How To Clean Alloy Wheels

[ashan82]

Dear Members

do you know how to clean alloy wheels by DIY. As service station people said we cant do it and must go for specified alloy wheel cleaners.

attached photo is my car's

[Sylvi]

'ashan82' ,

Can you explain the condition of your alloy wheels. They were never cleaned before?

Do you get patches or like corroded spots only

Most A/W cleaners use very thin wire brushes attached to a hand electric drill.

Some times if they are not that bad dirty you can try with soap and water have to take out the wheel and use normal floor cleaning brush clean same.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[ashan82]

Dear Silvy

i tried all possible ways by myself but no improvement. you can see how bad they are from the pic attached.

[Sylvi]

'ashan82',

you have to use the wire brush method with a cleaner your out side is OK only inside there are spots.

If you can show the wheels when ever you come to Colombo I can advice you.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[ashan82]

ok, where i can see you

[Schiffer]

have you tried using some braso or something and giving it a polish first?

[ashan82]

'ashan82',

you have to use the wire brush method with a cleaner your out side is OK only inside there are spots.

If you can show the wheels when ever you come to Colombo I can advice you.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

Dear Silvi

where can v meet up

[ashan82]

have you tried using some braso or something and giving it a polish first?

outside is polished and fine. black spots are only inside the A/W

[jdnet]

Get a can of 3m stainless steel cleaner/polish. Leave it on for a few minutes and rub the spots off using a scouring pad.

Edited May 7, 2012 by jdnet

[Sylvi]

Dear Silvi

where can v meet up

I am behind cannon show room on the same building on Galle road Kollupitiya better you call me before you come land line 2573690/ mobile 0712222420.

[rangerover]

I can recommend the armor all wheel cleaner. Had some amazing results even without a wire brush in removing brake dust + oil deposits

[VVTi]

I can recommend the armor all wheel cleaner. Had some amazing results even without a wire brush in removing brake dust + oil deposits

I agree... for Rs600, that thing really worked.

[ashan82]

I agree... for Rs600, that thing really worked.

Get a can of 3m stainless steel cleaner/polish. Leave it on for a few minutes and rub the spots off using a scouring pad.

Thanks experts shall try these and update.

[Ripper]

I spent a few hours with armorall wheel cleaner and 4 wet wheels of my truck yesterday

Removed all wheels, pressure washed the rims to get most of the muck out and used the foaming cleaner on em.

Followed instructions and left foam for a bit and brushed it off.

It did a pretty decent job on more cleaner bits of the wheel but didn't really do much for the inside part of the wheel that had lots more discoloration, deposits etc

I used it like 4-5 times on each wheel, used a plastic bristled brush to clean but the more stubborn marking didn't budge.

But the outside wheel bits are nice n shiny now

IMO, if you're wheels are not so busted up and dirty, armorall wheel cleaner will do a super job.

If the wheels have marks and have more stubborn stains etc...this product alone wont cut.

You might have to use a steel polish of some sorts with an abrasive pad of sorts... I think next time around, i will use a scouring pad and some brasso!

[T-Bag]

All the parts stores sell mag cleaner, its great, spray it on use a old tooth brush leave it on for no longer than 1 or2 minutes, wash it of with hose , the last one i purchased was called Eagle mag cleaner it was great.

[terrabytetango]

I spent a few hours with armorall wheel cleaner and 4 wet wheels of my truck yesterday

Removed all wheels, pressure washed the rims to get most of the muck out and used the foaming cleaner on em.

Followed instructions and left foam for a bit and brushed it off.

It did a pretty decent job on more cleaner bits of the wheel but didn't really do much for the inside part of the wheel that had lots more discoloration, deposits etc

I used it like 4-5 times on each wheel, used a plastic bristled brush to clean but the more stubborn marking didn't budge.

But the outside wheel bits are nice n shiny now

IMO, if you're wheels are not so busted up and dirty, armorall wheel cleaner will do a super job.

If the wheels have marks and have more stubborn stains etc...this product alone wont cut.

You might have to use a steel polish of some sorts with an abrasive pad of sorts... I think next time around, i will use a scouring pad and some brasso!

is that really a good idea with alloys? Don't they have a coating of lacquer/anti-oxidant?

[Ripper]

is that really a good idea with alloys? Don't they have a coating of lacquer/anti-oxidant?

honestly, i dont know machang! Mine is a 4x4, goes through some punishment once in a while so i really wont bother too much about it

But i think if you have fair bit of stubborn deposits and stuff, without using some form of abrasive stuff...it will be nearly impossible to get things out.

From what's i've seen to discovery turbo etc... folks tend to use abrasive polishes etc and then use a wax sorta thing to protect the "new" metal.

[Magnum]

have you tried using some braso or something and giving it a polish first?

I got few scratches on my alloys, im gonna try applying brasso on it

[terrabytetango]

Let us know what the wheels look like a week after using brasso. It's the long term effects that worry me.

[Dilan R]

@rangerover @VVTi Can you suggest me a place (hopefully around Kadawatha/Colombo/Gampaha) where i'll be able get the Armor all wheel cleaner?

[Davy]

2 hours ago, Dilan R said:

@rangerover @VVTi Can you suggest me a place (hopefully around Kadawatha/Colombo/Gampaha) where i'll be able get the Armor all wheel cleaner?

Arpico Battaramulla used to have ArmourAll. 

[Dilan R]

Thanks @Davy, I'll check it out.