Wheel cleaning

RF Overlord

RF Overlord

73 is the best number.
No, not the outside that everyone sees, but the inside of the rims...what does everyone use? It's time to put Phoebe's summer shoes on and the inside of the rims has a lot of black guck...like road tar. I'm hesitant to use any harsh chemicals unless others have done so but Simple Green ain't cutting it...
 
I have to do mine as well and I was considering using Bar Keepers Friend which Ms.D uses on her SS pots and pans. It doesn't scratch the chrome pots so I would think it would be OK on the wheel insides. Of course try a test spot first..
 
Last edited:
I use Skotch-Brite pads and Simple Green to get the heavy stuff off, then apply a good paste wax. I have also used a real fine wire brush on my Dremel to get the BTC's off. The brush works really good. Someday, I'll do the whole wheel.
 
Meguires Aluminum Hot Wheels. Spray it on and use a wheel brush to agitate the grime off. It works pretty fast...
 
Greased Lightning shop degreaser with a 50/50 mix of h20.

Plus some elbow grease using a brand new razor blade.
 
I use simple green and a SOS pad or a scotch brite pad if I have one available. The newly dipped rims I have will only be soap and water with non abrasive pads.
 
The key is to not allow them to get to the point of ..."a lot of black guck".

Inside of the rims should be cleaned as often as the the outside.
 
Last edited:
gdmjoe said:
The key is to not allow them to get to the point of ..."a lot of black guck".

Inside of the rims should be cleaned as often as the the outside.
Click to expand...
This is a year-round daily driver, not a show car, so sometimes that's not practical. I do clean them every spring when the winter wheels come off, but this year want to give them a little more...
 
Blackened300a said:
I use simple green and a SOS pad or a scotch brite pad if I have one available. The newly dipped rims I have will only be soap and water with non abrasive pads.
Click to expand...

Which type/model of "scotch brite" pads are you referring to? :confused:

Thanks in advance Blackened300a! :beer:
 
This stuff works great for chrome or uncoated aluminum wheels.....


IMG_4663%20-%20RR.JPG



Or, the gel cleaner.....

273_1_lw_2156.jpg
 
Last edited:
I use SONAX full effect wheel cleaner. Smells like cat piss but works great. Best price I found was on amazon.
 
To help keep 'em easy to clean for a long, long time, try coating them with somehing like OptiCoat instead of using a conventional wax/sealant. The coatings don't "wash off" even if you use something like Wheel Cleaner/All Purpose Cleaner (which will eventually remove waxes/sealants) and nothing sticks tenaciously to the coatings.

I previously used ~six layers of Klasse Sealant Glaze, but the OptiCoat doesn't need redone nearly as often. It's not uncommon for the coatings to last well over a year (still OK after two years on mine, but I'm only cleaning them with a sorta-strong carwash mix, not a Wheel Cleaner/APC).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top