Looking to clean and polish my fuel tanks and catwalk on my DAF XF tractor unit and I’m just wondering what the best way to do that is, and is there anything I need to be aware of beforehand?
I drive a 6 year old unit and I don’t think they have ever been properly cleaned and I’d really like to try get them shiny.
My current plan is to first of all clean then with high concentrate wheel cleaner and scrub them to get all the rubbish off them, dry and then apply Autosol with a finishing pad (hand polish). Is this a safe enough practice and do you think it can provide good results?
I’d be asking my boss for his advice after first finding out,.and getting assurance that he is going to pay for it or at least re.imburse me,…seeing as it is HIS truck.
Never been a tank polisher since my owner driver days, but the lad who washes the trucks at our main depot sprays some kind of acid based stuff on there and brushes it in, which removes all the road grime and crap, then goes over it with truck wash and hot water through the pressure washer.
It doesn’t make them shine as such, but it deffo cleans them.
I suppose any alloy polish on the market would do the job to shine afterwards, but personally I cba,…as long as the truck looks basically clean.
stu675:
I’m worried you won’t get the replies as I think this should just be in the main UK section not the newbies one.
He probably won’t get any helpful replies on here. ( be the usual- not my truck,why should I care/ I’m a driver, I don’t get paid to polish/ remember and record it as other work/ I prefer eating kebabs while watching pornhub on my breaks type answers[emoji849][emoji1787])
stu675:
I’m worried you won’t get the replies as I think this should just be in the main UK section not the newbies one.
He probably won’t get any helpful replies on here. ( be the usual- not my truck,why should I care/ I’m a driver, I don’t get paid to polish/ remember and record it as other work/ I prefer eating kebabs while watching pornhub on my breaks type answers[emoji849][emoji1787])
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Yep…Reckon that just about covers it mate.
Personally speaking… …
That’s correct not my truck.
I kinda care, but maybe not enough to polish, but at least my truck is basically clean and presentable.
Correct I am a driver, but if I did polish I WOULD get paid as I’d do it in works time.
Yep,.as it’s in their time ‘‘other work’’ otherwise I wouldn’t get paid as you suggested.
Never touch kebabs, prefer to eat a bit healthier these days.
, pornhub?..Depends if I can be arsed, and/or if theres nowt else to do, but prefer to find a decent pub tbh.
You’re going to have one hell of a job if they’ve been neglected from day one, the pitting from salt corrosion on wheels and tank you may never get rid of.
First thing is to give them a scrub down with proper alloy cleaner and see what lies under the grime and build up of brake dust etc.
I haven’t told you this, but if they are badly pitted an alternative to polishing might be rubbing the wheels down with brillo pads, serious here, if you work around the whole wheel in full circumference sweeps rather than small circular motion you can end up with a not unattractive brushed alloy finish.
edit, idiot , i read catwalk as wheels, ignore the wheel reference.
Juddian:
You’re going to have one hell of a job if they’ve been neglected from day one, the pitting from salt corrosion on wheels and tank you may never get rid of.
First thing is to give them a scrub down with proper alloy cleaner and see what lies under the grime and build up of brake dust etc.
I haven’t told you this, but if they are badly pitted an alternative to polishing might be rubbing the wheels down with brillo pads, serious here, if you work around the whole wheel in full circumference sweeps rather than small circular motion you can end up with a not unattractive brushed alloy finish.
edit, idiot , i read catwalk as wheels, ignore the wheel reference.
The OP doesn’t even mention alloy wheels just the fuel tank and catwalk. Can’t say I’ve ever seen anyone polish the cat walk up though mind.
And the main question is why? It’s a fuel tank and catwalk.
Clean it by all means but who gives a stuff if you can see your face in it or not.
As for cleaning to the OP I if I was that way inclined would be to use some fallout remover on it first to see how clean it will come up. This will breakdown any fallout on the tank and changes colour on contaminants so you’ll see how much fallout comes off the tank. Not cheap but not massively expensive (many brands to choose from) bleeding wheels/dragon’s breath and other ridiculous names are available). I use it on my car alloy wheels. Be careful though as it isn’t acidic until it cokes into contact with fallout so needs cleaning off well after.
If its covered in diesel spills like most are also some gunk or similar degreaser to remove the diesel.
Your method will get them looking great again and autosol will have them looking like a mirror. But as said a ■■■■■■■ hell of a lot of work to do both a catwalk and a tank that’s never been touched. Rather you than me!
stu675:
I’m worried you won’t get the replies as I think this should just be in the main UK section not the newbies one.
He probably won’t get any helpful replies on here. ( be the usual- not my truck,why should I care/ I’m a driver, I don’t get paid to polish/ remember and record it as other work/ I prefer eating kebabs while watching pornhub on my breaks type answers[emoji849][emoji1787])
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Either way you’re end up with a sore wrist, with all that rubbing
Last few years I been driving poverty spec filthy supermarket/high street chain trucks, so it nice to hear someone keen to look after their motor. But problem is if its 6-7 year old it’s going to be a hell of a job getting it clean.
I have cleaned up my truck with Scotchbrite and WD40. (actually Starbrite and 5L AC90 [much superior to WD40] off ebay is good value). That polishes up nicely enough on its own. I just do a little at each stop whilst unloading.
For the mirror finish then use T-Cut or Simoniz equivalent (1/2 the price of T-cut <£5 inc VAT from my motor factor and better). I’ll take some pics of mine if I remember this week.
simcor:
It will also take a long time by hand. Me I’d rather use a battery powered drill and polishing pad myself if I was so inclined to bother.
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I saw a driver using a battery powered buffer to clean his tank whilst on a bay at a bonded whalehouse in Tilbury once. It’s good to know that if it’s your regular wagon, you’ll take good care of it. Keep up the good work.
a young lad local to me has 4 trucks, him and his wife wash and polish them for the drivers, the drivers look after them down the road and he often pays for valeting and machine polishing, in exchange he has got some great drivers who care about the job.
I worked with his Dad and he was the same, wiping them over whilst tipping or unloading.
, i read catwalk as wheels, ignore the wheel reference.