There have been various efforts to automate the washing of cars and other vehicles. While soaping and rinsing steps have been satisfactorily automated, attempts to automate the drying step have proved difficult and/or energy inefficient.

If left to dry on their own, vehicles washed with conventional car wash cleaners would typically be left with spots on their exterior finish. Hand drying is labor- intensive (and thus costly) and blow drying is energy inefficient and noisy.

Various dishwashing detergents are known that minimize spotting on glassware and the like. For example, BASF sells a number of polymers under the marks"Pluronic@"and "TetronicW"that improve rinsing performance on glassware when mixed with dishwashing detergent. Moreover, in U. S. patent 5,770,548 there is a disclosure of using cleaning compositions containing surfactants, silicate and hydrophobic acrylic polymer to clean window glass and other hard surfaces without the need for hand drying.

However, the designer of a vehicle cleaner must take into account additional considerations beyond simply anti- spotting capability. For example, such a cleaner must be compatible with standard waxes and finishes typically found on vehicles. A rinse aid which improves sheeting during the car wash process, but also destroys the ability of car wax to cause beading is a commercially unacceptable additive (as consumers would believe that the cleaner had destroyed the wax job).

Thus, a need exists for improved car wash cleaners and methods of cleaning vehicles using them.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the invention provides a composition for cleaning a vehicle containing a copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, anionic surfactant and water. In one form, the copolymer is selected from the group consisting of: where each of x, y, and x'is 2-300, and where each of x, y, and x'is 2-300.

In another aspect, the copolymer can be selected from the group consisting of:

where each of x, x', x'', x''', y, y', y'', and y''is 2-500, and where each of x, x', x", x, y, y', y", and y is 2-500.

Overall molecular weights of the copolymers are preferably between 1,000 and 50,000, with total EO and total PO units each preferably under 150 (even more preferably each under 50).

In preferred forms these compositions contain at least 50% water, between 0.5% and 8% block copolymer, and 20% to 45% anionic surfactant. The preferred anionic surfactants are sulfates, sulfonates, and mixtures thereof, especially sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium laureth sulfate and mixtures thereof.

The compositions can also contain a preservative such as formaldehyde, and other ingredients such as dyes, fragrances, other rinse aids, and fillers. The composition can be applied in concentrated form to deal with

particularly soiled areas, diluted with water in a bucket and directly applied with a sponge or the like, or diluted with water and sprayed onto a vehicle.

In yet another form the invention provides methods for cleaning the surface of a vehicle by applying the above compositions to the vehicle, followed by rinsing with water.

The vehicle can then air dry (either from a stationary position, or while moving).

A variety of the copolymers within the block copolymer formulae of claim 2 are sold by BASF under the trade designation Pluronicst. A variety of the copolymers within the"block"copolymer formulae of claim 10 are sold by BASF under the trade designation Tetronics°.

The most preferred surfactants are alkali metal sulfate or sulfonate surfactants such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). In one form they are sold as BIO SOFT D40 and Steal CS-230 from Stepan Chemical Co. They are preferably employed with the SDS in a major amount of about 30% to about 35% by weight and the SLES in a minor amount of about 3% to about 5% by weight. Other anionic surfactants can be used such as sodium alkyl aryl ethoxy sulfates, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium linear alkylate sulfonates, disodium sulfosuccinate, and diammonium lauryl sulfosuccinate. In addition, other types of surfactants may be used in minor amounts.

A preservative (e. g. formaldehyde) is preferably also present. Other preservatives include anti-microbials such as Kathon (Rohm & Haas), Dowicil (Dow Chemical), and Canguard (Angus Chemical).

Water is preferably 50% to 70% of a concentrated form of the composition. For use in a sprayer the compositions

can be diluted with water (e. g. one part of the concentrated composition diluted with 60-175 parts of water, or even more). As noted above with respect to the spot use of the concentrated formula, no such dilution is required.

However, absent such dilution the cost of washing an entire vehicle using the concentrate could be quite expensive.

The cleaners of the present invention can be used to wash vehicles such as automobiles, vans and trucks from a bucket. In such a method, the cleaners can be applied by hand (e. g. via a rag, pad or sponge) and subsequently rinsed off with a hose. Alternatively, the cleaner can be sprayed onto the vehicles in more diluted form using an automated sprayer, and then rinsed off using an automated rinsing system. In either case, the vehicles dry by evaporation.

The objects of the present invention therefore include providing cleaners of the above kind: (a) which can be rinsed off and air dried without leaving readily visible spots; (b) which do not adversely affect a waxed surface; (c) which are relatively inexpensive to produce; (d) which are suitable for use with water of varying hardness; (e) which can be diluted to low concentrations and still be effective; and (f) which use environmentally acceptable components.

These and still other objects and advantages of the present invention (e. g. methods for using said cleaners) will be apparent from the description which follows. The following examples are merely the preferred embodiments.

Thus, the claims should be looked to in order to understand the full scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Cleaner concentrates were prepared having the following formula: EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2 Ingredient % wt. % wt.

Water 61.4075 60.4075 SDS surfactant 31.00 34.00 SLES surfactant 3.25 3.50 Pluronic N3 4.25-- Tetronic 150R-1--2.00 Formaldehyde 0.0925 0.0925 To prepare the cleaners of Examples 1 and 2, the ingredients were mixed in a batch process at room temperature.

Pluronico N3 is a block copolymer having the first formula of claim 2. Tetronico 150R-1 is a block copolymer having the second formula of claim 10.

The above formulations were used to clean a vehicle, followed by rinsing with water and air drying. Water (to simulate rain) was then sprayed onto the dried vehicle, with noticeable beading of the water.

These examples are two of many possible examples within the scope of the claims. For example, various other additives may also be included, and different block copolymers and anionic surfactants may be selected. Thus, the claims are to be looked to in order to judge the full scope of the invention.

Industrial Applicability The present invention provides chemicals that are particularly useful for cleaning vehicle exteriors, and methods of using these cleaners.