Cleaning alloys - what are the best products

[Peter M]

I want to clean the road grime off the allow wheels and to sparkle them up a bit, and have been looking at the many wheel cleaner products available. Most of the cleaners state that they are not suitable for use on un-coated aluminium, are these cleaners suitable of the standard S alloys? I guess that some are acidic and may eat into the surface. Are the S alloys varnished or anodised? Maguires Hot Rims says it is ok of all types so I may try that.

Also, what can I coat the alloys with to protect them from muck. Is a coat of car body polish going to be ok? I use Autoglym Super Resin Polish for the body.

Many thanks, and Happy New Year to all (ok a few hours early)

[HarveyB]

Peter M said:

I want to clean the road grime off the allow wheels and to sparkle them up a bit, and have been looking at the many wheel cleaner products available. Most of the cleaners state that they are not suitable for use on un-coated aluminium, are these cleaners suitable of the standard S alloys? I guess that some are acidic and may eat into the surface. Are the S alloys varnished or anodised? Maguires Hot Rims says it is ok of all types so I may try that.

Also, what can I coat the alloys with to protect them from muck. Is a coat of car body polish going to be ok? I use Autoglym Super Resin Polish for the body.

Many thanks, and Happy New Year to all (ok a few hours early)

The S wheels are lacquered and so the aim is to keep the lacquer intact if possible- see www.tvrgit.com for an example of the effort required to maintain unlacquered wheels- great results but hard work!

Looking at the wheels on your profile, they look very shiny so I'm guessing the lacquer is intact on yours

To clean, I use this if I need to but the trick is to get them clean once and then maintain.

You can buy dedicated wheel waxes but I find that if I get the wheels up to standard and then give them a couple of coats of whatever car wax I'm using they then come up well at each wash just using my standard car shampoo.

The SRP is an abrasive, albeit a very mild one, which can also be used as a filler and so unless you really need to use it I'd give it a miss.

Just my opinion, no doubt someone who really knows about this will be along in a bit

Happy New Year all

[jonjo]

Cif Bathroom Mousse Lemon.

Edited by jonjo on Wednesday 2nd January 11:02

[Peter M]

Thanks for the info. I will be cautious first and try scrubbing the offending spots with strong washing up detergent, as I don't want to take off any of the lacquered surface. If that does not work, i'll try something stronger, but try to avoid any abrasives.

I'll also try a coat of autoglym super resin polish to protect them.

Many thanks

Pete

[petclub]

Peter, you may need to be careful with household detergents, I think some have a high salt content which can harm alloys. Dave

[V8ish]

I have no laquer on my wheels and they havn't been polished since July and still look mirror shiny. Mind you, it hasn't been used much. I enjoy polishing anyway, and intend to give a element of protection by waxing as said above, after polishing.