Gunk
GUNK manufactures industrial-strength automotive and industrial cleaning and degreasing products, including engine degreasers, brake cleaners, parts cleaners, and specialty cleaners. The brand serves automotive DIY enthusiasts, trade professionals, and general vehicle owners through retail and online channels in the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1959
- HeadquartersIndian Trail, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Gunk does
GUNK is a 65-year-old American manufacturer of industrial-strength chemical cleaning and degreasing products, founded in 1959 and headquartered in Valley View, Ohio. Since April 2023, the brand has operated as part of B'laster Holdings' portfolio of automotive-chemical brands, alongside Liquid Wrench and Tite-Seal. The company sells more than two dozen active SKUs across seven categories: engine cleaners (aerosol, foamy, gel, and trigger-spray degreasers), parts cleaners (chlorinated and non-chlorinated brake and carburetor cleaners), waterless degreasing and multi-purpose wipes, surface cleaners (multi-purpose degreaser, concrete, and outdoor cleaners), vehicle appearance products (tire shine, glass cleaner, washer fluid), and specialty cleaners (battery terminal, electronic contact, GDI intake valve, throttle body).
The underlying technology is rooted in solvent, surfactant, and cleaning-agent chemistry tailored to automotive and industrial substrates, with proprietary variants differentiated by format (aerosol, gel, foam, trigger, wipe, concentrate) and by compliance profile (California-specific low-VOC, 50-state compliant non-chlorinated). GUNK's go-to-market is product-led and retail-distributed through auto parts retailers, mass merchants, and online marketplaces, supported by content marketing (blog, YouTube), an influencer program with a 5,000-follower threshold, and NASCAR Cup Series sponsorship with Team Live Fast. Customer segments are primarily DIY automotive enthusiasts and trade professionals (mechanics and shop technicians), with a secondary base of general vehicle owners using the products for routine vehicle maintenance and, increasingly, outdoor surface cleaning.
Gunk firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gunk
- Legal name
- GUNK
- Website
- https://gunk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1959
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- GUNK manufactures industrial-strength automotive and industrial cleaning and degreasing products, including engine degreasers, brake cleaners, parts cleaners, and specialty cleaners. The brand serves automotive DIY enthusiasts, trade professionals, and general vehicle owners through retail and online channels in the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Gunk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indian Trail
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gunk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Consumer Cleaning Products Sales: Direct product sales of automotive cleaning and degreasing products through retail distribution channels including auto parts stores, mass retailers, and online marketplaces
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retail consumer products with standard retail pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Gunk product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gunk manufactures and sells industrial-strength chemical cleaners and degreasers primarily for automotive, industrial, and outdoor applications. The product portfolio spans engine degreasers, brake and parts cleaners, carburetor cleaners, degreasing wipes, surface cleaners, vehicle cleaners, and specialty cleaners, sold through auto parts retailers, mass retailers, and online marketplaces under the GUNK brand.
Product overview
Gunk is a manufacturer of industrial-strength chemical cleaners and degreasers with over 60 years of American heritage. The product portfolio includes: Engine Cleaners (Original, Foamy, Gel formulas, and Trigger Spray variants), Parts Cleaners (Brake Cleaners in chlorinated/non-chlorinated versions, Carburetor Cleaners, Instant Parts Cleaner), Cleaning Wipes (Degreasing Wipes and Multi-Purpose Wipes with dual-sided scrubby/smooth texture), Surface Cleaners (Multi-Surface Cleaner, Concrete Cleaners, Outdoor Cleaners), Vehicle Cleaners (Glass Cleaners, Windshield Washer Fluids, Tire Shine), Specialty Cleaners (Battery Terminal, Electric Motor Contact, Electronic Contact, GDI Intake Valve, Throttle Body cleaners), and Outdoor products (Tire Repair). The products are available in aerosol cans, trigger sprays, wipes, and concentrate formats, serving both professional and consumer markets for automotive, industrial, and outdoor applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GUNK Original Engine Degreaser
Companies that use Gunk
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gunk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Gunk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gunk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Turtle Wax: Turtle Wax is a leading consumer car-care brand selling appearance and cleaning products (washes, waxes, tire shine, glass cleaners) through mass retail; it competes with GUNK's vehicle cleaning and tire shine SKUs for the same DIY shelf space.
- Simple Green: Simple Green makes industrial and household degreasers and cleaners that compete head-to-head with GUNK's surface cleaners and multi-purpose degreasers, including eco-positioned variants that pressure GUNK on regulatory and ESG dimensions.
- Meguiar's: Meguiar's is a major automotive appearance brand offering cleaners, polishes, and detailing products targeted at enthusiasts and professionals; its product line and channel presence overlap significantly with GUNK's vehicle cleaning and detailer SKUs.
- WD-40 Company: WD-40 is a global multi-purpose maintenance and cleaning products company with overlapping SKUs in penetrants, degreasers, and specialty cleaners sold through mass and auto parts retail; it competes for the same DIY and trade professional buyer as GUNK.
- Permatex: Permatex manufactures automotive chemical repair and maintenance products including cleaners, threadlockers, and sealants; its parts cleaners and specialty cleaners overlap directly with GUNK's parts cleaning and specialty cleaning lines.
- Liqui Moly: Liqui Moly is a German-based manufacturer of automotive chemicals including engine cleaners, fuel additives, and lubricants; it is an emerging US challenger in GUNK's category, particularly in the specialty/engine treatment segments.
- CRC Industries: CRC Industries manufactures a comparable portfolio of automotive and industrial chemical products including brake cleaners, degreasers, parts cleaners, and lubricants; it is one of the most direct competitors to GUNK across the same retail and trade channels.
- Bar's Leaks: Bar's Leaks specializes in automotive chemical repair products including sealants, stop-leak, and cooling system treatments; its specialty chemical positioning overlaps with GUNK's specialty and parts cleaning categories in the DIY and trade channels.
Emerging players
- Cyclo Industries: Cyclo Industries makes a focused line of automotive cleaners, degreasers, and specialty chemicals; it is a smaller, niche player that competes with GUNK in parts cleaners and specialty cleaners through professional and retail channels.
Broad incumbents
- 3M Automotive Aftermarket: 3M's automotive aftermarket division offers a broad portfolio of cleaning, masking, and surface-prep products sold through the same auto parts and mass retail channels; it competes with GUNK as a larger, multi-category incumbent rather than a focused specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gunk social profiles
Digital presenceGunk compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Gunk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gunk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Gunk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gunk M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gunk
What does Gunk do?
Gunk manufactures and sells industrial-strength chemical cleaners and degreasers primarily for automotive, industrial, and outdoor applications. The product portfolio spans engine degreasers, brake and parts cleaners, carburetor cleaners, degreasing wipes, surface cleaners, vehicle cleaners, and specialty cleaners, sold through auto parts retailers, mass retailers, and online marketplaces under the GUNK brand.
Is Gunk a public or private company?
Gunk is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Gunk founded?
Gunk was founded in 1959. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Gunk based?
Gunk is headquartered in Indian Trail, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gunk make money?
One revenue line is on record: consumer Cleaning Products Sales.
Who are Gunk's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Turtle Wax, Simple Green, Meguiar's, WD-40 Company, Permatex, Liqui Moly, CRC Industries and Bar's Leaks. Cyclo Industries is listed as an emerging player. 3M Automotive Aftermarket is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Gunk have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gunk.