Radarryan
New member
- Nov 9, 2012
- 778
- 0
Hello all,
First, I wanted to say thank you for everyone that writes reviews! You all have potentially saved me thousands of dollars (and I'm just an enthusiast) and contributed to my family's cars shine! This is my first reviews for something that I find to be one of the most difficult aspects of detailing: wheel cleaning. It is truly difficult to find a wheel cleaner that allows you safety, power, and cost effectiveness, which is why I am currently trying (at least what seems like) every product currently in the market.
Here is today's subject: my mom's 2012 BMW X5, with uncoated, unsealed factory aluminum clear-coated wheels. As you can see, they had a good amount of grime (sorry, from my iPhone 5 camera, couldn't find the point n shoot but I will leave them so they can be enlarged through the browser for better viewing) and brake dust caked on. I figured that since I am saving the Soanx Full Effect for my dad's test, now would be a good time to try the Griot's HD Wheel Cleaner.
ostpics:
Yeah, yeah, I heard you!
Front Right, Before
Back Right, Before
Back Left, Before
Front Left, Before
Here are the tools that were used for the wheels (sorry about the shadow)
1)Griot's Garage Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner
2)Daytona Speed Master Brush
3)Daytona Speed Master Jr. Brush
4)Mother's Wheel Brush
5)Boar's Hair Lug Nut Brush
The directions from Griot's Garage state to:
1) Rinse the wheel (personally, I hate using a wheel cleaner on a wet wheel as I don't feel it cleans as well. As long as the wheels are cool to the touch, and the product does not dry, I do not see the harm, especially with "safe" wheel cleaners. For the purposes of the review, I followed Griot's directions.)
2) Spray product onto surface
3) Let sit. Watch color change
4) Re-wet lightly with product (if needed)
5) Agitate with cleaning tools
6) Rinse clean wheel
Rinsing right, front wheel
Spraying on wheel cleaner, 1
Spraying on wheel cleaner, 2
As you can see, the Griot's foaming sprayer with the wheel cleaner tends to foam up nicely. For a couple bucks, it is definitely a useful tool over a fine-mist sprayer.
Wheel sprayed, dwell starting
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7415/9394713372_cd2c245539_b.jpg
Color-changing, "bleeding" effect of product reacting with iron
Agitation with Mother's Wheel Brush
Agitation with Daytona Speed Master Jr. Brush (remember, always wear gloves when dealing with chemicals. Even so-called "safe" ones.)
Final rinse of first wheel
Foaming the second wheel. For this test, I wanted to see how well the wheel cleaner worked without agitation; a true spray on, dwell, spray off method.
As you can see from the above picture, the results were pretty bad. While there is a slight improvement, without tools the wheel cleaner becomes less than average. I was not expecting anything different, because in my view using a safe wheel cleaner pretty much means that agitation is needed. Interesting test, nonetheless.
Then, my phone died (thanks Apple!)
So now you all get to have pictures painted for you with my words and mastery of the English language! :laughing:
On the next wheel I again, wet the wheel and applied cleaner. After a couple minute dwell, I re-applied cleaner and started agitating. The foam worked up into a lather really well. After using all my tools, the wheel rinsed clean easily. The same process was done on the last wheel.
Final Thoughts
All in all, I would have to say that I am pretty happy with Griot's HD Wheel Cleaner. Only time will tell if this becomes my "go-to" cleaner. The cleaner cannot be diluted, which brings the 35oz to roughly $0.54 per ounce and the gallon refill to $0.39 per ounce. Certainly not Chemical Guys Sticky or Signature, but still less expensive than many of its rivals, such as Sonax Full Effect, P21S, Wolfgang Über, Auto Finesse, 1Z Einszett ColourTec, etc.
Again, this product is not effective if used as a spray-on, spray-off product - agitation is needed. That being said, as many of you would argue, if you're going to agitate then you may as well use soap. True, but for many of us "enthusiasts", where bottom line and price point don't matter as much as to production detailers, a little bit of effort saved in the scrubbing department more than makes up for the added cost.
On a side note, I will be doing more reviews of wheel cleaners, and hopefully other things, so any and all feedback on my style, pictures, content, etc. would be greatly appreciated. I thoroughly enjoy reading others reviews and I hope that this one has helped, even in the slightest. Again, sorry for the lack of after pictures but you all can thank the newest (for now) version of the iPhone.
