Wheel Brightener & Clear Coat

[wyseilmykkar]

I've been following some of the recent threads on MOL regarding the use of wheel brightener on various wheel types.

I understand that it is NOT for use on raw aluminum or anodized wheels; the wheels on my truck are clear coated aluminum so I should have no issues. My question, however, is that there are a few locations where the clear coat has been chipped away, from wheel weights mostly - am I safe to use WB or should I avoid it altogether?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Wheel Brightener & Clear Coat

Richard Lin posted an experience he had where the wheel cleaner actually seeped past the clear layer of paint on the edges of the wheel and stained the aluminum under the clear. Ended up paying to have the wheels re-finished for his customer.

If you don't want to take any chances you might want to stick with something safe like G14324 Hot Rims® Aluminum Wheel Cleaner this product or just use your car wash soap and keep up regular maintenance so they never get so much of a brake dust and road grime build up that cleaning them is a problem.


This first one...

G14324 Hot Rims® Aluminum Wheel Cleaner
Hot Rims® Aluminum Wheel Cleaner is the ultra-safe solution for cleaning uncoated aluminum. The specially designed formula is guaranteed safe for uncoated and polished aluminum wheels as well as anodized and powder-coated wheel surfaces – it’s even safe on all brake components. Our unique formula features Xtreme Cling™ foam technology that grabs vertical surfaces to deliver effective cleaning and gently remove brake dust and grime.




DON'T USE THIS ONE
G9524 Hot Rims® All Wheel® Cleaner
Hot Rims® All Wheel® Cleaner. Achieve A "Show Perfect" Shine On All Factory Wheel Surfaces! The name says it all! Hot Rims® All Wheel Cleaner is unlike any formula in the world for removing grime, grit and brake dust from all factory wheel surfaces. Remove stubborn road residue with Hot Rims' unique foaming agents. Our Xtreme Cling™ foam is designed to cling to vertical surfaces and break down stubborn road residue between your wheels and a brilliant shine! Safe for all factory, clear-coated and painted wheels.



DON'T USE THIS ONE
G14024 Hot Rims® Chrome Wheel Cleaner
The Finest Formula in the World For Chrome-Plated Perfection! There's no better cleaner for chrome wheels. Hot Rims® Chrome Wheel Cleaner is unlike any formula in the world for removing grime, grit and brake dust from chrome. Break down stubborn road residue with Hot Rims unique foaming agents. Our Xtreme Cling™ foam is designed to cling vigorously to vertical surfaces and dissolve anything between your chrome and a brilliant "mirror-like" shine!




You can use this safely
G14616 Quik Wheel Detailer® Mist & Wipe
Meguiar’s® Quik Wheel Detailer® is the fastest way to quickly clean and shine your wheels without soap and water! Removes light brake dust and other road contaminants before they have a chance to cling to your wheel surface. This safe, high lubricity formula lifts off dirt and grime without scratching and build-up. And unlike traditional wheel cleaners, Quik Wheel Detailer is a waterless cleaner that eliminates the hassle of dragging out the water hose in between washes.




And if you can find it, you can use this safely.

G14124 Hot Rims Multi Piece Wheel Wash
Hot Rims Multi Piece Wheel Wash is a non-alkaline, non-acid formula designed to safely remove grime, grit and brake dust from all polished/unpolished aluminum,powder-coated, multi-surface or anodized wheels - also safe on all aftermarket brake components including calipers and rotors. Helps break down stubborn road residue with our Hot Rims unique foaming agents. Our Xtreme Cling™ foam is designed to cling vigorously to vertical surfaces and helps to lift and separate dirt from your wheels.

[MyFirstES300]

Re: Wheel Brightener & Clear Coat

DON'T USE THIS ONE
G9524 Hot Rims® All Wheel® Cleaner
Hot Rims® All Wheel® Cleaner. Achieve A "Show Perfect" Shine On All Factory Wheel Surfaces! The name says it all! Hot Rims® All Wheel Cleaner is unlike any formula in the world for removing grime, grit and brake dust from all factory wheel surfaces. Remove stubborn road residue with Hot Rims' unique foaming agents. Our Xtreme Cling™ foam is designed to cling to vertical surfaces and break down stubborn road residue between your wheels and a brilliant shine! Safe for all factory, clear-coated and painted wheels.



