Hydrofluoric Acid as a Presoak:

• Despite its dangers, car wash chains continue to use hydrofluoric acid as a presoak, because of its ability to remove road dirt and grime more effectively than low-acid varieties. One high-acid presoak brand that still contains hydrofluoric acid touts its product as being “the most advanced acidic presoak available,” as it “penetrates, loosens and removes road films.” Another high-acid brand boasts that even the toughest grime is no match for their solution. Though, many touchless automatic carwashes are moving away from highly acidic presoaks, one well-known Midwest chain knowingly uses hydrofluoric acid in its wheel cleaning solution and in its presoak, despite the many warnings. However, the company claims that its presoak ingredients are part of a "secret formula," so this information isn’t normally made public.
  
  

The Dangers to Vehicles

• High-acid presoaks remove grime buildup at the cost of damaging your car, insists Joe Peterson, the owner of an Indiana-based chemical detergent company. According to Peterson, hydrofluoric acid “can cloud and etch windshields, damage rims and discolor trim and moldings.” One company that still uses hydrofluoric acid admits it also can harm polished aluminum wheels. Another car wash company cites instances of dulling on paint rocker panels.
  
  

The Dangers to People

• According to Purdue professor Darryl Granger, hydrofluoric acid, the same acid used in many high-acid presoaks, can eat through glass in a matter of seconds and skin and bone in a matter of hours. Once in the bloodstream the acid seizes the calcium in your blood, leading to cardiac arrest. Just spilling the acid onto a mere 10 percent of your skin may be lethal. Unfortunately, those affected by hydrofluoric acid usually don’t know until it is too late, as the acid causes little to no pain until the damage is done.
  
  

Alternatives to Hydrofluoric Acid

• Alternatives to using high-acid presoaks in touchless automatic carwashes abound. A detergent created by Ver-tech Labs, combines the cleaning power of a nontoxic acid with an environmentally friendly, biodegradable solution, which still manages to remove dirt, window grime and shine paint and metal. Ozark Car Wash Systems boasts two biodegradable solutions created using sodium tripoly phosphate and citric acid. These environmentally sound presoaks break up and encase dirt, allowing it to be rinsed free of the vehicle.