Help cleaning oxidized inner wheel

[Bigmerc2003]

I have a 2003 Mercury Marauder. The wheels are a polished aluminum with a clear coat on the face. My problem is that the inside of the rims are oxidized, dull, gray and just annoying! I have had luck in the past with steel wool cleaning them but in a month or two they are back to their old ways. I then cleaned them with a sort of scuff-pad/ sandpaper drill attachment to smooth out the aluminum, then put a quick coat of hot rims on, the black never seems to stop!! Is that normal? Will I ever polish the oxidation out and be left with clean polish coming off? What should I use to completely clean the oxidation off of the inner rim so that I can polish them? I would like a "mirror shine" inside the rims to match the outside but I am realistic enough to know that may never happen so I would be happy with a nice shine. What do you suggest I use to polish them but product wise and tool wise? I have searched through about 300 threads and people have had the same problems but never posted back what they did and how it turned out so I am sorta stuck. Thanks in advance

[Murr1525]

Re: Help cleaning oxidized inner wheel

Any chance of pics?

The black residue doesnt really stop, though it should get less. But it should stay shiny for a bit.

[Bigmerc2003]

Re: Help cleaning oxidized inner wheel

I will try to get some tonight. I was not sure if you are supposed to polish until the black residue stops or if that was the polish breaking down to do its job. Last spring I spent 2 days cleaning, scrubbing, polishing and then clear coating the inner wheels to seal them, but it was a lost cause, The car is stored all winter from about Mid November (based on weather) to mid April (also based on weather) so it does not see salt, snow and rarely sees rain. Just frustrating!! I am almost ready to buy some wheel paint for the inside!