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Stop Damaging Aluminum Surfaces on Your Fleets: Discover How SafeGuard AL Cleans without Tarnishing Aluminum
At a glance
A semi-truck and trailer wash bay faced challenges with high pH degreasers causing permanent damage to aluminum fuel tanks and chrome surfaces. SafeGuard AL replaced the previous cleaning agent and effectively cleaned all surfaces including aluminum and chrome without damage.
Key metrics
NO DAMAGE
TO ALUMINUM OR CHROME AT THIS SITE
REDUCED
CLEANING TIME BY 32 MINUTES PER TRUCK
ELIMINATED
DAMAGE FROM IMPROPER DILUTION OR DWELL TIME
Why high pH degreasers damage aluminum and chrome
Truck and trailer washes rely on strong, high pH cleaners to cut road film and grease. Aluminum and chrome do not tolerate those conditions well. Mixing errors or long dwell times can leave tarnish, white rust, etching and permanent discolouration on fuel tanks, checker plate and trim.
Many wash bays deal with this by covering those surfaces with blankets before washing. That protects the metal, but it adds time to every truck.
This semi-truck and trailer wash bay had been damaging aluminum and chrome with its previous cleaner, and blanketing surfaces was slowing the line.
Challenges
This fleet wash operation struggled to clean trucks and trailers effectively without damaging aluminum and chrome surfaces. Previous cleaners caused discoloration, tarnish, etching, white rust, and corrosion. Blankets were placed on these surfaces prior to cleaning to prevent damage, however this process was labour-intensive and inefficient.
Solutions
Guardian Chemicals introduced SafeGuard AL, a cleaner specially formulated to clean all vehicle surfaces including aluminum and chrome without causing damage. This product eliminated the need for a protective covering (blanket) and effectively cleaned off oil, grease, dirt, and other soils.
Results
No More Damaged Aluminum or Chrome
SafeGuard AL could be applied to all exterior fleet surfaces without the worry of damaging aluminum or chrome. Damages caused by errors in product dilution or dwell time were eliminated.
No Need to Cover Aluminum or Chrome
SafeGuard AL eliminated the need to protect aluminum and chrome surfaces including checker plate with blankets.
One-Product Solution
Aluminum and Chrome surfaces could be cleaned at the same time with one-product. Elimination of multiple cleaning products and need to blanket aluminum and chrome reduced cleaning time by 32 minutes per truck and trailer.
Data
SAFEGUARD AL is a non-caustic cleaner designed to effectively clean hard surfaces including aluminum. Specially formulated to quickly and effectively penetrate and remove a wide variety of hydrocarbon (light and heavy oils) and inorganic based soils including carbon. SAFEGUARD AL is an excellent choice for high temperature applications including steamers.
Frequently asked questions
What is SafeGuard AL?
A cleaner for all exterior vehicle surfaces, suitable for aluminum and chrome at the recommended use dilution. At this site, it caused no damage to either.
Do aluminum and chrome still need to be covered?
No. SafeGuard AL removed the need to blanket aluminum, chrome and checker plate.
How much time did it save?
32 minutes per truck and trailer, from using one product and skipping the blanketing step.
What about damage from dilution or dwell time mistakes?
The site reported no further damage to aluminum or chrome after the switch.