehicle. There is no detergent waste and it is less costly than solvent systems.

    3) Regular cleaning of tractors before preventive maintenance checks will remove caked on grease and dirt     making it possible for mechanics to spot effects faster and make repairs easier -- downtime is reduced!

    4) Foam cleaning helps improve the morale of maintenance personnel. It is fun and easy to use, and the           results of foam cleaning give personnel a sense of pride and accomplishment.

The methods just described are not essential to preventive maintenance cleaning but they offer cost and time saving advantages. Steam cleaning or pressure washing normally do the job. Steam cleaning is excellent where high temperatures are needed to melt down heavy grease and oil films. Steam cleaners depend on steam for their working pressures and have a practical operating rate of 60 - 100 p.s.i. at 300°F. However, steam vapors inhibit vision for cleaning especially in cool weather. Pressure washers like steam cleaners use pressure for scrubbing power but they are less costly to operate in terms of energy. Pressure washers cannot generate as much heat (controlled at 210°F or less on hot models) but can generate more pressure (generally 300 p.s.i. to 2000 p.s.i.) for faster cleaning and larger volume jobs. Pressure washers work very effectively when their cleaning nozzles are held 6' to 12" from the cleaning surface in order to take advantage of the spray's cutting edge.

Central cleaning systems which can combine one or more of the methods previously described provide maintenance crews with even greater flexibility. With this type of system power, heat and pumping facilities are in a central location. Then as many cleaning stations as necessary can be strategically positioned inside and outside the shop. The advantages of a central system include: multiple cleaning stations, elimination of several cumbersome machines, higher safety and sanitary conditions, and minimized operator handling.

There are four degrees of steam or pressure cleaning, depending on the job, and the amount of soil: light to medium duty, heavy duty, extra heavy duty and solventized cleaner needs.

SUMMARY

Every company operating a fleet of vehicles whether it be a truckline, busline, concrete company or other operator of a fleet of vehicles has the potential need to clean their vehicles. In doing so, the fleets can be washed either automatically or by utilizing labor. An inexpensive cleaner may provide satisfactory results for your conditions. If not, there are special purpose transportation cleaners built to do the job.