Look forward to questions and comments! Happy detailing!
First, I wanted to say thank you for everyone that writes reviews! You all have potentially saved me thousands of dollars (and I'm just an enthusiast) and contributed to my family's cars shine! This is my first reviews for something that I find to be one of the most difficult aspects of detailing: wheel cleaning. It is truly difficult to find a wheel cleaner that allows you safety, power, and cost effectiveness, which is why I am currently trying (at least what seems like) every product currently in the market.
Here is today's subject: my mom's 2012 BMW X5, with uncoated, unsealed factory aluminum clear-coated wheels. As you can see, they had a good amount of grime (sorry, from my iPhone 5 camera, couldn't find the point n shoot but I will leave them so they can be enlarged through the browser for better viewing) and brake dust caked on. I figured that since I am saving the Soanx Full Effect for my dad's test, now would be a good time to try the Griot's HD Wheel Cleaner.
ostpics:Yeah, yeah, I heard you!
Front Right, Before
Back Right, Before
Back Left, Before
Front Left, Before
Here are the tools that were used for the wheels (sorry about the shadow)
1)Griot's Garage Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner
2)Daytona Speed Master Brush
3)Daytona Speed Master Jr. Brush
4)Mother's Wheel Brush
5)Boar's Hair Lug Nut Brush
The directions from Griot's Garage state to:
1) Rinse the wheel (personally, I hate using a wheel cleaner on a wet wheel as I don't feel it cleans as well. As long as the wheels are cool to the touch, and the product does not dry, I do not see the harm, especially with "safe" wheel cleaners. For the purposes of the review, I followed Griot's directions.)
2) Spray product onto surface
3) Let sit. Watch color change
4) Re-wet lightly with product (if needed)
5) Agitate with cleaning tools
6) Rinse clean wheel
Rinsing right, front wheel
Spraying on wheel cleaner, 1
Spraying on wheel cleaner, 2
As you can see, the Griot's foaming sprayer with the wheel cleaner tends to foam up nicely. For a couple bucks, it is definitely a useful tool over a fine-mist sprayer.
Wheel sprayed, dwell starting
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7415/9394713372_cd2c245539_b.jpg
Color-changing, "bleeding" effect of product reacting with iron
Agitation with Mother's Wheel Brush
Agitation with Daytona Speed Master Jr. Brush (remember, always wear gloves when dealing with chemicals. Even so-called "safe" ones.)
Final rinse of first wheel
Foaming the second wheel. For this test, I wanted to see how well the wheel cleaner worked without agitation; a true spray on, dwell, spray off method.
As you can see from the above picture, the results were pretty bad. While there is a slight improvement, without tools the wheel cleaner becomes less than average. I was not expecting anything different, because in my view using a safe wheel cleaner pretty much means that agitation is needed. Interesting test, nonetheless.
Then, my phone died (thanks Apple!)
So now you all get to have pictures painted for you with my words and mastery of the English language! :laughing:
On the next wheel I again, wet the wheel and applied cleaner. After a couple minute dwell, I re-applied cleaner and started agitating. The foam worked up into a lather really well. After using all my tools, the wheel rinsed clean easily. The same process was done on the last wheel.
Final Thoughts
All in all, I would have to say that I am pretty happy with Griot's HD Wheel Cleaner. Only time will tell if this becomes my "go-to" cleaner. The cleaner cannot be diluted, which brings the 35oz to roughly $0.54 per ounce and the gallon refill to $0.39 per ounce. Certainly not Chemical Guys Sticky or Signature, but still less expensive than many of its rivals, such as Sonax Full Effect, P21S, Wolfgang Über, Auto Finesse, 1Z Einszett ColourTec, etc.
Again, this product is not effective if used as a spray-on, spray-off product - agitation is needed. That being said, as many of you would argue, if you're going to agitate then you may as well use soap. True, but for many of us "enthusiasts", where bottom line and price point don't matter as much as to production detailers, a little bit of effort saved in the scrubbing department more than makes up for the added cost.
On a side note, I will be doing more reviews of wheel cleaners, and hopefully other things, so any and all feedback on my style, pictures, content, etc. would be greatly appreciated. I thoroughly enjoy reading others reviews and I hope that this one has helped, even in the slightest. Again, sorry for the lack of after pictures but you all can thank the newest (for now) version of the iPhone.
Look forward to questions and comments! Happy detailing!
