Aluminum Trailers and deicer

[Larry B]

What experience have any of you had with the deicer "Magnesium chloride"? These are chip trailers adn they have large ribbed aluminum sides. I have tried a sulphuric/HF and phosphoric acid on them but it is still not as effective as it needs to be. I was curious as to whether or not anybody has tried anything else or had any suggestions as to what may be a better acid.

 

[R L S]

Are you talking acid to wash them or De-ice them?. On the chip haulers I wash I use HF and it works just fine.

 

[Larry B]

The magnesium deicer does not come off unless I hit it with strong acid. Sometimes there are different acids that have a better effect on different types of dirt. Normally I use my standard sulfuric/HF acid and everything is great, I may have too try bumping the HF concentrate to get at the magnesium deicer. It leaves a grey film on things but these trailers get it worse than other things I have cleaned and was wondering if anybody had an acid that might be more effective.

 

[R L S]

Oooooo I got you now, they have deicer on them and you want that removed, Sorry I have never dealt with that stuff before.

 

[P&J]

They use that Magnesium Chloride here also. I have trouble getting it off with my soap so I use the Zep aluminum brighter upon request and it takes it off. My soap will does fine getting it off the painted and chrome surfaces but not the aluminum. I would love to find a soap that can take it off without having to use acid.

 

[Larry B]

My acid is similar to Zep but actually stronger, i just have to step it up a touch to get it off. It just takes more than I usually wash with. Sometimes different acids work better when cleaning different dirt.