The document discusses corrosion issues facing fleet vehicles due to changes in road de-icing methods. Magnesium chloride and calcium chloride liquids are now commonly used and are more corrosive than sodium chloride as they stick to surfaces and activate in wet-dry cycles. Testing has shown these new de-icers cause more corrosion to vehicle materials. Fleet managers are encouraged to develop anti-corrosion strategies like inspections and applying corrosion-resistant coatings and washes to interiors and undercarriages. Products from ValuGard that can help protect against the new de-icers are highlighted.

1. Corrosion Issues in
Fleet Transportation
Automotive International, Inc.
8855 Blue Ash Road
Cincinnati, OH 45242
800.543.7156 / 513.489.7883

2. Are you facing increased corrosion?
Have you forgotten about corrosion (or
put it out of your mind as no longer an
issue?
Have you seen an increase in corrosion to
your fleet’s buses, fire trucks, utility
vehicles over the last 5-6 years?
Do you know the culprit(s) behind this
recent corrosion incursion?
How do you protect vehicles against this?

3. Magnesium Chloride
And Corrosion
• The use of Magnesium / Calcium Chloride has
led to a profound increase in vehicular
corrosion.
• Consider the varying weather conditions
vehicles travel through during a season

4. New Road De-icing Methods
Effects on Vehicle Components

5. Road De-icing Background
• Sodium Chloride (in rock salt form)
– Has been the traditional and most
widespread used substance
– Not effective in very cold
temperatures
– Washes away during thaw/freeze
thaw precipitation

6. Road De-icing Background
• Due to limitations of Rock Salt, and for cost
savings, other chemicals/systems have been
implemented
– Liquid Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2)
– Liquid Calcium Chloride (CaCl2)
– Liquid Mag. Chloride / Sodium Chloride Combo
– Sodium Salt Brine

7. Road De-icing Background
• Differences between new
systems and Rock Salt
– Liquid application
– Pre storm application
– Clings to the surface
– Lower freezing point
– Does not need moisture to work
– Stays wet / slushy longer

8. Road De-icing Background
• Many trucking companies and
municipal fleets report increased
corrosion on vehicles with the
advent of MgCl/CaCl use. This
resulted in:
– Excessive pitting and corrosion
– Accelerated metal component wear
– Breakdown of electrical systems
– Increased maintenance / cleaning
intervals: “down time at the worst
time”
– Higher maintenance costs
– Potential loss on disposal value

9. Chlorides & Vehicles
• Higher viscosity means that MgCl / CaCl sticks
to and crystallizes on metals.
• Liquid and nano in nature, and hydrophilic
nature means anywhere water goes - it goes.
• It is Hydroscopic – it has ability to absorb
moisture from the air at about 30% humidity.
• Can exacerbate galvanic reaction points.

10. Liquid Chlorides & Vehicles
• How do you clean off larger vehicles? Do you
use a soap mix?
• Do you rinse vehicles off with a power
washing system?
Why do I ask this? How do you think these
procedures can actually enhance corrosion?

11. De-icer Corrosion Testing
• State of Colorado Testing –
– Ran Sodium Chloride & Magnesium Chloride
Testing under 3 industry accepted test methods
• ASTM B-117 (American Society for Testing &
Materials)
• SAE J2334 (Society of Automotive Engineers)
• NACE TM-01-69 (National Association of Corrosion
Engineers)
– CRS Steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, chromed
and stainless steel were included in the testing

12. De-icer Testing
• Test Results have shown –
– Mag Chloride
• Higher viscosity (thicker) than Sodium Chloride
• Sticks and crystallizes on the surface
• Reactivates at 27% relative humidity or in wet
conditions
• Liquid / Nano in nature (what does that mean
for cavities on your vehicles?)
• Does not wash off easily

13. De-icer Corrosion Testing
• Conclusion –
– MgCl2 is more corrosive with cyclical test methods which
result in wet and dry exposure.
(SAE J2334 and NACE TM-01-69)
• Real world winter conditions have wet and dry
cycles (Road, Garage, Repeat)!
– Sodium (Salt) Brine Solutions will also be more corrosive
due to this clinging property.
– Increased corrosion levels were noted on stainless,
galvanized and chromed steel as well as cold rolled steel.

