ALL OVER Corrosion on vehicles operating in the states that most oft en uses magnesium chloride- and calcium chloridebased products has been reported on chrome, aluminum and even stainless steel, notes TMC. Other areas aff ected include electrical systems, various sections of vehicle frames and bodies, suspension components, brakes, wheels and wheel fasteners and radiators. In fact, no area of a vehicle is immune from the eff ects of corrosive materials and chemicals. However, TMC says the areas generally aff ected are splashprone areas on the front, underside and lower portions of vehicles. Damage from corrosion to the underbody and frame of a vehicle – along with its engine components, brakes and electrical systems – is a cost burden to the vehicle owner. Of greater concern is that this corrosion can result in vehicle safety issues for drivers and passengers. Th ere are a number of factors that aff ect the corrosiveness of a chemical, says a report on roadway de-icing by ACCURACY ADJUSTRITE® ESTIMATING DELIVERS CONSISTENT Updated continuously, the AdjustRite database of heavy—and medium—duty trucks provides real time access to model and parts updates. FREE TRIAL OFFER No credit card required and no sales calls! We’re confident your first estimate will convince you this is the estimating tool you’ve always needed. Visit adjustrite.com to get started. VehicleServicePros.com/10226485 additives. While there are many additives on the market, these products typically fall into three categories. Water Burners or Removers. Water is the key component in creating corrosive sludge. These types of products claim to burn off or consume water during combustion, or they use solvents, such as alcohol, to absorb it. Be aware that products that contain forms of alcohol: • Can have diffi culty removing large amounts of free (clear) water. • Are often good “food” for bacteria and other troublesome microorganisms. • Can cause swelling and breakdown of gasket and seal materials. Biocides. Because sludge-producing bacteria is found in all fuel systems, one solution for reducing corrosion is to kill acid-causing bacteria with biocides. Unfortunately, if there is any water present in the tank, biocides become totally ineffective. The reason: Even if a minute amount of sludge begins to develop, it forms a defensive barrier that allows the bacteria to continue to grow and produce more sludge where biocides can’t touch them. Even if a biocide is used, and culture tests reveal bacteria levels being lowered as more product is added, corrosion-producing sludge is still being produced. Filming Amines. These products work by placing a thin microscopic fi lm throughout the entire fuel delivery system that both breaks up existing sludge and prevents new sludge, thus stopping corrosion. The technology does not claim to kill any microbes, but rather keeps the sludge and slime-forming bacteria from sticking to fuel tank components. This technology also breaks up sludge so small it passes harmlessly through the fi lters and out the back to the engine. SUMMARY For fl eets that discover fuel tank leaks that are not attributed to loose hoses or fi ttings or punctures, it is wise to take a serious look into ensuring that fuel systems are free from internal corrosion. This could be done through internal staff or hiring contractors, but be sure they are experienced and have the proper credentials. Simply cleaning the tank or polishing the fuel – a process used to remove or fi lter microbial contamination from fuel in storage – will not address the root problem. There must be a proactive program to stop the corrosion problem before it becomes a maintenance and environmental issue. Dan Jenkins is a principal with Iron Ox (www.theironox.com), a distributor of corrosion control products for fleets. He has more than 10 years of field experience assisting the fuel industry in solving issues with exterior and interior corrosion. Small rust chips, which can resemble black coffee grinds, found after cutting open a fuel fi lter are a good indication that there are corrosion problems somewhere in the fuel system. Photo courtesy of Iron Ox Microbial growth can cause pitting corrosion of fuel tanks and fuel system components. Shown here is pitting corrosion on the inside of a fuel tank. Photo courtesy of Fuel Right Continued Page 15 Cover Story | VehicleServicePros.com ❚ AUGUST 2016 ❚ FLEET MAINTENANCE 13
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