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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Cleaning alloy wheels.
        
(Message started by: ron_c on Sep 18^th, 2004, 10:49pm)

Title: Cleaning alloy wheels.
Post by ron_c on Sep 18^th, 2004, 10:49pm

This may be a bit extreme for those who pamper their motors but, If there is anyone else out there like me who only cleans cars and wheels when the get really dirty or inherits (buys) uncared for lumps, this may be useful.

Try Brick Acid or patio cleaner from B&Q or Wykes at about a fiver a gallon and apply with a tooth brush, preferably someone else's. leave to soak for a few minutes and wash/brush off with lots of water. It may be necessary to scrub well if there is a heavy build up but keep going untol it all feels smooth. Wear plastic gloves 'cos it can sting a bit!

Make sure that you hose the brake disks well and preferably go for a run to dry them off.

It's active ingredients are Hydrochloric acid and detergent and I've been using it on the asme wheels for 7 or 8 years with no ill effects but it may depend on the quality of the wheels. It also cleans a lot of stuff off paintwork. My newish (as it was then) Granada Scorpio got showered with iron filings and rain and it was the only thing that dissolved it off without scratching and it caused no noticable ill effects so I've used it ever since and a 1 gallon tub lasts for ever.

Do not use it on any bare metal although it does clean copper quite well!

Please note that I've never had a problem but cannot promise that no-one else will. I've still got may granny wheels and they are as good now as when I bought the car 190k ago. (apart from damage inflicted by tyre fitters.)

Ron

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels.
Post by Eric_R on Oct 5^th, 2004, 11:30am

AHHHHH :o
Brick acid? Patio cleaner?

It's much better to take time to wash the wheels regularly. See http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/alloys.htm

Once the protective layer of lacquer has been removed from the metal of the wheel the appearance is dulled and it's much harder - if not impossible - to keep them clean. Prevention is better than cure. ;)

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels.
Post by ron_c on Oct 5^th, 2004, 7:37pm

I was wondering how long it would take for anyone to come back on this one. I can understand your comments but the only thing I can suggest is to try it. I only buy sad examples because at 50k per year, it's what works best, so I need something that works. On my last grannie, it cleaned off all of the 'pitting' and at nearly 200k the wheels were the best part of the car. I doesn't damage the laquer or paintwork but it can be a bit startling on brake disks, but then, so can water if you leave it.

Honestly, it shifts just about anything and leaves only what you care about. when you're doing 2k per week and working 80 hours a week, cleaning is a when absolutely necessary job and you need something that works. I does lots of things that it doesn't say on the tin but I've never seen it do any harm.. to my car at least.

Oh! and it doesn't damage the ozone layer.

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels.
Post by Badboytunes on Oct 7^th, 2004, 11:46am

I use "wonder Wheels". I have used it on all types of alloys with no probs at all. Not sure if it works with chrome wheels. Im a one of those sad b*ggers who cleans their wheels every week . I can recommend an "Oral B" toothbrush to reach those difficult spots as well ;)

Cheers Nick

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels.
Post by wumpster on Oct 7^th, 2004, 12:37pm

you must be doing the same as me executive travel as i cover 1500 per week going to london ect not had a car yet that matches the scorp for comfort and that includes the mercs had them before me scorp Where are you give ya a flash on me travels

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels.
Post by Badboytunes on Oct 7^th, 2004, 4:45pm

Soz m8y, no executive travel for me. I just go to and from work (about 4 miles each way) and thats it. I just like to have a clean car but i have been slipping l8ly

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels.
Post by ron_c on Oct 7^th, 2004, 5:29pm

Happily I no longer do the huge mileage but I can sympathise with wumpster - strewth! London from Cheshire - you're a saint - or mad! I used to be a contract programmer until I became too old to employ and the old grannies were my home. They seem to thrive on careful neglect and never fail to get you home. The trouble is, there just isn't another motor that provides anything like the same all round sense of well being and we, the lucky ones, should be eternally grateful theat the rest of the world hasn't discovered them.

I just wish that the scorpio, well mine at least, was anything like as reliable as the old grannies. Still, the same sentiments apply as it does keep going even if at any one time only half of the gadgets work. Never mind, I don't really use them anyway.

Back to the path cleaner. Has anyone tried it yet?

Ron.

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels.
Post by simonmd on Nov 5^th, 2004, 2:21pm

My Tip. Don't bother with strong acid or expensive 'specialist' alloy cleaners. I use Mr Muscle with Orange Oven Cleaner! Sounds silly but this stuff will shift anything, is kinder to the environment (ahh!) and you don't even need to wear gloves. Just use with a kitchen sponge with a scrubber on one side and they'll come up like new. Added bonus is your wheels will smell nice and orangy!

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels.
Post by Richard on Nov 6^th, 2004, 11:04am

on 11/05/04 at 14:21:15, simonmd wrote:

Added bonus is your wheels will smell nice and orangy!

Have you got some sort of smelly wheel fetish then Simon,lol. ;)

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels.
Post by simonmd on Nov 6^th, 2004, 7:54pm

;D ;D ;D