Koch-Chemie Rim cleaner extreme "Fe" Rim cleaner 11kg

Removing baked-on brake dust with Koch-Chemie Wheel Cleaner extreme "Fe"

What is Koch-Chemie Wheel Cleaner extreme "Fe"? A hydrochloric acid-based professional concentrate with pH -0.2 that removes baked-on brake dust, rust film, and cement film from steel rims, painted aluminum rims, and workshop surfaces. Not suitable for polished aluminum, magnesium, chrome, or marble.

Koch-Chemie Wheel Cleaner extreme "Fe" is an extremely acidic special cleaner from Koch-Chemie based on hydrochloric acid (HCl), which chemically dissolves inorganic contaminants such as baked-on brake dust, iron oxide, and limescale film. With a pH value of -0.2, it is one of the strongest cleaners in the Koch-Chemie range and is purely a workshop and industrial product — no container size below 11 kg, no spray bottle, no end-customer format.

• pH -0.2 for baked-on dirt that resists everything else. Hydrochloric acid-based formula dissolves brake dust that has been baked into the rim surface after 6 or 12 months without cleaning. Dilution 1:2 to 1:10 means: 11 kg of concentrate yields up to 110 kg of application solution.
• Three container sizes for workshops, detailers, and large operations. 11 kg canister for workshops, 22 kg canister for detailing businesses, 225 kg drum for car washes and industrial operations. No smaller containers — if you're looking for a spray bottle, you're looking at the wrong product.
• More than just a wheel cleaner. Cleans steel rims and painted aluminum rims, but also car wash bay tiles, commercial vehicles, construction vehicles, and workshop machinery. Wherever inorganic contamination sits on acid-resistant material, the "Fe" is the right tool.

Practical tip from Detailing1: ALWAYS pre-wet the surface. Applied dry, the hydrochloric acid reacts too quickly and attacks the surface more severely than necessary. Water as a pre-wetting agent slows down the reaction and distributes the concentrate evenly. Second common mistake: leaving it on for too long. With a pH of -0.2, 30 to 90 seconds are sufficient — after that, the product must be rinsed off thoroughly with high pressure. Drying causes material damage, not "a little longer for more cleaning".

Pre-wet, dilute 1:5, 60 seconds, rinse off

The Fe is not used undiluted. Standard dilution is 1:5 with water, up to 1:2 for extreme contamination, and up to 1:10 for light contamination. 11 kg of concentrate thus yields 33 to 110 kg of application solution — one liter of finished solution costs between 0.72 and 2.40 Euros depending on the dilution.

Before application, the rim is thoroughly rinsed with water. This pre-wetting is not optional. It slows down the acid reaction, distributes the concentrate better, and reduces the risk of streaks and localized material damage. Application is done with a low-pressure sprayer or brush from bottom to top, so that run-off marks do not dry. For vertical surfaces like car wash bay tiles, work in 1-meter sections so that the concentrate does not run over already treated areas.

The order in the wheel area is important. First, cover the tire sidewall or apply the dilution precisely — hydrochloric acid can bleach tire markings. Then treat the rim itself, always working in the same rotational position so that no area is overlooked. After rinsing, visually check and only apply a second pass if there is visible residual dirt — this is rarely necessary with correctly dosed initial application.

The dwell time is 30 to 90 seconds. Upon visible reaction (foaming, discoloration), immediately rework with the wheel brush and rinse thoroughly with a high-pressure cleaner. Several short passes are better than one long one — the acid is saturated after a maximum of 2 minutes and only causes damage thereafter. Personal protective equipment is mandatory: acid-resistant gloves, safety glasses, long-sleeved work clothing. Immediately rinse splashes on the skin with plenty of water.

Steel rim yes. Polished aluminum rim no.

The Fe is designed for acid-resistant materials. Steel rims, painted aluminum rims with intact clear coat, car wash bay tiles, and commercial vehicles are among them. The cleaning performance on baked-on brake dust from trucks, buses, and construction machinery is unmatched in the industry — no acid-free alternative comes close to its deep effect.

The chemical reaction is clear: hydrochloric acid dissolves iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) from brake dust and converts it into water-soluble iron chloride, which washes away with the rinse water. The same principle applies to limescale (calcium carbonate), cement film after construction work, and boiler scale in car wash bays. Inorganic contamination is dissolved in seconds; organic contamination such as tar, oil, or insect residues is not attacked — for these, solvent-based or surfactant-based cleaners are needed.

The speed advantage is concretely measurable. Acid-free wheel cleaners using thioglycolate require 3 to 5 minutes of dwell time per pass and often two to three passes for baked-on brake dust. The Fe dissolves the same contamination in 30 to 90 seconds in one pass. In a detailing business with ten vehicles per day, this means a time saving of 60 to 90 minutes — calculated as hourly wage, the investment in the large container pays for itself within a few weeks.

