Cleaning alloy wheels

Your wheels are lacquered - so you should be OK. Most proprietary alloy wheel cleaners are useless though at the job they are sold for, you need to buy one that contains phosphoric acid or similar (often these are sold as atomisers). You must clean wheels regularly and remove all traces of dirt or (depending on where you live) they will soon become beyond any quick clean up. Not many folks like sitting by a wheel with a toothbrush but that's often what it takes. Also, every time that you take a wheel off you should thoroughly clean the inside whilst you have the chance.

Dilute hydrochloric Acid - talk to your local pharmacist or better still ask your kids science teacher at school the Science dept carry gallons of the stuff.

You can mix a bit of Sugar soap or washing up liquid with it and get a stiff brush. Use an old kitchen cleaner spray bottle and spray the solution on the wheels then wait about 10 mins and scrub. then wash off.

Better to remove the wheel and really SCRAPE the stuck on brake dust on the inside of the wheel then spray the inner wheel and scrub then turn it over and do the same to the outside.

Be careful with the HCL as it is corrosive in concentrated form and can play havoc with dogs and cats feet let alone your own skin if hypersensitive.

If you use the expensive wheel cleaners you will find they use diluted HCL

Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys. Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen snipped-for-privacy@h-gee.co.uk Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK

And wax them as well, makes them easier to clean next time.

wrote

In my experience, pharmacists will not sell Hydrochloric Acid, but old-fashioned hardware shops of the type where the proprieter wears a brown coat will.

It is sold as "Spirit of Salts" at 35% concentration and is generally used as a toilet descaler and to clean brickwork.

Never heard of it used to clean alloy wheels. I suppose it is feasible but wouldn't it damage the lacquer?

Malcolm H wrote on 03/02/2007 :

The stuff sold by the 5L container for cleaning the external parts of air conditioning systems is suggested to work well and is cheap.

"Wonderwheels" will work, clean as much off as poss. first, follow instructions on box. Then... clean again, I use a citrus degreaser with a

1/2" paintbrush with the bristles cut to half original length. Then claybar, then polish with normal car polish then wax, you can get wheel wax but I just use normal stuff.

In theory they should come up like new. In practice you might have to repeat several steps to get all the welded on brake dust off.

Worst part of a car to clean by far!

"Iridium" wrote

Wipe them with cooking oil, I was told.

Many thanks for all your good advice guys, very helpful indeed!

Malcolm

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The best way to keep wheels good is to stay on top of a regular cleaning regime, use a session of WW then a strong TFR , some soiling will diminish in acid solutions some in alkali, however you will then have to avert to a brush, once clean cover the wheels with autoglym wheel shine and they will be easier to clean after that. It's probably worth waiting until the warmer weather now and taking the wheels off to clean them.

Except those that use sodium hydroxide. ("P21S" iirc).

[snip]

Can't help but get an image of Ronnie Barker in "Open all hours" wearing a brown coat ;)

Hydrochloric Acid in a *diluted* form (as it is in cleanses etc) will not harm factory baked lacquer.

I tried all kinds of chemical and solvent cleaners to remove the baked on brake dust from my lacquered Escort alloy wheels to no avail, I found the only product that removed it easily and quickly was a rubbing down compound like Farecla G3.

Stephen.

Martin you already said it "UN LACQUERED" BMW wheels are lacquered

Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys. Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen snipped-for-privacy@h-gee.co.uk Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK

I used a product called BARKEEPERS FRIEND. It is a powder that you sprinkle on, like Comet, and it cleans stainless steel cookware and kitchen appliances. It is not a chlorine based product, like Comet is, but you apply and use it in a similar way.

My brother and I used some to clean the wheels on his truck that had become encrusted with brake dust.

and the result was = no brake dust and no wheels...

???

The result was clean wheels. I thought that was pretty clear.

Reply properly.

I think the poster was insinuating that it would damage the tyre compound, if the liquid came into contact. Which, it will when the car is driven;you can't clear the liquid off entirely.

Actually guys there has been some recent investigation into reasons that some tyres deflate or blow out when tubeless tyres were supposed to stop blow outs.

The research has found out that the increasing use of high pressure cleaning equipment and the solvents used - one is typically TFR (Traffic Film Remover) will damage the fabric (poly rubber) of the tyre especially on the sidewall and the seating on the wheel. Small holes will appear and spread down the alloy seating causing leakage and eventually soft tyres that overheat and blow out through damage caused by the high pressure water jets. Advice do not use pressures over 1100psi on tyres and keep water jet @ least 12" away from tyres and rim edges.

Still say you can't beat elbow grease.............

However - the guy that suggested Phosphoric Acid ------- you can buy it at a "chemist" (UK) & Sign the poisons book or buy a product called "Aluminium Jelly" (Made by the makers of "Navel Jelly for iron and steel) Phosphoric Acid will dissolve and remove the Aluminium Oxide layer that forms as a protective coating on aluminium leaving the surface smooth but dull and bright. However, most wheels contain quite a lot of silicon to prevent corrosion and are lacquered to stop this corrosion so the Phosphoric Acid route is only good for un lacquered wheels.

Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys. Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen snipped-for-privacy@h-gee.co.uk Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK

The message from snipped-for-privacy@h-gee.co.uk contains these words:

I can make that myself, thanks - with a little help from the wife on occasion.