Winston
Lorenzo von Matterhorn
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2009
- Messages
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I already don't. His main gripe in the video is about automated car washes using brushes and, also, manual washing services because they probably aren't using properly cleaned sponges and rags. He also mentioned the use hydrofluoric acid! I did some research and he's correct. Especially the "Touchless" (no brushes) car washes might use it.
[video=youtube;qVRli2in0JI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVRli2in0JI[/video]
Hydrofluoric Acid - Renewed Warnings
By Bob Kuczik
11/01/15
Car wash owners and operators know that hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a chemical that poses health risks, but many still use it, especially to clean wheels. Its extremely dangerous, since it doesnt cause immediate skin burns that you can feel as other acids do. Instead, HF seeps through tissue, eats into bones, and turns calcium into calcium fluoride, taking hours before the burn victim realizes the damage.
Leading detailers, car wash owners, and industry officials admit that HF usage has grown and that the figure may now be as high as 50 percent of operators. Thats a dramatic swing from 2008 when a past president of the International Carwash Association (ICA) said, Historically, HFs been one of the centerpiece chemicals used in detergents in this industry but today, Id estimate its used in less than 25 percent of car washes, and that number is declining every day.
This study is mainly about environmental concerns, not about damage to your car finish:
A review of hydrofluoric acid and its use in the car wash industry
10 Mar 2012
https://touchfreetruth.org/pdf/hf-study.pdf
Abstract: Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a common ingredient in car wash cleaning solutions mainly because it is highly effective and relatively inexpensive. Particulate matter from brake pads and discs, tire wear, and abrasion of road surface accumulated on the exterior of automobiles are aggressively removed with the use of car wash cleaning solutions containing HF. The unique properties of HF to dissolve silica, concrete, most metals, and metallic oxides cause effective breakdown of rust, road dust, and grime on automobiles. However, HF is a very caustic and a highly toxic substance. Due to hazards associated with the storage, use, and exposure of HF to humans and the environment, there is a need to find safe, yet equally effective alternatives to HF as a cleaning agent. Improvements in cleaning processes, development of available technologies, and utilization of cleaning products containing natural and various benign polymers and surfactants are healthy and environmentally sound alternatives to HF for car wash applications. However, these alternatives may not be as effective as HF. Efforts geared towards finding a replacement for HF remain a challenge, but the outcome would render several benefits to the car wash industry, including abating pollution and providing a safer working environment for everyone.
I found the link to that study here:
CONSUMER WARNING
This is a consumer alert about the TRUTH in so called TOUCH-FREE Car Washing.
Your local "Touch-Free" car wash is using an ACID BATH of Hydrofluoric Acid to clean your car.
https://touchfreetruth.org/
Hydrofluoric ACID can DAMAGE WINDSHIELDS...
Hydrofluoric ACID can DAMAGE CLEAR COAT...
HONDA, GENERAL MOTORS have issued bulletins about WINDSHIELD DISTORTION coming from TOUCH-FREE car washes using buffered HYDROFLUORIC ACID... Mercedes Benz Owners Manuals warn against using "BRUSHLESS CAR WASHES"
Mercedes Benz, BMW, Infiniti Owners manual excerpts:
Mercedes-Benz:
BMW:
Infinity:
[video=youtube;qVRli2in0JI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVRli2in0JI[/video]
Hydrofluoric Acid - Renewed Warnings
By Bob Kuczik
11/01/15
Car wash owners and operators know that hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a chemical that poses health risks, but many still use it, especially to clean wheels. Its extremely dangerous, since it doesnt cause immediate skin burns that you can feel as other acids do. Instead, HF seeps through tissue, eats into bones, and turns calcium into calcium fluoride, taking hours before the burn victim realizes the damage.
Leading detailers, car wash owners, and industry officials admit that HF usage has grown and that the figure may now be as high as 50 percent of operators. Thats a dramatic swing from 2008 when a past president of the International Carwash Association (ICA) said, Historically, HFs been one of the centerpiece chemicals used in detergents in this industry but today, Id estimate its used in less than 25 percent of car washes, and that number is declining every day.
This study is mainly about environmental concerns, not about damage to your car finish:
A review of hydrofluoric acid and its use in the car wash industry
10 Mar 2012
https://touchfreetruth.org/pdf/hf-study.pdf
Abstract: Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a common ingredient in car wash cleaning solutions mainly because it is highly effective and relatively inexpensive. Particulate matter from brake pads and discs, tire wear, and abrasion of road surface accumulated on the exterior of automobiles are aggressively removed with the use of car wash cleaning solutions containing HF. The unique properties of HF to dissolve silica, concrete, most metals, and metallic oxides cause effective breakdown of rust, road dust, and grime on automobiles. However, HF is a very caustic and a highly toxic substance. Due to hazards associated with the storage, use, and exposure of HF to humans and the environment, there is a need to find safe, yet equally effective alternatives to HF as a cleaning agent. Improvements in cleaning processes, development of available technologies, and utilization of cleaning products containing natural and various benign polymers and surfactants are healthy and environmentally sound alternatives to HF for car wash applications. However, these alternatives may not be as effective as HF. Efforts geared towards finding a replacement for HF remain a challenge, but the outcome would render several benefits to the car wash industry, including abating pollution and providing a safer working environment for everyone.
I found the link to that study here:
CONSUMER WARNING
This is a consumer alert about the TRUTH in so called TOUCH-FREE Car Washing.
Your local "Touch-Free" car wash is using an ACID BATH of Hydrofluoric Acid to clean your car.
https://touchfreetruth.org/
Hydrofluoric ACID can DAMAGE WINDSHIELDS...
Hydrofluoric ACID can DAMAGE CLEAR COAT...
HONDA, GENERAL MOTORS have issued bulletins about WINDSHIELD DISTORTION coming from TOUCH-FREE car washes using buffered HYDROFLUORIC ACID... Mercedes Benz Owners Manuals warn against using "BRUSHLESS CAR WASHES"
Mercedes Benz, BMW, Infiniti Owners manual excerpts:
Mercedes-Benz:
BMW:
Infinity: