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Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

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  • Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

    Product Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

    Product Description:

    Effectively cleans wheels and targets brake dust and completely safe to use on all wheels and other components within the fender well. When applied, the formula transitions from a yellow-green hue to a red-purple color highlighting the cleansing action.

    • Effectively cleans wheels and targets brake dust

    • Safe on all wheels, brake, and suspension components

    • Industrial chemistry

    • Product is yellowish-green and turns red-purple to show its working

    Price:

    MSRP of $8.99 for a 22oz bottle

    Introduction:

    Sonax revolutionized the wheel cleaning industry when they first came out with their color changing formula that shows the wheel cleaner's reaction to brake dust and iron particles. For the longest time, I've been waiting for Meguiar's to come out with something like that and finally they created a product that does this in collaboration with DUB.

    In this review, I will show you how the DUB cleaner works and compare its performance with the Sonax wheel cleaner.

    I broke this review down into 3 sections:

    1. Comparing DUB and Sonax wheel cleaners and checking their performance after rinsing only and after cleaning the wheel with soap and water.
    2. Comparing DUB and Sonax wheel cleaners in a different wheel and checking their performance after rinsing only.
    3. Comparing cleaning a wheel with and without using DUB wheel cleaner.

    Testing:

    The test subjects I used for this wheel cleaner is extremely neglected. I don't know how long it has been since the car was washed and consequently, how much brake dust has accumulated in each wheel. I wouldn't be surprised if it hasn't been cleaned for at least 6 months.

    The following sets of pictures were taken while using the DUB wheel cleaner.

    Before Picture of the wheel to be cleaned with the DUB wheel cleaner:


    Product applied to the dirty wheel:


    Now I let the product dwell and took pictures with time markers as shown in the following pictures.

    1 minute mark:


    2 minute mark:


    2 minute mark close up:


    2 minute mark close up:


    3 minute mark:


    3 minute mark close up:


    3 minute mark close up:


    Whole wheel showing the color change after about 3 and a half minutes:


    Wheel after it has been rinsed down:


    Wheel after it has been agitated and washed with car wash soap:



    The following sets of pictures were taken while using the Sonax wheel cleaner. I tried to mimic the same procedure I used with the DUB wheel cleaner side.

    Before Picture of the wheel to be cleaned with the Sonax wheel cleaner:


    Product applied to the dirty wheel:


    Now I let the product dwell and took pictures with time markers as shown in the following pictures.

    1 minute mark:


    2 minute mark:


    2 minute mark close up:


    2 minute mark close up:


    3 minute mark:


    3 minute mark close up:


    3 minute mark close up:


    Whole wheel showing the color change after about 3 and a half minutes:


    Wheel after it has been rinsed down:


    Wheel after it has been agitated and washed with car wash soap:


    The following pictures show the before condition of a set of wheels from a different vehicle and the after rinsing the wheel with just water.

    Before wheel with DUB Wheel Cleaner:


    After letting it dwell for 3 minutes:


    After rinsing it with water only. No agitation:


    Before wheel with Sonax Wheel Cleaner:


    After letting it dwell for 3 minutes:


    After rinsing it with water only. No agitation:


    The following pictures were from the rear wheels of the first test subject vehicle (Honda CR-V). As you can see, the initial condition wasn't as bad as the first set of pictures of this test. Here I'm testing whether the DUB wheel cleaner provides any assistance to cleaning the wheels.

    Before Picture of the wheel to be cleaned with the DUB wheel cleaner:


    Product applied:


    After letting it dwell for 3 minutes:


    Chemical reaction - you know the product's working!!!


    Another shot:


    Wheel washed and agitated:


    Clean Wheel:


    This is the before condition of the wheel on the other side:


    After using car soap to wash and agitate the wheel:


    As you can see, it left a lot of brake dust in between the spokes:





    Opinions and Observations:

    As you can see from the testing, this product works quite well and as advertised. The product reacts with brake dust and metal particles and it shows you when the chemical changes color from green to red.

    It also helps you in cleaning the wheel more effectively compared to cleaning your wheel with just car wash soap. It makes removing caked on brake dust a whole lot easier.

    The smell is very pleasant. It's not like the putrid and vomit inducing smell like other products LOL!

    This product is very reasonably priced at $8.99 for a 22oz bottle. I think it can be obtained for less in Walmart. Currently, it's on sale at advanced auto parts for $5 a bottle. You can't go wrong with that. The MSRP is almost half compared to Sonax.

    In my opinion, this product is very safe on the wheels. You can leave it sitting for 4-5 minutes without any problem. I feel that's a huge advantage compared to other wheel cleaners such as the Hot Rims Wheel/Tire cleaner.

