Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

[GotBeat5.0]

Hey guys just wanted to first say I tried searching for this answer first but really didnt find the right answer that fits in my situation.

I had a brake line break on me and spewed the oil every where well dumb me didnt think to wipe it off and with the recent heat and such the oil pretty much dried on my wheels. I spent a good day just using soap and water and just scrubbing the living the heck out of it

Well after all that I got a good portion off that dried oil and stuff off the wheel but not completely so its been silently driving me nuts as of recent

So I really need some good suggestions on what I can do. I have some ideas like making a string dose of simple green and spraying it on the wheel and letting it just sit for some time and then try scrubbing again.


heres the wheel from a far



Close up of the nasty area




So im hoping you guys can help a follow detailer out here cause its silently driving me insane

Oh yea the wheel is tech. chrome but since its flaking im presuming its dipped type of chrome since the wheel itself isnt at all heavy like a norm chrome wheel

[Edited for non family friendly language; hence the reason it was held in moderation - Tim]

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

Might be more time effective to replace the wheel.

If these are bare aluminum wheels you could probably find a way to safely abrade the grunge off and then polish the aluminum till it shines again but we don't make a product to tackle something this extreme.

Maybe take it to a wheel polishing company and see what they say.

[new2detailing]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

I would tend to agree with Mike. Brake fluid is corrosive and if not wiped quickly will eat an any surface (strips paint quickly). First if the wheel has a clear coat, that is probably damaged (etched) and will need to be re-cleared. If it is bare aluminum, you may be able to use a quality wheel centric polish to buff to a high shine. Another possibility is take the wheels off, have them sand blasted and then either powder coated. Best of luck.

[GotBeat5.0]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

what are some agressive wheel cleaners i can use on chrome?

Im not giving up just yet.

Also what are your thoughts on using butanediol

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

what are some aggressive wheel cleaners i can use on chrome?

Are you sure about the kind of wheel you have? As in are you confident either way as to whether it's aluminum or chrome?

Our Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner is about as aggressive as you need to get and you can find it at just about any auto parts store.

Check me if I'm wrong but your wheel looks like it's aluminum? If so then a Chrome wheel cleaner will etch it and dull it down worse than it already is.

If the above picture is of a chrome wheel then it's in really really really bad condition and the rust looking area is probably steel, no longer chrome.

Try washing the wheel really well with a household dish soap and a scrubby wash rag and see if you can get any improvement with a simple approach to the entire wheel because overall it's not looking good let alone the corroded portion.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

Where do you live? There's a wheel polishing shop in Costa Mesa that's supposed to be really good...

That might be one option if the wheel is aluminum.

Mag Masters


You might also contact them, send them your picture or a link to this thread and see what they recommend.

[roushstage2]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

IF, and ONLY if, they are polished aluminum:

Get some Coarse Grade Heavy Metal Polish (Red) and the Medium Grade (Green) and have at it. Probably the best option you have if you are going to try it yourself.

Coarse-

The Course Abrasive Formula 16oz. is recommended for use as a stripping and smoothing agent on rough heavily oxidized or corroded non-plated metals. It can be used on aluminum, magnesium, copper, brass and bronze. Our Course Abrasive Formula functions in a similar manner to liquid sand paper, and should be followed by our Heavy Metal Medium Abrasive or Ultra Fine Abrasive Formula polishes to achieve a brilliant shine. Do not use on mirror stainless, chrome, nickel, or any other plated metals!

Note: We use no suspending agents, ammonia, acid or water in our polishes. Consequently, Heavy Metal Polish moves and removes easier and goes twice as far as equal amounts of any other polish. Heavy Metal Polish seals and protects with penetrating oils and waxes for a long lasting brilliant shine.

Medium-

The Medium Abrasive Formula 16oz. is recommended for polishing and maintaining hard metals like billet aluminum, stainless steel, chrome, nickel, or magnesium. Our Medium Abrasive Fromula will also tackle medium range corrosion, oxidation, tar, rust, stains and tarnish from aluminum, brass, copper and bronze with the greatest of ease!

Note: We use no suspending agents, ammonia, acid or water in our polishes. Consequently, Heavy Metal Polish moves and removes easier and goes twice as far as equal amounts of any other polish. Heavy Metal Polish seals and protects with penetrating oils and waxes for a long lasting brilliant shine.

Then follow this up with Meguiar's Mag and Aluminum Polish.

[GotBeat5.0]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

whats the most def way to check if they are chrome or aluminum.

cause i looked real quick online and im pretty sure it said chrome

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

First wash the wheel really well, it doesn't look washed in the picture, (already mentioned this), then take any aluminum polish and rub it to a small area that's clean and see if the cloth starts turning black. IF it does then it's likely they're aluminum.

You're going to remove some built up dirt no matter what kind of wheel it is so expect that, it won't be as black but more brown as dirt it more brown than black.

After you get the surface clean in one spot you can double check your results by taking a clean white cloth and some aluminum polish and rub this clean spot.

If the cloth turns black and gets black and blacker as you rub more and more it's aluminum. If after cleaning a spot with one application and now you rub that same area and the cloth doesn drastically change black then you have dirty, corroded chrome wheel.

Because of the extent of the damage to the wheels, if they're chrome... you should see places where the chrome coating is flaking or peeling off. If you don't that's another indicator they're aluminum.

Look like aluminum to me and I've owned a plethora of aluminum wheels...

Go test, if you have to go to any auto parts store and pick up a jar of our Hot Rims Mag and Aluminum Polish.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

Here's what it looks like...

[Nappers]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

Which American Racing wheel, the Baja? according to the site it's chrome. Meguiars Hot Rims Chrome cleaner with a good scrubbing may help you, also Hot Rims Chrome Polish once you get it off.

Keep us posted.

Aaron

[GotBeat5.0]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

thanks for the help there mike

After work tomorrow im gonna stop by the car wash and pressure wash the wheels. i have some aluminum polish somewhere in my garage and ill try that out

So the next q is if they end up being aluminum what kind of damage did i do to the wheel with using chrome polish?

[GotBeat5.0]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

Which American Racing wheel, the Baja? according to the site it's chrome. Meguiars Hot Rims Chrome cleaner with a good scrubbing may help you, also Hot Rims Chrome Polish once you get it off.

Keep us posted.

Aaron

yea im pretty sure it is the Baja ( i looked on Summit) I bought the Jeep with the wheels already on it so i wasnt ever sure on what style they were

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

So the next q is if they end up being aluminum what kind of damage did i do to the wheel with using chrome polish?

No damage. If they're aluminum in that condition it could only make them look better.

Sounds like they are chrome so go with the Hot Rims Chrome Polish.

Take some good before and after pictures.

[GotBeat5.0]

Re: Need Help on Cleaning Wheel

yea tomorrow when I get out of work ill give them a quick cleaning and see whats up.

This Sunday I had planned to take them off the jeep and give them a real good washing cause as you see its been way to long - damn being busy from work I tell ya