Heavy vehicle fleet washing protocol

This protocol describes the exterior washing procedure for lorries, coaches and tankers operated by transport, logistics and distribution companies, using the products in the Instaquim automotive catalogue. The process integrates an insect cleaner pre-spray, engine and underbody degreasing, high-pressure bodywork washing with an alkaline detergent and, in facilities with an automatic tunnel, a rinse-aid polish. All doses and times come from the technical data sheets of each product.

Materials required

• Carclean: high-pressure bodywork detergent, dose of 10 to 50 g/l for light soiling and from 50 % to neat for heavy soiling and engines
• Carin: insect cleaner and bodywork detergent, dose of 10 to 50 g/l
• Desgrasol MO: emulsifiable engine degreaser, 1:4 mix with water
• Box car (reverse-osmosis water, 4 to 8 g/l at the nozzle) or Box car + (hard water, 2 to 6 g/l at the nozzle): powder alternative for facilities with a powder dosing unit
• Ceracar (5 to 8 g/l) or Ceracar + (3 to 5 g/l): polish for the final rinse in automatic tunnels
• Tapis: detergent for coach upholstery and carpets, diluted at 5 %
• Carclean T: detergent for the wash bay floor with a scrubber-dryer, 0.5-3 % dilution
• Mains, reverse-osmosis or softened water depending on the product chosen

Step-by-step procedure

1. Pre-wash inspection of the vehicle: Check the condition of the vehicle and identify areas with dried mud, insects encrusted on the front and mirrors, grease on the underbody and engine, and any pre-existing damage to paint, glass or livery. Note the initial condition in the fleet log and decide which steps of the protocol apply (for example, engine degreasing only when there is oil).
2. Pre-rinse with pressurised water: Remove gross dirt with the pressure washer, working from top to bottom and concentrating on wheels, wheel arches, bumpers and underbody. This pre-rinse reduces the soil load the detergent will have to dissolve and avoids dragging grit across the paint during brushing.
3. Insect pre-spray with Carin: Dilute Carin at 10 to 50 g/l and spray it on the front, windscreen, mirrors and front sides, where squashed insects accumulate. Its data sheet states that it works without scrubbing and with water at room temperature: spray, let it act for a few minutes without allowing it to dry, and rinse with plenty of water, preferably with a pressure washer. It does not attack aluminium.
4. Engine and underbody degreasing with Desgrasol MO: Only on vehicles with burnt oil or grease on the engine, gearboxes and underbody. Pre-mix Desgrasol MO with water at a 1:4 ratio, shake and spray on the surface: the emulsion forms a consistent foam that clings to vertical surfaces. Let it act for about 5-10 minutes and rinse with pressurised water. It is a flammable product: apply with the engine cold, with no ignition sources nearby and with full protective equipment.
5. Bodywork washing with Carclean: Apply Carclean with the high-pressure washer diluted at 10 to 50 g/l for light soiling; for heavy soiling the data sheet allows increasing from 50 % up to neat product. Cover the whole body from bottom to top to avoid streaks, let it act for a few minutes without drying and rinse. Carclean is indicated for lorries, coaches and tankers without scrubbing, contains no solvents and does not attack aluminium. In facilities with a powder dosing unit, the alternative is Box car (reverse-osmosis water, 4 to 8 g/l at the nozzle) or Box car + (hard water, 2 to 6 g/l at the nozzle).
6. Brushing critical areas: During the detergent's contact time, brush grilles, trim, steps, skirts and livery, where the jet does not reach well, with a soft-fibre brush. Work with the detergent still wet; if it has dried, spray again before brushing.
7. Pressure rinsing: Rinse with plenty of clean water from top to bottom, with a fan nozzle and several full passes, until no trace of foam or detergent remains on seals, rubbers and underbody. Incomplete rinsing leaves alkaline films that show on drying.
8. Rinse-aid polishing (automatic tunnel): In facilities with an automatic tunnel, dose Ceracar at 5 to 8 g/l or Ceracar + at 3 to 5 g/l in the final rinse. Both are indicated for rinsing and polishing bodywork and aid run-off and drying. In manual washing with a pressure washer this step is omitted.
9. Interior, wash bay floor and final inspection: On coaches, clean the upholstery with Tapis diluted at 5 %, by hand or with a spray-extraction machine. Scrub the wash bay floor with Carclean T at 0.5 to 3 % in a scrubber-dryer. Finish with an inspection under good light and record date, products, doses and observations in the fleet management system.

