Quick Review: Griot's Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner.

Rocket said:
The smell comparison to Iron X is interesting... I think I saw Avi post that Iron X and Sonax FE use complete different makeups in their products. While they both change color they do it in different ways.

I wonder what Griots is closest to?
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Just me, but I take that statement with a grain of salt (as with most manufacturers' statements). Of course any manufacturer would like to claim that their product is unique, and works in a special way that's different from other products - but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

Besides, I don't see how he could know with certainty what Sonax uses in their product - for some reason, I don't see them releasing the fine details of the chemical make-up of their products to a competitor...
 
mjlinane said:
Griots HDWC smells nothing like IronX or Sonax. It has a deep cherry cough medicine scent (closer to Duragloss 901) that lingers (not necessarily a bad thing) whereas the others have a definite sulphur smell.

Great review BTW.
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Maybe we get different batches, because there is nothing cherry about the Griot's HDWC that I can smell (IMO). Regardless of the smell, good or bad, I am pleased with the product.
 
umi000 said:
Just me, but I take that statement with a grain of salt (as with most manufacturers' statements). Of course any manufacturer would like to claim that their product is unique, and works in a special way that's different from other products - but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

Besides, I don't see how he could know with certainty what Sonax uses in their product - for some reason, I don't see them releasing the fine details of the chemical make-up of their products to a competitor...
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Maybe they did like a chef trying to duplicate a recipe. You taste and taste some more until you come up with the recipe. Just kidding really but who knows, I'm not a chemist so all of this stuff is over my head anyway.
 
Badboyztn said:
Maybe we get different batches, because there is nothing cherry about the Griot's HDWC that I can smell (IMO). Regardless of the smell, good or bad, I am pleased with the product.
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As long as it doesn't smell like someone is burning hair off of a rat that's been dead for several days (Sonax).... I'll give it a shot! :)
 
I have some of this, and although it does a good job, I really wasn't that impressed with it. I had a customer who had brake dust baked onto the rim, and it took me 3 and on other wheels 4 passes with this cleaner to get it off, I ended up spending almost an entire hour messing around with it. Now maybe I'm expecting too much out of this product, maybe this is the best wheel cleaner you can get, maybe what I was dealing with was an extreme case of brake dust, I don't know, but if it takes me that long to get rid of baked on dust then why bother with this product in the future when I can just go out and buy a bottle of iron X???
 
Todd you gotta get some really dirty wheels and try it on them haha my nearly dead brake pads are caking tons of dust on my wheels, this would work wonders!
 
mwtaco said:
how is the heavy duty wheel cleaner different from the regular green wheel cleaner griot offers? i know its probably stronger, but why buy the regular strength if this is better.
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It is stronger than the regular Griot's for sure. The regular strength is still a good cleaner for most people that frequently clean their wheels (and saves a little money). This is a more advanced formula. I think it smells pretty good as well.
 
sc_S13 said:
Todd you gotta get some really dirty wheels and try it on them haha my nearly dead brake pads are caking tons of dust on my wheels, this would work wonders!
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The barrels of the wheels had some really caked on dust and required 2-3 applications to remove. I tried it next to Sonax and the cleaning wasn't quite as strong, but the Sonax also required multiple applications.
 
Todd Helme said:
It is stronger than the regular Griot's for sure. The regular strength is still a good cleaner for most people that frequently clean their wheels (and saves a little money). This is a more advanced formula. I think it smells pretty good as well.
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Thanks, Todd. When I first attacked a wheel that was neglected, the regular strength didn't contribute much. But now that its been properly maintained, it works well. And the green regular formula smells great. I assume the HD does also.
 
Todd,
I have a set of wheels that have not been properly cleaned in 10 years. They are factory alloy rims would this be okay for them? I can't find it anywhere in my area so I would have to order some. I looked for Griot's stuff in several auto supply stores and can't find any products at all. Is this a West coast conspiracy??;)

Bman
 
I have only used a few of Griot's products and like some and some not as much. It looks like the wheel cleaner will be one that I try soon. The review was great and the results looked great also.
 
The Griots waxes and polishes don't get very high reviews but most everyone seems to like their HD wheel cleaner.
 
Bakerman said:
Todd,
I have a set of wheels that have not been properly cleaned in 10 years. They are factory alloy rims would this be okay for them? I can't find it anywhere in my area so I would have to order some. I looked for Griot's stuff in several auto supply stores and can't find any products at all. Is this a West coast conspiracy??;)

Bman
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There are a lot of variables that come into play as to whether a particular product will work on a particular wheel with a specific condition. The nice thing about Griot's is that it is still a gentle (wheel friendly) formula, it just pushes the boundaries of what can safely (and gently) be cleaned.

A lot of professional detailers (volume based) use acids or strong alkalies to clean wheels, but there is an increased risk with such products.

If you are dealing with bare aluminum wheels (not painted) then stick with Griot's or something similar that will not damage the metal.
 
Bakerman said:
I looked for Griot's stuff in several auto supply stores and can't find any products at all. Is this a West coast conspiracy??;)

Bman
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No I don't think so, Advanced Auto is supposed to carry Griot's products by mine doesn't have a single item.
 
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