Why you NEED a wheel cleaner w/dedicated Iron decontaminate

[speedfreak81]

While working on an E39 M5 (full detail thread to follow) I thought I would take the time to demonstrate the importance of using A) a wheel cleaner with an iron decontaminate agent or B) a dedicated decontaminate. Iron is highly corrosive, and the particles will embed themselves into the paint surface causing irrepairable damage if not tended to.

Sonax Full Effect is my wheel cleaner of choice, but one can also use a dedicated decontaminate such as Iron X.

For today I decided to clean the wheels with a popular, and quite good cleaner. (Not the usual Sonax)


Cleaner dwelling on the wheels for a minute or two prior to using brushes.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h253/speedfreak81/011-10.jpg


Looks pretty clean right? I think NOT.;)

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h253/speedfreak81/012-10.jpg


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h253/speedfreak81/001-14.jpg


IronX sprayed onto the wheel surface, results after sitting for less than one minute. As you can see, just because they LOOKED clean, doesn't mean they WERE. When this decontaminate comes into contact with iron, it chemically reacts changing color from clear to a redish/purple color.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h253/speedfreak81/010-11.jpg


A close up...:eyecrazy :buttrock


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h253/speedfreak81/009-10.jpg


After a good scrubbing with IronX, all existing brake dust was gone as well as an all around improved look and finish. Happy Detailing everyone!

-Brian

[ThreeD]

nice post. where did you get IronX and how much was it? I'm having a hard time stomaching a $100 order for a 5 gallon jug of Sonax...

[speedfreak81]

nice post. where did you get IronX and how much was it? I'm having a hard time stomaching a $100 order for a 5 gallon jug of Sonax...

If you don't want to pony up for the large jug of Sonax why not just get the 16.9oz bottles? I picked up the IronX from autogeek, but I believe you can get it from most of the online detail shops.

-Brian

[ynoty3k]

I think the 5 gallon jug would last a detailer quite a while. why not just buy a regular bottle and see how long that lasts, and if you even like the stuff.

[speedfreak81]

It's actually a 5 liter jug guys, 5 gallons would be HUGE! ;)

[ynoty3k]

That makes more sense price point wise. I knew it was 5 larger than ounce units ;)

[admranger]

That wheel doesn't deserve the IronX. Damn...does the guy parallel park with his eyes closed? Ouch...

Nice demo though. Good info!

[speedfreak81]

That wheel doesn't deserve the IronX. Damn...does the guy parallel park with his eyes closed? Ouch...

Nice demo though. Good info!

Knew one of you were going to see and comment about the curbage.:D He actually bought the car for his wife to DD, and the price he paid represented the condition of the car/wheel. ;)

[2K6TBSS]

Do you have any pics of the wheel after the Iron-x was rinsed off? I would like to see the difference of the wheel cleaned with just wheel cleaner vs. iron-x.

[speedfreak81]

Do you have any pics of the wheel after the Iron-x was rinsed off? I would like to see the difference of the wheel cleaned with just wheel cleaner vs. iron-x.

Unfortunately no I do not. While they definitely clean better (mainly brake dust which is made up largely of iron particles) the real benefit is in the results you CAN'T see. The tiny iron particles that have embedded themselves into the paint on the wheels have been removed. And as we all know, sometimes the problems we do not see can eventually turn out to be the biggest.

[2K6TBSS]

I knew that the "unseen" results would be much better, as you stated all the iron particles were removed.

I was just curious to see if there is a difference in shine or anything like that since most (or all) of that unseen contamination is gone. In the picture you posted above with the just cleaned wheel before iron-x, it still looks like there is some built up brake dust and stuff on the wheel; but that could just be the camera angle playing tricks on me too.

[ThreeD]

If you don't want to pony up for the large jug of Sonax why not just get the 16.9oz bottles? I picked up the IronX from autogeek, but I believe you can get it from most of the online detail shops.

-Brian


It's actually a 5 liter jug guys, 5 gallons would be HUGE! ;)


Unfortunately no I do not. While they definitely clean better (mainly brake dust which is made up largely of iron particles) the real benefit is in the results you CAN'T see. The tiny iron particles that have embedded themselves into the paint on the wheels have been removed. And as we all know, sometimes the problems we do not see can eventually turn out to be the biggest.

I usually go through the 500ml very fast, and think it would be a lot more cost effective to get a large jug of it, since I'm 99.9% sure I would love the stuff. Sonax already contains an iron decontaminate, right? So it'd be pointless to use Sonax + IronX?

[speedfreak81]

I usually go through the 500ml very fast, and think it would be a lot more cost effective to get a large jug of it, since I'm 99.9% sure I would love the stuff. Sonax already contains an iron decontaminate, right? So it'd be pointless to use Sonax + IronX?

Yes. ;)

[Dking078]

Not to be a mud thrower, but the Before/After pics don't look like the same wheel.

Cailper isn't there before (front).. caliper is there after (rear). Or am I missing something? is it ment to remove black spots?

[speedfreak81]

Not to be a mud thrower, but the Before/After pics don't look like the same wheel.

Cailper isn't there before (front).. caliper is there after (rear). Or am I missing something? is it ment to remove black spots?


Guess I accidentally grabbed a front wheel pic in the first one and rear in the second, purely coincidence. All 4 wheels got the exact same treatment.

Black spots as in caked on brake dust and whatever else, yes.

[Sniz]

I see you were just itching to use the ironx huh Brian?

:)

[speedfreak81]

I see you were just itching to use the ironx huh Brian?

:)

Absolutely! That M5 needed it BAD. Entire body got it, plus the wheels. Wait until I post up the full detail thread and you see what looks like pools of blood on the ground from what dripped off the body.

Ah what the hell....here's a teaser pic. Stuff works, NUFF said. :buttrock


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h253/speedfreak81/006-10.jpg