Why not use watered down wheel acid to clean: water spots,brake dust and track slag off car?

[Mtnbiker]

When a person does a weekend at Summit Point Virginia International Raceway, I assume there’s a lot of brake dust all over the car. There’s also always a lot of track slag.
It seems like it would possibly be more cost-effective to just water down wheel cleaner, and use that to clean the car.
Is this wrong? If so why?
Thank you.

 

[Delta]

Are you talking about watering down an "over the counter" cleaner, or further diluting a bulk cleaner?

I have two cleaners in my arsenal. Meguiar's Non-Acid wheel cleaner and Meguiar's Wheel Brightener which is an acid and unfortunately discontinued. Those are sold by the gallon and can be diluted as needed. The Non-Acid cleaner is my go to "daily" cleaner and the acid is very rarely used.

If you want to dilute an off the shelf cleaner I recon you could, but for the cost getting a gallon of something and mixing it as you seem fit is the most cost affective solution.

 

[rijndael]

Is your car ceramic coated or does it have PPF? If so, I'd try to avoid non PH neutral options for cleaning. Adams Iron Remover is a good first try.

 

[Mtnbiker]

Whole car is ceramic coated PPF, but it looks like below fuel filler the coating is gone due to it no longer beads or no longer hydrophobic. The very back of the car the vertical surface is not protected with PPF.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I made a video on the best tar remover, which also includes road grime / rubber.

Long story short, Goo Gone and Rustoleum Wax and Tar Remover worked the best. Stoner Tar remover also appear to be brake cleaner and it was very effective as well.

 

[Spring Break '92]

You need to wash and clay the paint, then use an iron remover for the brake deposits.

https://a.co/d/hqviF2B

https://a.co/d/5ejhjiq