Remove Bitumen, Heavy Oil & Hydrocarbon Deposits
Chemistry Built for the Toughest Soils
Industrial cleaning and degreasing chemistry for heavy equipment, oil sands operations, oilfield services, and hydrocarbon-fouled process equipment. High flash points. Ultra-low VOC. Made for the field.
Ultra-High Flash Point | VOC-Free Options | Field-Proven in Oil Sands
Tell Us What You Need to Clean
We respect your privacy. Your information will not be shared.
Supplied in pails, drums, totes and bulk.
Tell us the volume you run and we will quote the format that fits it. Most inquiries get a response within one business day.
What Happens When You Request a Recommendation
A Guardian industrial cleaning specialist will contact you to understand your application, your deposit, and your cleaning challenges.
Our team will review your deposit, surface, and operating conditions — and if needed, our lab will test your soil to identify the most effective chemistry.
We’ll provide a product recommendation, application guidance, and a quote — with no obligation to proceed.
If the solution makes sense for your operation, we’ll arrange supply, provide application training, and support you from day one.
The Challenge of Heavy Hydrocarbon Soils
Bitumen, heavy oil, crude, tar, asphalt, and oil sands deposits are among the most difficult soils to clean in any industrial operation. These deposits bond aggressively to metal surfaces, resist conventional cleaners, and often require multiple applications with traditional solvents.
But cleaning performance is only part of the challenge. Conventional solvent degreasers often come with low flash points, high VOC content, and aspiration hazards that create unnecessary risk for your workers and may not comply with environmental regulations.
The solution isn’t more product—it’s the right product. Guardian’s deposit analysis identifies the most effective chemistry for your specific soil, surface, and operating conditions.
How to Choose the Right Degreaser for Hydrocarbon Soils
When selecting a degreaser for heavy hydrocarbon deposits, consider four factors:
- Deposit Type: Water-based cleaners handle light soils. Solvent-based cleaners dissolve heavy oils. Hybrid degreasers handle the toughest deposits — like oil sands, which combine dirt, sand, and heavy oil together. The deposit determines the chemistry.
- Flash Point: A higher flash point means safer handling, especially in enclosed spaces and hot environments. Look for flash points above 80°C for general use and above 95°C for heated applications. Guardian’s TerraSol ULV offers a flash point above 95°C.
- VOC Content: Canada’s VOC legislation limits volatile organic compound content in solvents and degreasers. Ultra-low VOC and VOC-free options reduce emissions and health risks without sacrificing cleaning performance. Breakaway VF is completely VOC-free.
- Application Method: Will you spray, soak, circulate, or foam? Different formulations are optimized for different application methods. A thixotropic gel like D-Rex clings to vertical surfaces for extended dwell time. A low-foam formula like Addisol LF is better for circulation systems.
Need help choosing? Our lab can test your deposit and recommend the best product.
Read our full guide: “Water-Based vs. Solvent-Based Cleaners: How to Choose.”
Chemistry for Every Hydrocarbon Cleaning Challenge
Whether you’re cleaning haul trucks in a wash bay, stripping bitumen from a shovel, or degreasing oilfield process equipment — the deposit determines the chemistry.
Heavy Equipment & Wash Bays
Oil Sands & Bitumen Removal
Oilfield Equipment & Services
Fleet & Transportation
Shutdown & Turnaround Chemistry
Paving & Road Maintenance
What Sets Guardian Apart
Finding the right chemistry is only part of the equation. Here’s why 4,000+ clients trust Guardian to get it right.
Custom Formulations
We don’t force-fit products from a catalog. Our R&D lab analyzes your deposit and formulates the right chemistry for your exact application—deposit, surface, temperature, and operating conditions.
Technical Support
Product selection is just the start. We provide deposit analysis, dilution guidance, field trials, application training, and ongoing program optimization. We’re there when you need us.
Safety-Forward Chemistry
High flash points (>95°C), ultra-low VOC, and VOC-free formulations, with less fire risk and solvent vapour than conventional solvents. Our chemistry meets or exceeds Canada’s VOC legislation.
Proven in the Field
65+ years serving oil sands, mining, manufacturing, transportation, and heavy industry. 4,000+ clients across North America trust Guardian.
Featured Cleaners and Degreasers
Is Your Current Degreaser Working Hard Enough?
If your current degreaser has a low flash point, high VOC content, or requires multiple applications, there’s a better option.
Our deposit analysis identifies the most effective product for your specific soil — often cleaning in a single application where conventional solvents need two or three. The result: less chemical, less labour, less downtime, and less risk.
Compare the safety and performance of your current chemistry against Guardian’s ULV and VF series.
Read our guide: “The Best Oil Sands Degreasers for Your Operation.”
Related case studies
What Customers Say About Guardian’s Cleaning & Degreasing Solutions
“Guardian Chemicals is a trusted vendor. Responsive, helpful and providing great customer support, they are an important part of our team. Their products work as-advertised and are competitively priced.”
“Have dealt with Guardian many times over the years and they have always come through with great products and great solutions. Highly recommend!”
"We brought...Guardian Chemicals into our business to offer options to simplify our truck washing soap product line. [They] provided a single cost effective product that spans all of our various site needs and has been user accepted."
Cleaning & Degreasing Case Studies
Get a Product Recommendation
Tell us what you need to clean — the deposit, the equipment, the conditions — and a Guardian specialist will recommend the right chemistry for your operation. Most responses within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bitumen Removal and Heavy Equipment Cleaning Chemicals
For bitumen and heavy oil deposits, hybrid degreasers that combine solvent and water-based cleaning are most effective. TerraSol ULV (flash point >95°C, ultra-low VOC) is specifically formulated for bitumen, heavy oil, and oil sands deposits. Breakaway VF is a VOC-free alternative. Both clean in a single application in most cases.
Apply a solvent or hybrid degreaser formulated for heavy oil deposits. Allow appropriate dwell time for the degreaser to penetrate the deposit, then rinse with water. For best results, have your deposit analyzed to match the right chemistry to the specific soil. Factors like temperature, application method, and surface type affect the recommendation.
A VOC-free degreaser contains no Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs evaporate at room temperature and contribute to air pollution and health risks. VOC-free products like Breakaway VF eliminate these emissions while delivering effective cleaning performance for heavy oil, bitumen, and hydrocarbon deposits.
Yes. Guardian Chemicals manufactures and supplies industrial degreasers for oil sands operations throughout Alberta, including Fort McMurray and the Athabasca region. We provide drums, totes, and bulk supply with field support and technical guidance.
Send us a sample of your deposit or describe your application. Our laboratory analyzes the soil composition and tests it against our product range to identify the most effective chemistry. This ensures you get the right product the first time, reducing cleaning time and chemical consumption.
Struggling with Stubborn Deposits?
Tell us what you’re cleaning and our team will recommend the best chemistry for your application.
