As winter edges closer, fleet owners in colder areas of the United States and Canada are not looking forward to the additional maintenance they need to do. Road salt is notorious for corroding the undercarriage of cars, buses and semi-trucks alike.
Despite the urge to avoid washing your vehicles because they’re going to get dirty again the next day, washing in winter is essential to keeping your fleet in top condition, reducing rust, corrosion, and pricey equipment failure. In this article, we’re going to look at everything you need to know about maintaining a clean fleet in winter.
Why is Winter Washing so Essential?
It can be hard to motivate your drivers or mobile washers to clean your vehicles in winter. They often have to stand out in the cold for hours while trying to get through a whole fleet. But there are many reasons winter washing is so important.
Road Salt
Driving in the snow can be dangerous, especially when you're hauling a full trailer on the interstate. Unfortunately, the same road salt used to make driving safer can wreak havoc on your fleet.
Road salt is extremely corrosive — it will eat away at the surface of your trucks and buses, their undercarriages, and even the metal framework.
Road Film
When road salts and other chemicals mix with truck oil, gasoline, and other contaminants, it creates a thicker film that can be more difficult or nearly impossible to dissolve with water alone. The longer this film sits on your trucks, the harder it is to remove, and it continually damages and erodes the vehicle.
Branding
Many trucking and distribution companies invest in large vinyl decals on their trailers. They help keep your brand top of mind for potential customers. But in areas of the country that experience heavy snowfall, it’s easy for them to get dirty or damaged.
The Best Way to Pressure Wash in Winter
When the temperature starts to drop, your everyday fleet washing detergents will seem to take a bit longer to activate — similar to washing your dishes, cold water makes it more difficult than warm. For the best results, we recommend using a 2-step wash system for the best, longest lasting clean.
However, if you’re dealing with below-freezing temperatures, a full wash might not be realistic. A simple high-power rinse might be the most practical way to clear some of that road salt off your vehicle until you’re able to get a deep clean in a warmer garage or environment.
Before you start hosing down and scrubbing your trucks, checkout our step-by-step guide for the most effective clean.
Tips for Effective Winter Clean
- Try to wash in a dry, warm area. Preferably this area is covered but try to at least wash in a location where the wind is blocked.
- Blend your detergents stronger than you do in the summer (if applicable).
- Use warm water to clean more efficiently.
- Knock off any mud, debris, or ice before applying your soaps onto the surface.
- Wash in smaller sections, so the chemical doesn't freeze between applications.
- Apply an acidic pre-soak (always start from the bottom and work upwards).
- Apply your alkaline detergent directly on top of the pre-soak.
- Perform a final rinse.
Importance of Temperature
It’s important to note that the optimal temperature for fleet washing in the winter depends on your climate and the specific weather on the day and time you are washing. When it’s cold, but not freezing out, consider increasing the water to about 100-130°F to help clean more effectively and use less soap.
When it's closer to freezing, you may wish to use cool/lukewarm water at about 70–90°F degrees to prevent flash freezing.
Just make sure to store your pressure washer and other equipment in a warm, dry place to prevent additional freezing or damage. Wear appropriate gear, boots, and keep yourself warm if you’re elected to be outside, keeping the trucks in tip-top shape.
Alternatives to Power Washing
In addition to manual power washing, consider automated wash systems that can streamline the process, especially in winter conditions. These systems can significantly reduce labor while ensuring a thorough clean:
- Automated 2-Step Wash Systems: These systems provide a full wash with a pre-soak and rinse cycle, efficiently removing road salt and grime without extensive manual labor.
- Drive-Thru Undercarriage Washes: Designed specifically for the undercarriage, these washes can eliminate corrosive road salt without requiring operators to work outside in the cold.
- Manual Undercarriage Washers: If automated systems aren’t an option, consider manual undercarriage washers that can apply high-pressure rinses to hard-to-reach areas, allowing you to rinse the most important areas while minimizing the time spent outside.
Start Planning your Fleet Protection
Keeping your vehicles clean, undercarriage and all, isn’t just an image issue. It’s about getting the most out of your investment in your vehicles. Washing throughout the year, especially to reduce corrosion from road salts, will increase the lifespan of your fleet. Nobody wants a spring filled with repairs and extra costs simply because it takes more work to wash.
Washing your fleet regularly, and properly using the steps above, is your biggest resource in preventing damage as winter weather inches closer every day. Remember, some extra effort this winter will not only leave your company standing out on the roads, but save you a significant amount of money in maintenance costs, and the lifespan of your vehicles.
If you have specific questions about washing your fleet in winter, the 2-step process, or installing a system to bring the wash process down to only a few minutes, reach out to our experts. With over 50 years of experience, we want the best for your fleet with advice tailored to your situation.