    The only con I have of this product is that it's more runny than Sonax. After about 3 and a half minutes, the wheel is almost dry. I wish that they would make the cleaner more thick or viscous in order to make it cling to the wheel surface longer.

    Conclusion:

    Overall, I'm very satisfied with this product. It works as advertised and helps you clean your dirty wheels more effectively. You can't beat the price especially when it's on sale. I will not hesitate to buy this product again. Finally, a color changing wheel cleaner from Meguiar's!!! If you haven't tried this product, you need to give it a shot and I think you'll be amazed with it!
    2011 Car Crazy Showcase SEMA Team

  • #2
    Re: Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

    Great review as usual, I will look for this item the next time I'm in a US Walmart.
    If I didn't have 4 gallons of D143...I would of ordered this item months ago!!
    "STRIFE" aka Phil
    2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe (IP/ aka White) the Toy
    2011 Subaru Impreza (SWP/ aka White) the DD
    2017 Subaru Forester (CWP/ aka White) Wifey's

    Comment


    • #3
      Great write up. But I'm just wondering if u cleaned the inside barrels of the rims? From a couple pics it doesn't look like it. I would b more interested in that part cuz usually it's always caked on inside there.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

        Thanks for the great write-up! I've always used a degreaser to clean rims and tires and I might just give this DUB cleaner a try for comparison.

        Wig

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

          Great review as always. Thanks Marc
          Originally posted by Blueline
          I own a silver vehicle and a black vehicle owns me. The black one demands attention, washing, detailing, waxing and an occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant. The silver one demands nothing and it looks just fine. I think the black vehicle is taking advantage of me, and the silver car is more my style. We can go out for a drive without her makeup and she looks fine. If I want to take the black one out, it is three or four hours in the "bathroom" to get ready.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

            Originally posted by STRIFE View Post
            Great review as usual, I will look for this item the next time I'm in a US Walmart.
            If I didn't have 4 gallons of D143...I would of ordered this item months ago!!
            Thanks, Strife!!!

            Yikes! 4 gallons?! I've had D143 since last year and I haven't touched it yet... hehehe! How do you like D143?

            Originally posted by Jarhead0754 View Post
            Great write up. But I'm just wondering if u cleaned the inside barrels of the rims? From a couple pics it doesn't look like it. I would b more interested in that part cuz usually it's always caked on inside there.
            Thanks Jarhead.

            I didn't clean the inside of the barrels of the wheels I cleaned.

            Originally posted by wig View Post
            Thanks for the great write-up! I've always used a degreaser to clean rims and tires and I might just give this DUB cleaner a try for comparison.

            Wig
            I'm glad you enjoyed the review, Wig!

            Originally posted by davey g-force View Post
            Great review as always. Thanks Marc
            Thank you, Davey!
            2011 Car Crazy Showcase SEMA Team

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

              So they look pretty equal in terms of cleaning ability according to your write up. But with DUB at roughly $9 for 22 ounces versus Sonax at roughly $15 for 17 ounces.....well, you do the math.

              Marc, thank you so much for taking the time to do this write up. Including the time markers was a brilliant idea!
              Michael Stoops
              Senior Global Product & Training Specialist | Meguiar's Inc.

              Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

                Originally posted by Michael Stoops View Post
                Marc, thank you so much for taking the time to do this write up. Including the time markers was a brilliant idea!
                It was my pleasure, Mike!!! Hope you liked it.
                2011 Car Crazy Showcase SEMA Team

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

                  Originally posted by Marc08EX View Post
                  Thanks, Strife!!!

                  Yikes! 4 gallons?! I've had D143 since last year and I haven't touched it yet... hehehe! How do you like D143?

                  I love using D143 (2:1 ratio)
                  Works great...used a foaming trigger sprayer....foam appears pink on the dirty wheels...and eventually turns brown as it lifts off the brake dust off...I give it a bit of help with a Daytona wheel brush...hose off and it looks like the wheels on your review.
                  "STRIFE" aka Phil
                  2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe (IP/ aka White) the Toy
                  2011 Subaru Impreza (SWP/ aka White) the DD
                  2017 Subaru Forester (CWP/ aka White) Wifey's

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Review: DUB Wheel Cleaner

                    Great review, thanks! I have recently thought about getting some Sonax not knowing about this cleaner. Will definitely go "DUB" though! I wish I had known about this new-to-me product before I started restoring my truck's aluminum wheels! They sat in the elements for about 2-3 years with a lot of brake dust on them. It would have been a good test as they looked horrible and quite honestly, I had planned on buying new wheels because I didn't think they could be saved. I suppose there is always the wheel drums though...

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