DON'T USE THIS ONE
G14024 Hot Rims® Chrome Wheel Cleaner
The Finest Formula in the World For Chrome-Plated Perfection! There's no better cleaner for chrome wheels. Hot Rims® Chrome Wheel Cleaner is unlike any formula in the world for removing grime, grit and brake dust from chrome. Break down stubborn road residue with Hot Rims unique foaming agents. Our Xtreme Cling™ foam is designed to cling vigorously to vertical surfaces and dissolve anything between your chrome and a brilliant "mirror-like" shine!



I'm a bit confused. Do you not recommend these because there is acid in the formula?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Wheel Brightener & Clear Coat

I'm a bit confused. Do you not recommend these because there is acid in the formula?

Yes.

The Chrome Wheel Cleaner is a strong acid wheel cleaner because the acid won't hurt the chrome but will easily and quickly dissolve the brake dust and road grime.

This is one of the reasons I like chrome wheels, chrome is very durable as long as you keep it clean and dry.


The All Wheel Cleaner has a small percentage of acid to give it some cleaning power without causing problems as long as it's used on the right wheels, so it's technically not All Wheel Cleaner, it's Most Wheel Cleaner, but for valid reasons the name will not be changed instead there are specific instructions on the back label stating what the wheel cleaner can be used on and what it cannot be used on.

[MyFirstES300]

Re: Wheel Brightener & Clear Coat

Thank you for answering and this helps me a lot! Now I know the difference between them all and which ones to choose.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Wheel Brightener & Clear Coat

Mike, do they make any sort of wheel cleaner other than wheel brightener in a gallon or bulk size? I love how wheel brightener just destroys any grime, but at times I am hesitant using it on others' cars just because of the fear of damaging the wheel. Most of the time wheel brightener isn't completely necessary and I could use a less aggressive one, but it is just the most economical and I wish I could get a cheaper less aggressive cleaner in bulk.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Wheel Brightener & Clear Coat

I wish I could get a cheaper less aggressive cleaner in bulk.

My guess would be the professional market won't support the product skew.

There's a lot of potential great products behind the scenes, but there are benchmarks the product have to be certain of meeting before they will ever go into production and for the Professional Detailing industry you can't have a zillion options when it comes to the basics, so you need one wheel cleaner that can do it all and while we all know that's impossible, Wheel Brightner does a great job of balancing the needs and wants of the professional detailing industry.


Until there's a large and stable market for a product like you describe the other options are products like our Aluminum Wheel Cleaner in our Consumer Line, you just can't get these formulas in bulk.

[Tuck91]

Re: Wheel Brightener & Clear Coat

Mike, do they make any sort of wheel cleaner other than wheel brightener in a gallon or bulk size? I love how wheel brightener just destroys any grime, but at times I am hesitant using it on others' cars just because of the fear of damaging the wheel. Most of the time wheel brightener isn't completely necessary and I could use a less aggressive one, but it is just the most economical and I wish I could get a cheaper less aggressive cleaner in bulk.

I have the same thought as well since I go through bottles and bottles of Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner and All Wheel Cleaner.

But for now, I have no problem sticking to those products. But it sure would be nice to buy Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner in a gallon size.

perhaps it would be good to put it in the new product section.

[wyseilmykkar]

Re: Wheel Brightener & Clear Coat

DON'T USE THIS ONE
G9524 Hot Rims® All Wheel® Cleaner
Hot Rims® All Wheel® Cleaner. Achieve A "Show Perfect" Shine On All Factory Wheel Surfaces! The name says it all! Hot Rims® All Wheel Cleaner is unlike any formula in the world for removing grime, grit and brake dust from all factory wheel surfaces. Remove stubborn road residue with Hot Rims' unique foaming agents. Our Xtreme Cling™ foam is designed to cling to vertical surfaces and break down stubborn road residue between your wheels and a brilliant shine! Safe for all factory, clear-coated and painted wheels.

Alrighty then! I just disposed of my bottle of HRAWC and will look for Aluminum Wheel Cleaner tommorrow at my local supply store.

Thanks for the info Mike - any Canadians here interested in a 32 oz sampler bottle of WB?