Where the Fe immediately causes damage: polished aluminum without paint protection, magnesium, chrome (even slightly attacked), zinc, marble, natural stone, and all anodized surfaces. The pH value of -0.2 practically corresponds to concentrated hydrochloric acid — this is industrial chemistry, not detailing care. Before each initial use on an unknown surface, test an inconspicuous area, at least 5 cm² for 30 seconds, then rinse thoroughly and visually check.

If the rims are polished, chrome-plated, or uncoated, opt for the acid-free Koch-Chemie Felgenblitz "Fb" — it works with iron-binding agents instead of acid and is material-compatible with all common rim types. If the rims are painted, have little brake dust, and you maintain them regularly, an acid-free cleaner is also sufficient. The Fe is only justified when the brake dust is baked on and acid-free cleaners reach their limits.

Workshop, Detailer, Car Wash, and Construction Yard

The Fe is not an end-customer product. It belongs in the workshop, in the detailing bay, and in the car wash tunnel. If someone uses it privately in their home garage, they are buying 11 kg of concentrate for a task that an acid-free cleaner in a 1-liter format can solve just as well — with significantly less risk to the rim and their own health.

The typical application areas can be clearly defined. Detailers with several vehicles daily need the fast, deep cleaning effect for initial detailing of neglected vehicles. Workshops with tire change services use it during wheel changes — especially in spring after the winter season, when road salt and baked-on brake dust sit together on the steel rim.

Truck and bus wash facilities use it as a main cleaner against brake dust and road grime. Construction companies clean construction vehicles after use to remove cement and lime residues. Building cleaners use it on workshop tiles, in maintenance halls, and on industrial floor areas when limescale deposits, rust stains, or cement film need to be removed.

For the purchasing decision, the question of container size remains. The 11 kg canisters are the right format for workshops with occasional needs and detailers with one to two vehicles per day — at a 1:5 dilution, they are sufficient for about 250 sets of rims. The 22 kg canister is worthwhile for detailing businesses and smaller car washes.

The 225 kg drum with a pump system is the standard size for truck washes, large businesses, and building cleaners with daily use. The price per kg drops by about 12 percent from the 11 kg container to the 225 kg drum — the larger investment pays off with consistent daily demand. If you're unsure which container size fits, start with the 11 kg canister and upgrade as soon as three canisters per quarter are needed.

As a complete solution, combine the Fe for initial cleaning with the acid-free Felgenblitz "Fb" for regular follow-up cleaning — this limits acid use to what truly cannot be removed acid-free. For tire care afterwards, use a regular tire care product. Store in the original canister, frost-free, separate from food, and separate from alkaline cleaners (risk of reaction).

Within the Koch-Chemie wheel cleaner family, the Fe stands at the top of the acid line. If you need even more cleaning power and want to work with a three-acid mixture, opt for the Triple Acid Star "Ta". If you want to work acid-free and have baked-on brake dust, accept several passes with the Felgenblitz or Reactive Wheel Cleaner. You use the Fe when cleaning needs to be fast, thorough, and done only once — precisely in the industrial application field for which Koch-Chemie's hydrochloric acid-based professional formula was originally developed.

Application of Koch-Chemie Wheel Cleaner extrem "Fe"

Pre-wet, dilute, apply, allow to act briefly, rinse off

Before application, the surface to be cleaned is thoroughly pre-wetted with water. This pre-wetting is not optional — it slows down the reaction of the hydrochloric acid and distributes the concentrate evenly. If applied dry, the cleaner reacts too quickly and attacks the surface more aggressively than necessary.

The concentrate is diluted with water at a ratio of 1:5 — up to 1:2 for extreme soiling, and up to 1:10 for light soiling. Apply with a low-pressure sprayer or brush from bottom to top to prevent drip marks from drying. For car wash tiles and vertical surfaces, work in 1-meter sections.

The exposure time is 30 to 90 seconds. In case of a visible reaction (foaming, discoloration), immediately rework with the wheel brush. Then rinse thoroughly with a high-pressure cleaner — the acid must be completely removed. Several short applications are better than one long application with a longer exposure time.

Personal protective equipment is mandatory: acid-resistant gloves, safety glasses, long-sleeved work clothing. Immediately rinse splashes on the skin with plenty of water. In case of eye contact, flush eyes under running water for at least 15 minutes and consult a doctor.

Notes: Never apply to hot surfaces — the reaction will then proceed uncontrollably. Not for polished aluminum, magnesium, chrome, zinc, anodized surfaces, marble, and natural stone. Before each first use on an unknown surface, test an inconspicuous spot (5 cm², 30 seconds). Do not mix with alkaline cleaners — the reaction generates heat and can cause splashes. Store in the original canister at 5 to 30 °C, frost-free, separated from food and alkaline products. Pure professional product — keep out of reach of children or untrained personnel.