14. Protection Chemical Industry’s Response
To More Corrosive De-icers:
Objective:
• Formulate products to resist Magnesium /
Calcium Chloride exposure
• Use Independent laboratory testing to validate
results (Example: Detroit Testing Lab and Ideas
Inc.)
• Test using SAE J2334 Method
– Cyclical high and low humidity and temperature
• Test using NACE TM-01-69 method
– Cyclical wet and dry immersion testing

15. Test Method & Results
• SAE J2334 &
40 cycles (1000 hours)
• NACE TM-01-69
72 cycles
What the tests look for:
-Less than 0.5mm creep back
from scribe
-No corrosion on the surfaces
-No weight loss

16. Test Cycle-The J2334 test cycle consists of three basic stages:
1. Humid Stage-50 C and 100% humidity, 6 h in duration
2. Salt Application Stage-15 min duration conducted at ambient conditions
3. Dry Stage-60 C and 50% RH, 17 h and 45 min in duration
SAE J2334
Test Cycle

17. Test Cycle-The TM-01-69 test cycle consists the following stages run at 70F and
50% humidity:
1. 10 minutes emersion in Mag Chloride solution
2. 50 minute air dry
3. Duration – 72 hours continuous
4. Panels are weighed and weight loss due corrosion is noted
NACE TM-01-69
Test Cycle

18. Who is doing something about these
issues?
• Equipment Manufacturers say:
“We sell our equipment on a bid basis, if we add
corrosion protection that our competitors do
not, it drives additional cost making us non-
competitive”

19. Who is doing something about these
issues?
• Fleet Operators / Purchasing Agents:
“When we buy equipment we expect that
equipment to perform and to last for our
expectation of service life. Why should we
spend money to do what the equipment
manufacturer should have already done?”

20. Meanwhile you have a job to do
• In your capacity as Fleet Managers, have you
been asked to:
– extend the life of your fleet?
– maximize the sales prices when discarding
vehicles? (Rust, frame deterioration, paint
pealing, stained interior)
– reduce downtime on fleet vehicles?

21. Meanwhile you have a job to do
The equipment
manufacturers
continue to search
for more robust
materials and for
best practices in
manufacturing.
New materials will
not happen
overnight. Even if
there are new
miracle materials,
what about your
existing fleet?
The corrosion
problems will not
wait!
While fleet
operators and
equipment suppliers
wrestle, who will
step up and take
action to stop
corrosion?

22. Steps you can take
1. Create and execute an anti- corrosion strategy
including a corrosion audit on vehicles to get a
baseline of corrosion impact on your fleet
2. Schedule inspections of vehicles at regular intervals
3. Begin with what your state inspection requirements
to start your inspection process, then focus on heavily
exposed areas of vehicles / trailers
4. Add the most affected areas to regularly inspect those
areas that are most vulnerable
5. On dump body cabs, have you inspected the interiors
for signs of corrosion? Why would you do that?

23. Steps you can take – Dept.
Anti-Corrosion Strategy
With hundreds of product options, what should you
consider looking for in products?
Would the following prove a product’s worth?
1.Manufacturer approval from multiple major
automotive manufacturers (What does that mean?)
2.Products come from ISO registered company, product
quality and supply consistency
3.Products approved by National Truck Equipment
Association
4.Products proven to specifically resist the new brines we
spoke about (Mg and CaCl) – Ref: SAE /NACE
5.Can you think of anything else you would look for?

24. Protective Products to Consider
• VG 101 - Cavity Rust Inhibitor (NO Drilling Needed) :
Uses
- can provide rust protection on cab floors, quarter panels, rocker panels,
bottoms of doors, cavities along bottom of frame (hollow cross-members)
. Prevents galvanic reaction as well – weld spots on bodies.
- Should be atomized to reach places technician has no line of sight.
- Should have opposite electric charge than body
for optimum AND comprehensive coverage
- Should be formulated to resist the new brines in
“real-world” wet-dry conditions
- Specifics you are looking for in this type of product?

25. Protective Products to Consider
• VG 502 - Vehicle Neutralization Wash
- This product is designed to neutralize the corrosive
compounds from the liquid brines and residues that
remain on your vehicles after exposure to snowy/icy
roads. Liquid wash more easily penetrates into
channels, crevices and such to reach same places
brine compounds do and neutralizes them. Also
contains a detergent to clean vehicle bodies.

26. Protective Products to Consider
• VG 102 Paint Sealant – acid rain, rail dust,
industrial fallout, organic compounds (i.e. bird
droppings, bugs, sap)
- not a clear coat…do you know what clear
coat is? Would paint pealing diminish the
value of the vehicle when time to discard it?

27. VG 104 Solvent Undercoating
• There are a number of Undercoating formulas
on the market to choose from. Here are
features to consider when selecting. You
should select an asphalt/wax based product –
• Flexibility
• Durability
• Corrosion protection
• Appropriate protective testing
• Specifics you are looking for?

28. If you did nothing, could this happen to your
vehicles? (Or, is it already happening?)

29. Something to think about, is it
already happening? And Where?
Please
note
corrosion
in the
cavities!

30. Something to think about, is it
already happening? And Where?

34. For More information about ValuGard
Anti-Corrosion products contact us:
Automotive International, Inc.
8855 Blue Ash Road
Cincinnati, OH 45242
800.543.7156 / 513.489.7883
East Coast Region:
Cary Loeser
Regional Sales Director
513.532.4694