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Ethos Car Care

Wheel Cleaner+

thioglycolate-basedcolor-changingpH-neutralwarning-labelready-to-useheavy-duty

Best Value

$1.06/oz

A thioglycolate-based iron-reactive wheel cleaner featuring color-changing technology and pH-neutral chemistry for safe use on high-performance vehicle wheels.

Key Chemistry

pH Level

7.0

Active Mechanism

thioglycolate chelation

Surfactants

2 (cationic, nonionic)

Expert Analysis

Utilizes (2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium mercaptoacetate as the primary iron chelator, which bonds with iron particles in brake dust to create the characteristic red color change that signals active contamination removal. The pH-neutral formulation (6-8) combines cationic and nonionic surfactants to provide cleaning power while remaining safe for sensitive wheel finishes and coatings.

Key Differentiators

  • Full ingredient transparency with all 15 components disclosed
  • Thioglycolate chemistry offers alternative to traditional thiourea-based iron removers
  • Ready-to-use concentration eliminates dilution guesswork

Potential Concerns

  • Thioglycolate actives may have different reaction timing compared to traditional iron removers
  • Cationic surfactants require thorough rinsing to prevent residue on wheel surfaces

Ingredients

15 disclosed
(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium mercaptoacetate1-<5
CAS: 126-97-6metal cleaner
disodium 4,5-dihydroxybenzene-1,3-disulphonate1-<5
CAS: 149-45-1cleaning agent
2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol1-<5
CAS: 112-34-5co-solvent
cocoalkylmethyl polyoxyethylene ammonium chloride1-<5
CAS: 61791-10-4surfactant
Alcohols, C11-15- secondary, ethoxylated1-<5
CAS: 84133-50-6surfactant
waterN/D
CAS: 7732-18-5solvent
triethanolamineN/D
CAS: 102-71-6pH adjusting agent
xanthan gumN/D
CAS: 11138-66-2viscosity modifier
d-limoneneN/D
CAS: 5989-27-5fragrance
benzyl benzoateN/D
CAS: 120-51-4fragrance
citralN/D
CAS: 5392-40-5fragrance
3,7-dimethyloctan-3-olN/D
CAS: 78-69-3fragrance
eugenolN/D
CAS: 97-53-0fragrance
alpha terpineolN/D
CAS: 98-55-5fragrance
2,2'-iminodiethanol0.0011%
CAS: 111-42-2impurity

Source: sds only

Safety Profile

Signal Word
Warning
Eye Hazard
Causes serious eye irritation
Skin Hazard
May cause an allergic skin reaction
Corrosive to Metals
No
Flammable
Yes

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