Verification and control

Check under uniform natural or artificial light that no insect residue remains on the front, no grease on the underbody, and no detergent films or streaks on the bodywork. Pay particular attention to door seals, window rubbers, grilles and steps, where unrinsed product tends to remain. Verify that the actual doses of the dosing unit or pressure washer match those on the technical data sheet; excess detergent does not clean more and makes rinsing more expensive. If white marks appear after drying, check the water hardness and consider switching to a product indicated for hard water such as Box car +. Record any deviation from the protocol and its cause in the log.

Safety and PPE

• Close-fitting safety goggles: Carclean, Carin and Carclean T carry hazard statements for eye damage or irritation
• Chemical-resistant gloves and clothing: the Carclean and Carin data sheets require gloves, protective clothing and goggles, and the Carin sheet also indicates skin irritation
• Desgrasol MO: flammable liquid and vapour, suspected of causing cancer and with an inhalation hazard; wear gloves, protective clothing and goggles, and respiratory protection if ventilation is insufficient. Keep away from heat, sparks and flames; no smoking
• Non-slip safety boots: the wash bay floor is permanently wet
• Hearing protection while using the pressure washer, according to the workstation risk assessment
• High-visibility vest in areas with vehicle traffic
• Do not mix products with one another and consult the safety data sheet of each one before use

Recommended Instaquim products

Bodywork detergents: Carclean is the liquid detergent for vehicle washing with high-pressure machines, with a pH at 1 % of 10 ± 1. Carin is the insect cleaner and bodywork detergent, with a pH of 12.8 ± 0.8, also suitable for street cleaning and other hard surfaces. Both can be used on aluminium.

Powder detergents for high pressure: Box car and Box car + are alkaline powder detergents with a pH at 1 % of 10.0 ± 0.5, designed for powder dosing units. The choice depends on the water: Box car for reverse-osmosis water and Box car + for hard water.

Engine degreaser: Desgrasol MO is a heavy-duty industrial degreaser for burnt oil on engines, gears and gearboxes, with very good adhesion to vertical surfaces.

Rinse-aid polishes: Ceracar (pH 3.5 ± 0.5) and Ceracar + (pH 4 ± 1) are acidic rinsing and polishing products for automatic tunnels.

Applicable regulations: The products in this protocol are classified and labelled in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) and comply with Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 on detergents and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH). Wash water containing detergents and engine oils must be managed in accordance with local discharge regulations, normally with an oil separator. Consult the technical data sheet and the safety data sheet of each product before use.

Frequently asked questions

What dose of Carclean is used for a lorry with normal soiling?

The Carclean technical data sheet specifies doses of 10 to 50 g/l for light soiling. For heavy soiling and engines, the dose rises to 50 % or even neat product. The usual practice is to start at the low end of the range and increase only if pressure rinsing does not remove all the dirt.

Can I use Carclean on aluminium cabs and tanks?

Yes. The Carclean technical data sheet specifies that it does not attack aluminium and contains no solvents. Carin shares that compatibility with aluminium. Even so, on polished wheel rims or anodised parts it is advisable to test on an inconspicuous area.

How do I remove the insects encrusted on the front before washing?

With Carin, a bodywork detergent indicated precisely for removing squashed insects before washing. It is sprayed diluted at 10 to 50 g/l, left to act for a few minutes without drying and rinsed with plenty of water, preferably with a pressure washer.

Which product do I use for the engine and underbody with burnt oil?

Desgrasol MO, an emulsifiable degreaser for engines and machinery. It is pre-mixed with water at a 1:4 ratio, sprayed, left to act for about 5-10 minutes and rinsed with pressurised water. It is a flammable product with demanding hazard statements: it must be applied with gloves, goggles and protective clothing, away from ignition sources.

What is the difference between Box car and Box car +?

Both are alkaline powder detergents for high-pressure bodywork washing, and the difference lies in the facility's water. Box car is indicated for reverse-osmosis water and is dosed so that the nozzle output is 4 to 8 g/l; Box car + is indicated for hard water and works at 2 to 6 g/l.

Can a rinse-aid polish be applied to heavy vehicles?

Ceracar and Ceracar + are indicated for rinsing and polishing bodywork in automatic tunnels: Ceracar at 5 to 8 g/l and Ceracar + at 3 to 5 g/l, always in the final rinse. If the fleet is washed by hand with a pressure washer and without a tunnel, this step is omitted.

And for the fleet's cars and vans that go through a tunnel?

For automatic car wash tunnels the catalogue offers Procar, a neutral detergent with a dose of 5 to 10 g/l, and Carfoam, a foaming detergent with a dose of 3 to 8 g/l. The final rinse is done with Ceracar or Ceracar + as for heavy vehicles.