Looking for advice on detailing a Semi Truck

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InfiniteShineDetail

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I have a client looking to have his semi truck fully detailed. He said he uses a hot water pressure washer when he washes it. I never used a hot water pressure washer and would like to know if a regular pressure washer would work with the right chemicals. Also I feel my everyday chemicals I use now aren't strong enough to perform this detail. Any advise on chemicals, degreasers, sealants, wax and how to price the detail would be greatly appreciated. The semi will get a full detail in and out from foam cannon, clay bar polish chrome to wax. My goto products are Meguires detailer professional along with Pinnacle, Mckees37 waxes and Colilnite 845. I am willing top purchase whatever I need to get this detail done right. Thanks in advance.
 
I've worked on a few trucks and the hot water really helps breaking down the grease that tends to accumulate all over the rigs. I've always used the same products as I would a normal vehicle. I would think based on the brands you use you will be just fine.
 
3D Super Duty Degreaser

3D Orange 88 Citrus Degreaser 128 oz.

Here are some degreasers that would work great I think. The orange 88 degreaser I would test to foam with the foamcannon. Either 1:1 dilution or concentrate and then use the chemical mix setting to get a mix that works. Even if it's not a foam product you will get it to foam some. The benefit is a longer dwell time and it clings a little longer to get the chemicals work more effectively. Then work in small sections to begin with. So you dial in how much you are able to aggitate with brushes to the most dirty areas. Then PW it off and use the water pressure from the PW to clean with. And follow up with a car soap to wash the last off.

See if you can do a test spot where you are getting a feel how hard the paint is. Some can be very hard on semi-trucks.
 
I’d recommend a large step stool/platform and a lot of cotton towels for chrome/aluminum polish removal. Bring some food, lots of drinking water and some music to help you along. A lot of surface area on tractors. If he keeps it halfway maintained you don’t need to get too carried away with strong APC’s or degreasers. Don’t want to etch any polished metal which can turn that job into a nightmare real quick.
A thorough pressure washing will do wonders. I’d also recommend using an AIO type polish since it doesn’t need to removed after every section. Good luck. Post some pictures when you can.
 
Thanks for all the advice, I was just talking to the owner and he advised me he washes the Semi with the Hot Water pressure washer and Convoy Truck Wash every week. Now I have to find out what wax or sealant will work best to keep truck shining while he is Hot pressure washing the Semi weekly with this Chemical. I was originally thinking Collite 845 but now I don' know, I may need something more durable. He wants the shine to last at least 2-3 months, any ideas?
 
InfiniteShineDetail said:
Thanks for all the advice, I was just talking to the owner and he advised me he washes the Semi with the Hot Water pressure washer and Convoy Truck Wash every week. Now I have to find out what wax or sealant will work best to keep truck shining while he is Hot pressure washing the Semi weekly with this Chemical. I was originally thinking Collite 845 but now I don' know, I may need something more durable. He wants the shine to last at least 2-3 months, any ideas?
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How much shine are you trying to get? Scale 1- 10 with the 10 being blinding him what's your goals and I can tell you what to use

Sent from my SM-N950U using Autogeekonline mobile app
 
ClearVue18 said:
How much shine are you trying to get? Scale 1- 10 with the 10 being blinding him what's your goals and I can tell you what to use

Sent from my SM-N950U using Autogeekonline mobile app
Click to expand...

I was trying to get to about a 7 to last for about 2-3 months. He cleans his truck once a week with a hot water pressure washer and the convoy Truck Wash so I feel that will shorten its life drastically. I was thinking Collite 845 for the wax i have had some great results before but not with all those heavy washes. hanks for your help.
 
Thanks Im looking to get to about a 7 shine and last 2 months. The worry I have is the Hot Pressure washer and the Convoy degreaser he uses on his weekly cleaning taking the wax off quicker than 2 months.
 
InfiniteShineDetail said:
Thanks Im looking to get to about a 7 shine and last 2 months. The worry I have is the Hot Pressure washer and the Convoy degreaser he uses on his weekly cleaning taking the wax off quicker than 2 months.
Click to expand...
Use a company called Pro from prowax.com. that should have you a 7 on the scale that will last more than that time line.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Autogeekonline mobile app
 
I think I would have applyied a spray on rinse off coating product. Gyeon Wet Coat or Carpro Hydro2 lite or McKees 37 Hydro Blue. The ease of application and even send a bottle with the semi-truck. And the real problem would be if it's a high alkaline truck wash he uses. Then you have a problem that mostly any protection have a problem to last the claimed longevity of the protection applyied. If you look at the degreasers I linked from 3D they are citrus based degreasers. Those are very gentle to most surfaces and protection if diluted properly. And make sure they are safe on stainless steel and chrome which most are if they don't dry on the surface. They are also very good degreaser and will be even better on a protected surface. And you reach most surfaces too with a spray on rinse off coating product. Which also could be cleaned weekly with a warm water PW. And with a bigger pump sprayer and a citrus based degreaser he will be haveing a great combo of cleaning and protection. And if he is going to do a touch wash after the degreasing. McKees 37 Sio2 Wash and a bucket wash with a mf pole wash media that Griots Garage has. You wount be casious if the soap dries before rinse off.

The surfaces you are going to polish and if you are going to do an AIO polish. The spray on rinse off coating products goes on those ordinary AIO like 3D Speed or BF One Step. Britemax Virtue SiO2 High Gloss Primer Polish is an interesting one that works as a stand alone LSP. With a spray on rinse off coating product you can top of the protection with it. Even something like Carpro Essence or Gyeon Primer Polish works but needs to be topped with something like Carpro Hydro2 or Gyeon Wet Coat to get the hydrophobic caractics on them. And makes those more effective and longer longevity too.
 
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