Product Review: Autoglym Liquid CLay

It is mesmerising isn't it? How a chain reaction between two chemical elements results in the production of a vivid colour... Out of nowhere, purple liquid just seeps out of the paintwork's pores to prove as a visual that one element of your cleaning and decontamination process can be witnessed with a colour change as proof of efficacy.

Colour changing Iron Fallout removers have been on the market for a decade at the very least. The first one I personally tried was CarPro Iron-X. As the market leader in Iron Fallout removers, most brands have upped their game to keep pace and produce an alternative to challenge the original colour changing Iron Fallout removers.

Before I delve into the car detailing geekiness involved with reviewing such a product, I would like to quickly give you a run-down on what Iron Fallout actually is. Brake dust and factory pollution contain iron particles that just love to sinter into your paintwork, and from there start a chain reaction of tiny bits of rust into your finish. It is better to arrest the affects of this process by nipping it in the bud before it takes a serious hold. This is why Iron Fallout removers are formulated. They break these deposits down into a water-soluble compound that just rinses away.

Autoglym have recently stepped into the fold by launching their own colour changing treatment called "Liquid Clay". Interestingly, they have had an Iron Fallout remover on the market for many years, which is an Oxalic acid based product that does not change colour on application.

Firstly, I would like to echo the rhetoric that this product is perhaps a little misleading in its nomenclature and printed description. Autoglym have said that the use of the use of this product will result in smooth paintwork, just as if you have clay barred it! Personally, if I were employed by their savvy marketing department I would have dubbed it "Clay Mate". Why? Because treating Iron Fallout, as well as tar spots, should be done in conjunction with clay barring for a fully comprehensive clean of the vehicle's bodywork.

So, the product itself. It has a zesty scent that overpowers the usual eggy-fart smell that is all too well associated with these types of products. A bonus for the user before we have even started, in my books! Some would argue that perfumes hamper the yield of these treatments, but this one delivers well and truly.

I put it to good use on a worthy recipient - that being a 27 year old Nissan Allstar, in all its glory with white paint. If any colour change effect was going to be best visible, it was going to be on a truck like this one, what with some areas of surface rust quite literally running down the paint.

Within 5 minutes the "bleed" effect was evident in abundance. Application was smooth, it would seem a little goes a long way helping this product to be economical in repeat use.

In terms of price, you will have to contact your local Autoglym sales rep for exact cost as this is currently a product only available through your local franchise. For a 5litre container, you should expect to pay around £40, making this not quite the most expensive deal, but not the cheapest outlay either.

The use of this product certainly broke the back of decontaminating this truck, which was then followed with clay barring and a light cut machine polish with dual action machine utilising CarPro Essence polish, with Bilt Hamber Hydra-wax.

Would I buy again? Certainly. It isn't the cheapest per litre, but spreads much better than the cheapest - giving it that economic value so much well known by the dish wash soap that we dare not use on our cars. If they choose to make a 25 litre offering, I will be all over it. Andy out!