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The Best Chemicals for Truck Washes

While there's certainly overlap, Truck washes face different challenges to car washes as they serve a different market. Trucks are bigger, can get much dirtier, and are often harder to clean, which is why you will want to be sure your chemical selection is the best it can be to tackle the job. Optimal chemicals will make the process easier, more cost efficient, and will leave you with better results.

In this article, we will introduce you to some considerations surrounding truck wash chemistry, and solutions you should look for!

What is a Commercial Truck Wash?

A truck wash supplies a great clean to large vehicles such as trucks, buses and industrial fleets who accumulate all types of dirty grime, debris, and road film.

The process involves applying specialized products and rinsing to remove dirt, salt, oil, grease, mud, and other contaminants from the vehicle's exterior and even those hard-to-clean fifth wheels!  

What makes a Truck Wash different than a Regular Car Wash?

Ultimately, even though both types of washes will use chemicals and equipment in a wash bay, they can differ greatly.  

While automatic truck wash facilities do exist, you're more likely to see manual (or self-serve) wash bays or mobile wash solutions with pressure washing wands to apply chemistry and rinsing.

Automatic truck washes on the other hand have machinery applying chemical and rinsing that moves around the truck (or alternatively, the truck slowly drives through it). Standard car wash facilities could not service trucks as they are not designed to handing the scale of these big vehicles, needing specially sized equipment including pressure washers and brushes that will deliver great results all around the large truck.


Truck Wash Chemicals: What you need to know

Truck wash chemicals are largely the same as chemicals for other vehicles, but they may have  differences in pH, as well as their strength in cleaning. Trucks handle some tough, dirty work, and truck washes are primarily focused getting a squeaky clean truck, more so than the shiniest, spot-free finish that is the goal of most car washes (though many truck washes add these features too with drying agents and sealants as part of the wash package).

There are some some chemicals a truck wash will want have for its business. At Turtle Wax Pro, we focus on premium chemistry for car washes, yet we'd like to mention that our parent company, Transchem Group, develops other chemistry lines as well. Today, we will be recommending some solutions from the AutoLux line, which makes a full line of powerful chemicals for cleaning powerhouse vehicles, like trucks, buses and other industrial and fleet vehicles.  

Presoaks

These truck wash supplies are designed to loosen the dirt and grit from your truck's exterior. They are usually applied at the start of the wash process, removing tough grime and allowing the other chemicals to do their job effectively.

Recommended Presoak:

ALCS-410/Discovery - Discovery is an extra-strength presoak that penetrates and removes the toughest dirt and grease from painted surfaces without scrubbing. As a bonus, at high concentrations, it can be used as a degreaser, engine cleaner, and even remove diesel exhaust stains.

Truck Wash Soaps and Detergents

Truck wash soaps are designed to cut through grease, oil and road grime, bugs and more. They can produce a lot of suds which help to lubricate the vehicle’s surfaces and carry dirt particles away with rinsing.

Recommended Products:

ALCS-14/Maxiclean Plus - This high pH cleaner that is designed to remove the toughest of road film and diesel tracking. This cleaner is so strong that it can even work if you have hard water present!

ALCS-440/PURPLE PLUS - This multi-purpose cleaner/degreaser is designed to clean engines, carpets, tires and vinyl siding.

Surface Protectants

Surface protectants are used to add protection and shine to vehicles. Protection from UV rays, swirl marks, and other elements will keep the surface looking great by adding a thin barrier from the outside world. Surface protectants come in a variety of forms such as waxes, ceramic coatings, and sealants.

Recommended Protectant:

ALCS-485/Cherry Sealant - Cherry Sealant is a scented paint sealant that enhances surface shine and protection.

Aluminum Brighteners

Aluminum brighteners are an important chemical for truck washes as they help to restore polished aluminum surfaces. They help remove oxidation, discoloration, and other marks that may have been left on your truck’s polished aluminum wheels or exterior pieces.

Recommended Product to Brighten Aluminum:

ALCS-891/Aluminum Brightener - This is a powerful cleaner formulated to help remove road film, corrosion, rust, fuel stains, and oxidation from aluminum and stainless-steel trailers and tankers.


Looking for a truck wash supplier? Reach out to Transchem Group

Commercial Truck Wash Chemicals that Deliver Results

Discover the best truck wash supplies for commercial vehicles, with AutoLux, from Transchem Group. The best products will tackle road grime, removing bugs, and unwanted exterior matter from paint, glass, plastic, metal and other surfaces! Expect exceptionally clean results, reliably.

Looking for Premium Car Wash solutions?

You're in the right place with Turtle Wax Pro. Backed by 75 years of experience in the car care industry, Turtle Wax Pro offers some of the best car wash chemicals on the market.

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