Road Film

[James S]

I've been noticing the trucks that get washed at truck washes look like they the frame is waxed it's so clean. I use the two-step system and get all the paint on the cab clean, wheels, tires, etc. but I've been having problems getting the frames to shine like that. It's still leaving a film on there that keeps it from shining. Anyone have any tricks or suggestions? And I got asked to bid on some trucks that have a LOT of polished on them. Not much experience with polished....What do I need to watch for?

 

[Larry L.]

Some frames shine more than others,some will never shine.

Try prespraying a degreaser on the frames before you start with the 2-step.

Polish is another animal in its own little world,it can be easy damaged by the wrong type cleaners.It too can be 2-step with the right brightern,Ph acid not HF acid.

 

[James S]

I use a sulfuric acid that works wonders on regular aluminum, diamond-plate, and stainless but seems to do more harm than good on polished....Do you recommend a certain brand?

 

[Larry L.]

I use one with HF acid which also has sulfuric in the mix,it leaves a silky shine on the aluminum and doesn't turn things white like some aluminum brite does.

I use a PH acid on polished which does not have the cleaning power that the HF and sulfuric does and it doesn't damage polished.

I'd recommend looking around in your area for aluminum brite that has HF in the mix,check with a truckwash as to see where they get it.

 

[James S]

So pretty much when you wash say a Peterbilt, like a 379 you'll have to use ph based acid to keep from messing up that polished front clip or is there some way around that?

 

[Larry L.]

I'd say 99% of the clips on petes cann't handle the hard acid without messing them up and sometimes even a soft acid like the PH will do light damage if to strong.To me the front clips on petes is the sorriest metal to deal with when washing any type polished truck.

 

[James S]

I agree with you there 100%. I don't wash very many petes now but used to before I started two-stepping. I've got a few in a new contract and am trying to decide on an acid. Have to give my supplier a call and see what he's got.

 

[James S]

I'm still kinda new to two-stepping but I think maybe I've been leaving a film on there. I washed some bobtail dump-trucks earlier today and they shined real good but when I touched them when they dried it seemed I was rubbing a film off of the metal beds. Am I mixing something too much or too light?

 

[Larry L.]

Metal,if its sorta chalky white film it could be your mix is to strong or your not doing a good job in rinsing all the soap off.Some metal dumps will always leave a film nomatter how strong or weak the mix.To see if its your soap film after you have rinsed try reappling acid to one side of the dump and just rinse it off.It also could be in the type acid your buying,all are not made the same.Some leave a chalky film on metal some do not,try finding another one and see the differents.