Griot's Garage Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner Impressions...

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WRAPT C5Z06

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I jumped on the 35 ounce bottle right away! I tried it for the first time today on some soiled chrome/powder coated wheels. There was a lot of surface dirt, but also baked on brake dust. I wet the wheel first like instructed, sprayed liberally on the wheel, then let it sit in the shade for 3 minutes before agitating. At about the 2 minute mark, I began to see the change of color primarily around the rivets. This is the area where the baked on brake dust was bad. I agitated with a wheel brush and rinsed. It removed the surface dust easily and removed a lot of the baked on brake dust, not all. I'm sure if I tried a few more applications, I would have gotten even better results. It did do a nice job, though. Being that it is pH neutral, that's like washing your wheels with water, yet still having great cleaning ability. I think it's imperative to let the wheel cleaner dwell for at least a couple minutes, 3 minutes would probably be best. Another thing I really like how it foamssss when agitated. Sonax FE did not foam, at least for me. That bothered me. Griot's HD rinsed off easily, too. This isn't a miracle wheel cleaner that requires no agitation(spray on, rinse off), but I'm quite impressed, overall. :dblthumb2: I just bought a gallon of it.
 
Great review on the new product.

Thanks. :xyxthumbs:
 
How would you rate its effectiveness against the Sonax FE?
 
Marc08EX said:
How would you rate its effectiveness against the Sonax FE?
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I didn't like FE because it didn't foam for me. I only like to use wheel cleaners that foam. I used it a couple of times and gave it away. IIRC, FE changed colors a bit quicker. Not sure if that means anything? I cannot compare it's cleaning ability because I didn't use it enough.
 
yea i felt same way with Sonax..when i was scrubbing it never foamed...When i used ironX on my wheels to clean it foamed..I am going to be buying a gallon of this stuff soon.
is it like water consistency or is it have a little bit of gel like sonax is?
 
Glad to hear your thoughts. I have some on the way too. Just wondering, what does foaming have to do with cleaning ability? I'm not a huge Sonax fan due to the price, but it does clean very well foam or no foam. Also since you spray it on a dry wheel it sticks to the wheel very well.
 
Flannigan said:
Glad to hear your thoughts. I have some on the way too. Just wondering, what does foaming have to do with cleaning ability? I'm not a huge Sonax fan due to the price, but it does clean very well foam or no foam. Also since you spray it on a dry wheel it sticks to the wheel very well.
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I feel foam helps keep the cleaner lingering longer, therefore, allowing more working time of the product. Also, foaming cleaners seem to eat away at brake dust better. I feel a foaming wheel cleaner is much more effective. As far as wetting the wheel first, that's what the instructions say. I seemed to stick to the well good enough when sprayed on a wet wheel. That also helps it foam better when agitated.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
I feel foam helps keep the cleaner lingering longer, therefore, allowing more working time of the product. Also, foaming cleaners seem to eat away at brake dust better. I feel a foaming wheel cleaner is much more effective.
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Interesting. I like CWC which foams a lot, but I don't think it works any better than Sonax whic doesn't foam at all.
 
Flannigan said:
Interesting. I like CWC which foams a lot, but I don't think it works any better than Sonax whic doesn't foam at all.
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I added some to my previous reply. To each their own. I happen to like foaming wheel cleaners better.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
I didn't like FE because it didn't foam for me. I only like to use wheel cleaners that foam. I used it a couple of times and gave it away. IIRC, FE changed colors a bit quicker. Not sure if that means anything? I cannot compare it's cleaning ability because I didn't use it enough.
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Mark,

This was my main concern with Sonax before I first started to try it. However, some well respected detailers have told me that foaming doesn't necessarily help the cleaning or lubricity of the wheel cleaner. Proper common sense in cleaning wheels still applies. Plus, the Sonax FE just works really well in removing stubborn or caked on brake dust.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
I added some to my previous reply. To each their own. I happen to like foaming wheel cleaners better.
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I agree. It helps me from over applying the product as I can see where I have sprayed and it helps me from missing areas as well. I like the visual aspect it provides and it seems to cling better especialy on the tires.
 
Marc08EX said:
Mark,

This was my main concern with Sonax before I first started to try it. However, some well respected detailers have told me that foaming doesn't necessarily help the cleaning or lubricity of the wheel cleaner. Proper common sense in cleaning wheels still applies. Plus, the Sonax FE just works really well in removing stubborn or caked on brake dust.
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Hey Marc,

I guess I should say, I enjoy using foam wheel cleaners better and that will never change. :) There's no doubt Sonax cleans very well, I just don't like using it.
 
Does it foam up like Meg's otc All Wheel Cleaner in the pink bottle? That's some frothy wheel cleaner!
 
Thanks for the input Mark. :props:


rwright said:
Does it foam up like Meg's otc All Wheel Cleaner in the pink bottle? That's some frothy wheel cleaner!
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This will give you an idea of how much it foams up.


IMG_2282.JPG


IMG_2292.JPG
 
Marc08EX said:
Mark,

This was my main concern with Sonax before I first started to try it. However, some well respected detailers have told me that foaming doesn't necessarily help the cleaning or lubricity of the wheel cleaner.
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I think what Mark is saying is that he likes the foam because it helps the cleaner "stick" to the surface longer. I don't think he is claiming anything about lubricity.
 
Thanks for the response Nick. That looks pretty similar to the wheel cleaner I mentioned. I'm willing to bet that if you switch from the Finest Sprayer to the Griot's Foaming Sprayer that it will foam up even more.
 
nick - is that a foaming trigger? does that come with the cleaner? what if you used a tolco foamer trigger with the cleaner?
 
it looks like a affordable cleaner to me,considering its safe on all wheels and foams up is cool to.been wanting to try some of the griots products,to me when it foams up it makes me think i have a longer working time with it,wether fantasy or fact it adds appeal
 
dreamps said:
nick - is that a foaming trigger? does that come with the cleaner? what if you used a tolco foamer trigger with the cleaner?
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That is not the foaming sprayer in the picture. Sprayers don't come with Griot's stuff. You gave buy those separate.
 
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