Cleaning Satin Black Wheels

[WG]

Are there any special precautions needed when cleaning satin black wheels. Are specific cleaning solutions required ?

[Cheib]

Something like this

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/bilt-hambe...

Avoid any of the acidic ones and avoid hand car washed like the plague...they use really strong stuff meant for lorries and the like. There wasa thread on here the other day of soemone's CL bolts which had gone white which will have most likely been acid wheel cleaner.

What is brilliant for wheels is a ceramic coating like the Gtech one....makes cleaning much easier.

[Twinfan]

I have satin platinum wheels and use either standard car shampoo or one of the new pH neutral wheel cleaners that change colour when in contact with brake dust.

No problems so far, the wheels have kept their lovely satin finish and the wheel cleaner is fabulous - it really cuts down on the effort required and works a treat. I'd also recommend a nice wheel brush to agitate the cleaner prior to rinsing

For reference I'm no detailer, and I don't like cleaning cars, so there may be a "better" way. However, supermarket/Halfords car shampoo and the wheel cleaner is more than good enough for me.

[Blink982]

I have used Poorboys wheel sealant or Finish Kare 1000P high temp sealant on wheels (also a good, cheap alternative to wax and lasts ages on paintwork) and most of the time the wheels just need cleaning with either normal shampoo or a wheel cleaner such as AM Details or most recently AutoGlanz Alkalloy wheel cleaner. However, the OPC treated my 718 with GTechniq platinum so their C5 wheel sealant was used and so far, I've just pressure washed the wheels and used snow foam. I haven't actually touched the wheels with a detailing brush or wheel wooly thus far. Amazing stuff. Consider treating your wheels with C5 after cleaning them.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/gte...
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/sealants/finishkare-...
https://auto-glanz.co.uk/alkalloy.html
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/c...

If you haven't got any detailing products, I can highly recommend Adams Polishes stuff. I have been very impressed with everything I've bought and used so you could pick up pretty much everything from these guys. https://www.prestigecarcareshop.com/

[Porsche911R]

Bilberry Wheel Cleaner

Simples

Then c5 or wax them

[DJMC]

Twinfan said:

I have satin platinum wheels and use either standard car shampoo or one of the new pH neutral wheel cleaners that change colour when in contact with brake dust.

No problems so far, the wheels have kept their lovely satin finish and the wheel cleaner is fabulous - it really cuts down on the effort required and works a treat. I'd also recommend a nice wheel brush to agitate the cleaner prior to rinsing

For reference I'm no detailer, and I don't like cleaning cars, so there may be a "better" way. However, supermarket/Halfords car shampoo and the wheel cleaner is more than good enough for me.

Carrera S satin platinum here, and I too use a car shampoo, AutoGlym car shampoo conditioner. Each wheel takes around 3 minutes only due its design.

While writing, try AG Aquawax for the bodywork after washing. Have a look at the videos on Youtube.

[AndyCGTS]

Cheib said:

Something like this

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/bilt-hambe...

Avoid any of the acidic ones and avoid hand car washed like the plague...they use really strong stuff meant for lorries and the like. There wasa thread on here the other day of soemone's CL bolts which had gone white which will have most likely been acid wheel cleaner.

What is brilliant for wheels is a ceramic coating like the Gtech one....makes cleaning much easier.

I use the Bilt Hamber stuff, its the best one I have tested to date and then I normally finish the wheels with Finish Kare 1000P.

[cslwannabe]

Be very gentle as any swirls will be very noticeable. Also you may need to dry them off if you live in a hard water area - I have to although I've never bothered with any previous cars. The wo-wo wheel towel is excellent for this task (I have no connection to them whatsoever), although other drying towels are available!

[WG]

Thanks all - useful comments

[Porsche911R]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I must have used it for 10 years on 30 odd cars never had an issue.

it's very concentrated so you have to water it down a lot vs other brands , but' it's acid free and lasts for ages due to how you water it down.
some even say 1 to 10 if you clean your wheel every week normally.

the advantage with it is if you have not cleaned the wheels for a month you can up the ratio a bit and it does offer more bite than any other non acid cleaner I have used on neglected alloys.

IF you wax your alloys or better C5 them no need to use any thing bar hot water and normal car shampoo.

[DJMC]

Porsche911R said:

I must have used it for 10 years on 30 odd cars never had an issue.

it's very concentrated so you have to water it down a lot vs other brands , but' it's acid free and lasts for ages due to how you water it down.
some even say 1 to 10 if you clean your wheel every week normally.

the advantage with it is if you have not cleaned the wheels for a month you can up the ratio a bit and it does offer more bite than any other non acid cleaner I have used on neglected alloys.

IF you wax your alloys or better C5 them no need to use any thing bar hot water and normal car shampoo.

I waxed the wheels on my best C5 and look what happened!...

[tedblog]

If you wax your satin wheels they do look shiny , sort of defeats having satin wheels in the first place?

[woodysnr]

Gtecnq C5 waste of money IMO got satin platinum and still get covered in drake dust still a chore to keep clean.

[paralla]

woodysnr said:

Gtecnq C5 waste of money IMO got satin platinum and still get covered in drake dust still a chore to keep clean.

I put C5 on satin platunum wheels previously and I did think it made them easier to keep clean but you still have to put some effort in. If you are expecting to just hose off road grime and brake dust you are going to be dissapointed. Its a bit of a drama to get the wheels as clean as they need to be before applying it so I haven't bothered with my GT4 wheels even though I still have some, maybe in the summer.

I once applied it to a full set of wheels that had just been refurbished before swapping the loaner wheels back, thats the perfect time to do it.

[Porsche911R]

woodysnr said:

Gtecnq C5 waste of money IMO got satin platinum and still get covered in drake dust still a chore to keep clean.

I had it on my car for 25 months on the wheels, the dust just wipes off !

as with most things it's all in the prep of the wheel. in fact I was shocked after 25 months they were still so easy to wash.
C5 will not stop the wheels getting covered in dust !!! what it does is fill in the pores and stops the nasty brakes dust sticking like clue to them and ruining the wheels if not cleaned for a week.