Ask the Expert: What are the top causes of on-highway, Class 8 truck finish corrosion, wear and/or rust?

Q: What are the top causes of on-highway, Class 8 truck finish corrosion, wear and/or rust? 

Dan Szczepanik, Global Product Manager - Fleet & Manufacturing, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes: Today’s deicers can cause increased corrosion compared to traditional rock salt (NaCl). Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride are newer deicers often used in liquid form as a pre-treatment before a snow event. There are two areas that make these more harmful to trucks chassis than rock salt. CaCl and MgCl love water and hold onto water longer than rock salt. Water is needed for corrosion so the corrosion cycle is longer with liquid deicers. Liquid deicers also have adhesion promoters added to them so they stick to road surfaces. This also causes them to stick to chassis, brake linings and electrical connections causing increased corrosion.

Information provided by: Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes