What is Traffic Film Remover & Why Do You Need It?15th March 2012

Autoday give you the lowdown on Traffic Film Removers (TFR)

So what is traffic film? Surely dirt is dirt? If that is the case, surely a standard vehicle shampoo will give good results? Why do we need a special product just for getting rid of it?

What is Traffic Film?

Traffic film is more than just mud and soil that all vehicles accumulate, particularly through the winter months. Consider some of the other things that your average car, lorry, coach and bike are exposed to on a typical journey:

• Contaminants from other vehicles – these can include:
  • Unburnt fuel
  • Fuel Additives
  • Vanadium
  • Iron
  • Sulphur
  • Soot & Coke
  • Oil
  • Brake Dust
• Contaminants from the road itself – things such as:
  • Tar
  • More oil
  • Grease
  • Bitumen
  • Cement Dust

Why is Traffic Film Hard to Remove?

Some may think the pollutants above are just another form of dirt and to an extent, they are right.

However, what tends to happen is rain and surface water washes away all the water soluble components in all these contaminants, leaving just the non water soluble parts on the vehicle’s paintwork.

When the sun comes out, UV rays then tend to “bake” (the correct term is “cure”) these nasty bits onto the surface. Think of a lasagne dish that has food cooked onto it and you get the idea.

On top of this, many of the components listed above are either metallic, or contain a metallic element (for example, cement dust contains both calcium and magnesium) and bear a positive electrical charge. Conversely, the exterior of most vehicles are negatively charged. Hence, these traffic film contaminants have a strong magnetic attraction to each other, making them even harder to separate from one another. Think Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie.

It’s no surprise then that simple pressure washing is not going to be too effective at removing these particles that are:

• Not Water Soluble
• Magnetically Attracted to One Another
• Baked on

To drive the point home, how many times have you wash a car with a pressure washer, only to find a residual film left over? That will be the Traffic Film!

How Do Traffic Film Removers Work?

Traffic Film Remover (TFR) uses a type of chemical know as a sequestrant to remove metallic particles from the vehicle. As these particles are removed, tiny holes are left in the traffic film.

These microscopic gaps allow further compounds in the TFR to penetrate the traffic film. These compounds hold an extremely powerful positive charge, which attracts them to the surface of vehicle, while undermining the hold the remaining traffic film has on the paintwork. This allows the remaining film to be removed using a pressure washer.

A good TFR will also contain the following:

• Water softeners – these prevent water hardness interfering with the traffic film removal process, as hard water often contains metallic elements such as calcium and magnesium
• Emulsifiers – great for removing grease and other oily residues
• Alkaline components – these can include caustic materials, silicates and amines, which break down any other stubborn soiling
• Corrosion inhibiters – these protect both the vehicle and pressure washer from oxidization effects

Traffic Film Remover Products from Autoday

Autoday carry a full range of Traffic Filim Removers (TFR) for different applications and in a number of sizes. Below is a breakdown of our main TFR products to help you select the right one to match your needs. Alternatively, you can browse the full range here. 

Top Wash - General Application TFR

Top Wash is a caustic-free traffic film remover that will give excellent results in removing road film and grime from all types of vehicle
Top Wash is phosphate-free and silicate-free which removes any risk of staining or etching windscreens
Exceeds all current UK and EC biodegradability standards

Power Force TFR - Great for Pressure Washers

Power Force is a versatile biodegradable general purpose degreaser and traffic film remover which can be applied by either hot or cold pressure washing machines Power Force is highly effective in a wide variety of cleaning situations from car valeting to truck and plant cleaning

Shine - TFR for Liveried Vehicles

Shine is the ideal one-step solution to maintaining the appearance of liveried vehicles Shine deposits a glossy molecular film on the surface of the vehicle whilst removing traffic film and road grime. It incorporates specialised magnetic hydrophobe molecules which are strongly attracted to vehicle paintwork where they absorb harmful ultra-violet rays whilst repelling dirt and water Shine contains no phosphates or silicates eliminating any risk of staining or etching of vehicle windscreens. Shine exceeds all UK and EC biodegradability standards

White Wash - TFR for user in Car Washes

White Wash is a caustic-free high foam traffic film remover The rich foam clings to the surface of the vehicle The increased dwell time gives outstanding results leaving the vehicle clean and shiny White Wash contains a pleasant herbal fragrance that masks the odours usually associated with the wash bay area making the product particularly suitable for retail car wash

Task Force - Designed for HGVs

Task Force is a heavy-duty concentrated traffic film remover and degreaser which is ideal for cleaning heavy goods vehicles Its unique blend of water softeners emulsifiers and detergents easily removes everyday traffic film and grime from vehicle paintwork and curtains at dilution rates of up to 1:250 Excellent degreasing properties make Task Force the obvious choice for engine and chassis washing and important pre- MOT inspection cleaning at dilution rates of up to 1:120

Strike Force - The Ultimate High Performance TFR

Strike Force is the ultimate high-performance caustic free traffic film remover The Strike Force formulation is as concentrated as is possible to achieve without rendering the product unstable Its high dilution potential (up to 1:400) makes it highly economical in use and its built-in water softeners guarantee impressive results in both hard and soft water areas whether used with cold or hot water pressure washing systems Strike Force contains no silicates eliminating any risk of glass staining and its caustic free formulation exceeds all UK and EC biodegradability standards.