Meguiar's D14001 Wheel Brightener - I'm sick of it

[statusdetailing]

I've never understood the point of some of the seriously powerful wheel cleaners like D140. A regular degreaser and some muscle have always worked for me.

I think at one time there was a use. In professional detailing you can encounter some pretty crazy neglect. . .especially on German vehicles with heavy dust. No amount of elbow grease can remove baked on brake dust without a very power wheel cleaner and that's why a lot of guys did and still do turn to HF and ABF cleaners.

The truth is (and I have been guilty of the opposite of this in the past) that customers that have severely neglected their vehicles need to be made well aware that this type of wheel cleaning is a major upcharge. The extra money allows for a higher quality wheel cleaner like Sonax, Iron X (not exactly a wheel cleaner), Scholl Concept rim 7, etc.

I'm not saying that this type of chemical is perfect, but I feel like they are the lesser of two evils, and they are absolutely safer for the wheel.



I'm not here to judge anybody. I've made my own mistakes for sure. Also, I don't think anybody should be embarrassed except for the companies selling these products to the unsuspecting customer.

I have no problem with these companies selling to anyone and everyone but they need to make the customers aware of the extreme hazards.

The thing that most annoys me about HF is that it is very commonly used in tunnel car washes, where the employees and customers unknowingly breath in the fumes every day.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I've never understood the point of some of the seriously powerful wheel cleaners like D140. A regular degreaser and some muscle have always worked for me.

As StatusDetailing noted, I think the HF cleaners really excel on pitted surfaces like unpainted wheel barrels where it just burns the brake dust out of the pits. It's also spray on/wash off no scrubbing for some surfaces, so it can save a lot of time. I just can't see using an HF product in an uncontrolled environment (in your driveway or a customer's driveway) where you can't do a neutralization washdown after, because HF requires specific neutralizers, not just something alkaline.

 

[BlueBeast14GT]

BlueBeast - i'm curious - does your stang have the Brembos?

But it sounds like you've gotten your answer about the D140. It also sounds like it was rusting more than it normally does when you are just normally washing them and not purposely spraying the crap out of your rotors with water :laughing:

On a side not - I'm glad they mentioned the risks of D140. That stuff sounds dangerous, and I agree with you, I would have no desire for something that corrosive to be on my car either!

Nah, just the stock brakes. Right, I'm never purposely spraying the rotors, but I mean the thing has spokes, not hub caps, so it's going to get on there. I only experience this with this cleaner. I was floored the first time I stepped back and saw it. Thought I ruined my car. I'm glad they mentioned the risks too!

The thing that most annoys me about HF is that it is very commonly used in tunnel car washes, where the employees and customers unknowingly breath in the fumes every day.

My immediate thought after reading this:

And as for why (sorry forgot to quote that one) I didn't realize there were health risks. I knew it was more corrosive, but I didn't think they would put something out there that was this hazardous. I got the Wheel Brightener because I wanted to save money over buying the 16 oz wheel cleaner bottles. And I use those because it is a lot easier than trying to scrub the wheels. It's not that I'm lazy or don't value my health, I just was unaware. Trust me, if I knew what I know now, the health risks, and even the risk to my wheels, would have been a sure deal breaker.

So does anyone know what I do with it now? I have nearly a gallon of the stuff, and I would like to dispose of it responsibly.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

So does anyone know what I do with it now? I have nearly a gallon of the stuff, and I would like to dispose of it responsibly.

Depending on where you live, local governments sponsor hazardous waste collections. I'm sure there are plenty of forum members who would take it off your hands, you should put your location in your profile. There is a samples thread also, perhaps you can give it away as one big sample. Or even a local detailing shop that might want it.

Not to overblow this--drain cleaner and plenty of other stuff you can buy in the supermarket is no good for you, and you can put your food down in the same cart or the same check-out belt that the guy with the leaky drain cleaner bottle just used.

 

[GreatAvalon]

, but I mean the thing has spokes, so it's going to get on there.

Haha right! Pretty open design, and it is definitely inevitable.

My immediate thought after reading this:

lmao hahaha dude that is funny

 

[statusdetailing]

Now we know how Walt got lung cancer.

 

[HateSwirls]

When I use the WB I too notice the rotaries rusting.
I simply wipe them off with an old towel,comes right off.

These days I only use it when it's really needed.

I maintain my personal wheels well so soap and water does the trick.
I make it a point to keep them sealed well.

Sent from my LG-D800 using AG Online

 

[DogRescuer]

When I use the WB or after I remove trigger put it in water and spray it clean

 

[BlueBeast14GT]

Now we know how Walt got lung cancer.

Honestly, I always suspected it had to do with the car wash or his history as a chemist. Somehow I never translated that to real life and the chemicals I use all over my vehicle.

When I use the WB I too notice the rotaries rusting.
I simply wipe them off with an old towel,comes right off.

These days I only use it when it's really needed.

I maintain my personal wheels well so soap and water does the trick.
I make it a point to keep them sealed well.

Sent from my LG-D800 using AG Online

It comes of easily, but it's more of an indicator of the larger problem of using something that harsh. I forgot to mention the last time I used it, I also noticed the paint on my fender around the wheel well started to look foggy. I think the wind blew some of the WB when I was spraying it. I immediately grabbed the hose and sprayed that area down really well, and luckily it went away. I'm not positive it was from the WB, but I have a pretty strong suspicion.

When I use the WB or after I remove trigger put it in water and spray it clean

That's a good idea! I thought about removing the sprayer but I don't have anything to cap the spray bottle with. Do you just leave it open?

 

[BlueBeast14GT]

Depending on where you live, local governments sponsor hazardous waste collections. I'm sure there are plenty of forum members who would take it off your hands, you should put your location in your profile. There is a samples thread also, perhaps you can give it away as one big sample. Or even a local detailing shop that might want it.

Not to overblow this--drain cleaner and plenty of other stuff you can buy in the supermarket is no good for you, and you can put your food down in the same cart or the same check-out belt that the guy with the leaky drain cleaner bottle just used.

Yeah I think I'll just put it on Craigslist for a few bucks. The super market is a little different that straight up inhaling stuff or having it blow back from the sprayer onto my skin, but I see your point.