Wheel Cleaner

[Tazzy]

ive got a feeling that im going to answer my own question here, but here goes

both my cars have painted alloys, the golf alloys are anthrecite finished in a high gloss, the corsa alloys are white with a minimal gloss

im obviously reluctant to use an acidic cleaner incase the paint cracks, so im looking at something more of a ph neutral

as much as i love meguiars products, their wheel cleaner is still mildly acidic, but looking on waxamomo, just seen the valet pro bilberry wheel cleaner, but is this a ph or more caustic?

thanks all

[Ninj]

Hi,

Bilberry is a pretty strong Alkali.  It's pH is around 12 IIRC! 

Although I've never had it cause any damage, I'd be fairly hard pressed to use it neat (1:4 parts water is how I use it) or let it dry out. 

You get an impression of it being a bit of a jessy cos it smells nice and is a fluffy pink colour, don't be fooled though, these are pretty serious chemicals.

There are pH neutral wheel cleaners but I'm not really sure they would be as effective

[S4twiggy]

cant go wrong with billberry mate. like ninj said do not use neat though. in a 1 litre spray bottle i use it 70% water 30% billberry and this last me atleast 5-6 cars then mate.

once you have cleaned the wheels use something like ironx or wolfs deironizer which breaks down the chemicals bonded to your rims such as brake dust. spray on and leave to dwell, you will find the product turning purple(when you spray it on its clear) when it reacts to the chemicals so you know its working. this product can also be used on your cars paint after its been washed and before the claying process.

once your rims are spotless then get some good protection on them i.e wheel sealant or wax(or both like i do) inside the rim also so when it comes to cleaning them again you dont need to use billberry as your general shampoo that you use on the car will clean the wheels.

hth
Grant

[Tazzy]

what is the difference in how the product does the job being extremely alkali or extremely acidic?

something thats crossed my mind, is that for harsher braking, surely the brake dust is going to be of a temperature, and therefore 'burn' itself into the wax/protection??

[S4twiggy]

if its too acidic over time it will eat into the clear coat on the alloys mate and then ruin the finish of the rims

you cant stop brake dust build up but ideally you should clean the wheels every week to keep on top of it.

[waxamomo]

If worried about the pH, you could always go for Dodo Juice Supernatural Wheel Cleaner, it doesn't get any safer than that.