Quick Review: Griot`s Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner.

**BobbyG** · 01-07-2012, 07:29 AM

As always Todd, another first rate review.

Is this a new offering from Griot`s?

Griot`s Wheel Cleaner looks similat to the workings of Iron-X on its reactivity with metal particles. I`ve been using Chemical Guys Dablo Gel thinned to it`s recommended amount and have found it to be quite a product.

Much appreciated!

**Rocket** · 01-07-2012, 07:35 AM

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?

**mjlinane** · 01-07-2012, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Rocket

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?

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.

**wgilles** · 01-07-2012, 10:22 AM

Good review, thanks, I think I might pick up a bottle and try it out.

**ZL1Mark** · 01-07-2012, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by BobbyG

I`ve been using Chemical Guys Dablo Gel thinned to it`s recommended amount and have found it to be quite a product.

Hi Bobby,

What dilution ratio are you using it at?

**umi000** · 01-07-2012, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Rocket

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?

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...

**Badboyztn** · 01-08-2012, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by mjlinane

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.

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.

**SS 07C70** · 01-08-2012, 01:53 AM

Thanks for the review, looks like a great product. Might have to try this.

**Rocket** · 01-08-2012, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by umi000

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...

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.

**aray** · 01-08-2012, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by Badboyztn

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.

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!

**classofshine** · 01-08-2012, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by 07 z-oh-6

Hi Bobby,

What dilution ratio are you using it at?

I like it as low as 6:1, after that you start to loose the "gel" and it becomes a spray. 4:1 is still pretty thick.

**Addicted2Bling** · 01-08-2012, 04:47 PM

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???

**rzatch** · 01-08-2012, 09:27 PM

New review Todd. Looks like another alternative to the very popular Meguiars Wheel Brite.

**sc_S13** · 01-11-2012, 02:33 AM

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!

**Todd@RUPES** · 01-11-2012, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by mwtaco

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.

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.