Wheel Cleaning advice

[dubber36]

New wheels shouldn't need any more than your regular shampoo providing you keep on top of them. I take mine off and clean the tar spots off the inside after winter and apply a couple of coats of SRP and that's it.

[Fabio Bignose]

Has anyone ever considered using or actually used AG SRP on lacquered wheels such as Nogaro's to remove minor scratches etc...?

Surely the lacquer on the wheel is just a slightly softer version of the clear coat used on the bodywork paint and if applied with minimal pressure and sparingly should remove light scratches?

Has anyone experience of this?

[Jimble]

Has anyone ever considered using or actually used AG SRP on lacquered wheels such as Nogaro's to remove minor scratches etc...?

Surely the lacquer on the wheel is just a slightly softer version of the clear coat used on the bodywork paint and if applied with minimal pressure and sparingly should remove light scratches?

Has anyone experience of this?

It won't do any harm although it won't really remove any scratches as SRP is mostly fillers, it'll leave a nice shine but won't last very long.

[Fabio Bignose]

Cheers Jimble,

Any suggestions on a mild polish that may be a bit more suitable for this application?

[Jimble]

I'm a big fan of Dodo juice Lime prime, it's easy to use by hand or machine just get a couple of decent hand polishing pads like these:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/accessories/sonus-sfx-pro-applicators-pkg/2/prod_31.html

You might want to use a sealant after polishing as it makes life easier in the weekly wash, i use Chemical Guys Jetseal109 on mine as well as the bodywork but Poorboys wheel sealant gets a good shout on here.

[Fabio Bignose]

 

Top man! Thx.

[JBirchy]

With regard to wheel cleaners, unless used with a very weak dilution (10:1), even Bilberry, Smart Wheels etc... are still quite strong. Yes they are acid free, but they are quite strong Alkali which is just as damaging (pH 12-13) to polished faces on the Mk6/7's

My advice would be to perform an initial deep clean by performing the following steps:

- Clean as normal by using Bilberry/Smart Wheels etc...
- Use a tar remover (Autosmart Tardis/Auto Finesse ObliTARate are both excellent)
- Use an iron remover (Dodo Juice Ferrous Dueller is excellent, as is ValetPRO Dragons Breath)
- Clay the wheels as you would the bodywork
- Polish using Auto Finesse Rejuvenate or a similar cleanser
- Seal with Auto Finesse Mint Rims/Bouncers Looking Sweet (on offer at Forum Sponsor Waxamomo at the minute! - http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/Item/BouncerSweet)

I have tried Poorboys Sealant and didn't have a great experience, i.e. didn't see more than a month durability from it. Also, using wheel cleaners will degrade the protective waxes/sealants so once protected, just a normal shampoo dilution would do the job perfectly (in a seperate bucket of course!)

Sorry for the in depth post, just thought I'd try and help as best I can. If you need any more help, please fire away!

Jon

[Jimble]

The polished faces of Monza wheels are laquered the same as any other wheels so the wheel cleaner won't do any more damage to them than any other type of wheel.

[dom]

The polished faces of Monza wheels are laquered the same as any other wheels so the wheel cleaner won't do any more damage to them than any other type of wheel.

Agreed, if they weren't they be destroyed within 100 miles of driving on a salty road

[Jimmgc51]

With regard to wheel cleaners, unless used with a very weak dilution (10:1), even Bilberry, Smart Wheels etc... are still quite strong. Yes they are acid free, but they are quite strong Alkali which is just as damaging (pH 12-13) to polished faces on the Mk6/7's

My advice would be to perform an initial deep clean by performing the following steps:

- Clean as normal by using Bilberry/Smart Wheels etc...
- Use a tar remover (Autosmart Tardis/Auto Finesse ObliTARate are both excellent)
- Use an iron remover (Dodo Juice Ferrous Dueller is excellent, as is ValetPRO Dragons Breath)
- Clay the wheels as you would the bodywork
- Polish using Auto Finesse Rejuvenate or a similar cleanser
- Seal with Auto Finesse Mint Rims/Bouncers Looking Sweet (on offer at Forum Sponsor Waxamomo at the minute! - http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/Item/BouncerSweet)

I have tried Poorboys Sealant and didn't have a great experience, i.e. didn't see more than a month durability from it. Also, using wheel cleaners will degrade the protective waxes/sealants so once protected, just a normal shampoo dilution would do the job perfectly (in a seperate bucket of course!)

Sorry for the in depth post, just thought I'd try and help as best I can. If you need any more help, please fire away!

Jon

Some good advice!

Have you any idea what some of these solution would so to the Monza where white worm has appeared or curbed?

I have been reluctant to put Iron X on incase it damaged the rim due to no protectant being where the damage is!