sad i know..wheel cleaning
Discussion
ok not the most rivitting subject but i need an answer
looks like when the car was in for a service that copper grease was put around the brake area, fine no problems. But I must of driven the car soon after as I have small blobs of grease on the inside of the wheel. Numpty here thought it was just brake bust build up and tried to clean them, but i am now left with smeers. Ok you only notice them when she is parked but then that is the only chance you get to view them
so is there something that is effective to use that will not tarnish trhe alloy
looks like when the car was in for a service that copper grease was put around the brake area, fine no problems. But I must of driven the car soon after as I have small blobs of grease on the inside of the wheel. Numpty here thought it was just brake bust build up and tried to clean them, but i am now left with smeers. Ok you only notice them when she is parked but then that is the only chance you get to view them
so is there something that is effective to use that will not tarnish trhe alloy
NO! dont use that stuff! If it gets under the laquer (sp?) it will destroy the wheels.
Best product is P21s wheel cleaner. It works like magic and is not harmful to the wheels. Then spray with 303 Aerospace Protectant to makes cleaning them easier next time.
Go to THE POLISHING COMPANY via the PH links page.
www.oilypages.com//links.asp?page=carcare
Bought a lot from them now and had demos of the product on my car. I also use P21S shampoos, polish and wax and the stuff really is a god send. Easy to use and it stays clean for so long you don't have to use it so much. (And I'd really rather drive it than clean it!).
Best product is P21s wheel cleaner. It works like magic and is not harmful to the wheels. Then spray with 303 Aerospace Protectant to makes cleaning them easier next time.
Go to THE POLISHING COMPANY via the PH links page.
www.oilypages.com//links.asp?page=carcare
Bought a lot from them now and had demos of the product on my car. I also use P21S shampoos, polish and wax and the stuff really is a god send. Easy to use and it stays clean for so long you don't have to use it so much. (And I'd really rather drive it than clean it!).
DustyC said:
NO! dont use that stuff! If it gets under the laquer (sp?) it will destroy the wheels.
totally agree - sulphuric acid. nice. Mungo tried it on one of Claire's polished alloys on the S and its now totally fecked and need refurbishment. Do not touch the stuff if you value your wheels. Fine on lacquered wheels for a bit but acid destruction of dirt also means destruction of everything else.
DustyC said:
NO! dont use that stuff! If it gets under the laquer (sp?) it will destroy the wheels.
Best product is P21s wheel cleaner. It works like magic and is not harmful to the wheels. Then spray with 303 Aerospace Protectant to makes cleaning them easier next time.
Go to THE POLISHING COMPANY via the PH links page.
www.oilypages.com//links.asp?page=carcare
Bought a lot from them now and had demos of the product on my car. I also use P21S shampoos, polish and wax and the stuff really is a god send. Easy to use and it stays clean for so long you don't have to use it so much. (And I'd really rather drive it than clean it!).
Ditto for me.
Hot soapy water.
I asked about cleaning products when I bought mine and was told if they got so dirty that I had to buy something to get them clean again then they would take the car back
Seriously though, some nice hot soapy water should remove most stuff, you may need to add liberal amount of elbow grease but I don't think this is acidic.
I asked about cleaning products when I bought mine and was told if they got so dirty that I had to buy something to get them clean again then they would take the car back
Seriously though, some nice hot soapy water should remove most stuff, you may need to add liberal amount of elbow grease but I don't think this is acidic.
Corin Denton said:
Wonder wheels, superb.
sorry, have to disagree there...Wonder Wheels is 'borrox'..all it is is a mild acid...not good for paintwork or most parts of your car......I use an orange oil based solution which is natural and cleans ANYTHING.....I even use it on stuck on flys on my paintwork and does no damage
Been using Wonder Wheels for years on my 200SX, MX-6 and now the Volvo 
when they've got too bad and it's been fine but it does say on the stuff that it must not be used on damaged wheels. However, if you keep on top of the brake dust rather than letting it build up then you can use just a stiff brush and soap and water.
I'm sure it's not *THAT* harsh though because I managed to splash some on a black polo shirt while I was doing the volvo recently and assumed that that was the end of the shirt - I washed it anyway and was going to stick it in the "for when I'm doing stuff where I'll get dirty" pile when I saw that the splash had come out without leaving a mark.
Phil
when they've got too bad and it's been fine but it does say on the stuff that it must not be used on damaged wheels. However, if you keep on top of the brake dust rather than letting it build up then you can use just a stiff brush and soap and water. I'm sure it's not *THAT* harsh though because I managed to splash some on a black polo shirt while I was doing the volvo recently and assumed that that was the end of the shirt - I washed it anyway and was going to stick it in the "for when I'm doing stuff where I'll get dirty" pile when I saw that the splash had come out without leaving a mark.
Phil
Regarding laquered Alloy wheels. As they are effectively "painted" treat like car paint. However wax on the wheels may collect more dirt than without but this won't matter as long as the wheels are cleaned regulary. If you do nothing else to a car after a long or fast road trip let the wheels cool down then wash with planty of water with your preferred wheel wash or shampoo. To take off embedded brake dust or discolouration use a clay bar or your normal paint cleanser. For machined alloys you can use a super fine metal polish. However I don't recommend Autosol as I have seen many expensive chrome wheels ruined with it as it's far to aggressive like most paste type metal polishes
If the wheels look good then the car looks good even if its dirty!
If the wheels look good then the car looks good even if its dirty!
to add my 2c..
I clean with hot water and car wash, then dry them with towels. (all the way through obviously.. not forgetting backs of spokes)
Then I apply Halfords car wheel wax spray.
Each week I can then just quickly wash with COLD water and sponge.. this takes brake dust off the top of the wax, but leaves the wax.
I find that car tyre detailer spray (back to black, etc) is good for repelling dust too, so usually give wheels as well as tyres a spray of that every week.
With that rota, you usually never need anything like wonderwheels.
Very occasionally (never of tuscan, but sometimes on my mundaneo that gets washed less often), the brake dust gets ingrained a bit.. then I will wash with soap and water then used wonder wheels and rinse off. But I don't use that more than twice a year.
stu
I clean with hot water and car wash, then dry them with towels. (all the way through obviously.. not forgetting backs of spokes)
Then I apply Halfords car wheel wax spray.
Each week I can then just quickly wash with COLD water and sponge.. this takes brake dust off the top of the wax, but leaves the wax.
I find that car tyre detailer spray (back to black, etc) is good for repelling dust too, so usually give wheels as well as tyres a spray of that every week.
With that rota, you usually never need anything like wonderwheels.
Very occasionally (never of tuscan, but sometimes on my mundaneo that gets washed less often), the brake dust gets ingrained a bit.. then I will wash with soap and water then used wonder wheels and rinse off. But I don't use that more than twice a year.
stu
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