Vehicle Corrosion Inhibitors Keep Damaging Salt at Bay for Customers’ Cars 

by Chipper New, Chemical Sales Manager / Howco Inc. 

Rust-related damage costs U.S. drivers an estimated $3 billion annually, so effectively cleaning away salt and protecting against its corrosive properties provide great value to your wash customers. Car-damaging salts aren’t only found in winter-weather road deicers. They’re also a component in dust suppressants used on rural roads, construction sites, vacant lots, agricultural byways, and industrial facilities. And salt-laden air is an ever-present issue for vehicles in coastal areas. 

Howco offerings include two excellent options for vehicle corrosion inhibitors that can each be private-labeled for your car wash:  Salt Away and Salt Shield®.  

Salt Away cleaner is formulated to make sodium soluble on vehicle surfaces so it’s easier to wash away. The product’s primary use as an undercarriage application removes salt from areas not normally exposed to the wash process. Frequent use of Salt Away prevents the build-up of salt on vehicle exteriors, combating corrosion. Safe on any surface, Salt Away is applicable in tunnel and rollover washes and is concentrated with a low pH of 3.5-5. 

Salt Shield® is a low-pH detergent targeted to truck and large vehicle wash operations to protect against the damaging effects of road salts, deicers, and dust suppressants. It can be used at the beginning of the wash as a presoak to ensure salt removal throughout the exterior and also as a final underbody spray for additional protection. Environmentally friendly and reclaim compatible, Salt Shield goes beyond cleaning and neutralizing salt; used regularly, it creates a sacrificial barrier that prevents salt from reaching the vehicle surface and can even remove some surface rust on the vehicle. 

Here's one excellent example of the efficacy of corrosion inhibitor products:  a municipal fleet in Minnesota, which naturally sees lots of snow and ice and the ensuing salting of roads and bridges, was having to replace its vehicles every three years. Once the municipality began using a corrosion inhibitor on its vehicles, it doubled the life of the fleet to six years. 

As winter arrives, now is the time to contact a Howco chemical representative to craft an effective corrosion prevention program for your wash operation’s specific needs, as well as consult with you on other strategies to best prepare your wash for the season.