BRANDS
Koch Chemie Alkali Wheel Cleaner Awh
$46.00 - $170.00
Koch Chemie · Germany · Wheel Care
AWH — Alkali Wheel Cleaner
Concentrated Alkaline Formula · Brake Dust & Road Grime · Dilute to Task
Spray on, brush, rinse, move on. Chemical does the work — not dwell time.
Koch Chemie Alkali Wheel Cleaner AWH, as the name suggests, utilizes the alkaline end of the pH spectrum to lift dirt off of your wheels. I had an advanced sample to test before release, and started using it at full blast — because winter in New Hampshire. This stuff EATS. Does a very nice job of removing all the gunk built up from the brakes as well as everything that attached itself from the roadways.
Under normal conditions, I would suggest knocking this back with water at a rate of 1:10 for general wheel cleaning, but you can use a dilution of 1:2 if it's a really grubby set.
Alkaline tends to mist and fog when sprayed, can get foamy — but AWH seems to do that less than others in this category.
What it does
Alkaline brake dust removal — the pH does the heavy lifting. Brake dust, road tar, and winter road treatment buildup all break down under alkaline chemistry without mechanical scrubbing.
Concentrated — dilute to the job — 1:10 for regular maintenance, tighten to 1:2 for heavily soiled wheels. One bottle covers a wide range of conditions.
Less fogging than comparable alkaline cleaners — alkaline products at this strength typically mist and fog on application. AWH behaves better than most in this category.
Winter capable — tested at full concentration through a New Hampshire winter. Road salt, grit, and brake buildup from cold-weather driving — it handles it.
Dilution Guide
Standard
General Cleaning
1:10
Regular maintenance. Most wheels, most conditions.
Heavy Soiling
1:2
Really grubby set. Winter buildup. Don't start here unless it needs it.
Full Strength
Nah
Rarely would you need this at full strength
How to run it: During application, you want to rely on the chemical instead of dwell time. That means spray on, brush the surface, and rinse off before moving to the next wheel. If you have a spot that requires more cleaning, spray more instead of letting the initial application sit. You keep this 'wet work' — same principle as an acid. I am far more comfortable with an iron remover drying on a set of wheels than acidic or alkaline cleaners — they will mark. KNOW YOUR PRODUCTS. KNOW YOUR PROCESS. Finish the work by completely rinsing the wheel, tire, as well as the ground it sits on so runoff does not mark the pavement.
How to Use
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1
Dilute to the task — 1:10 for general cleaning, 1:2 for heavily soiled wheels. Measure it out. Starting too strong on a clean wheel wastes product and adds unnecessary risk.
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2
Spray on and brush immediately — don't apply and walk away. The chemistry is active — agitate the surface while it's wet and work it off before it has time to dry down.
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3
More product, not more time — if a spot needs more cleaning, spray more and brush again. Do not let the first application sit longer. Keep it wet work.
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4
Rinse one wheel fully before moving to the next — complete rinse of the wheel, tire, and the ground beneath it. Runoff will mark pavement if left.
Surfaces: Alloy Wheels Steel Wheels Wheel Barrels Brake Calipers Wheel Arches Tires
AVOID letting AWH dry on any surface. Alkaline chemistry that dries on a wheel or surrounding paint will mark. Work one wheel at a time, keep surfaces wet, and rinse completely before moving on — including the ground beneath the wheel. Do not use on hot surfaces or in direct sun.
1 Liter No. 11301US 5 Liter No. 11305US
worth a look
