Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

[All of 75]

Well, I've used the mentioned product a few times and something I've noticed that worries me is some sort of brake rotor staining after being applied. I do not do this intentionally of course, but with the more open-design rims of most cars nowadays it's pretty hard to avoid some overspray.

It seems that it can range from oxidation and nearly instant rust on some rotors, such as my lincoln's and an F150's I did, to just a milk-white stain of where it contacted the rotor on my 1995 Mercedes' as well as a 2005 Mercedes E500's. It seems that this wears off after use, but i really dont like the stained look until then. And the calipers themselves seem to remain stained.

No amount of wiping or cleaning with other products removes this effect.


Any help?

Here's what it is: http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/produc...p?T1=MEG+G9524

[ocdetail]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

1st off I feel your pain. The oxidation/rusting issue on the rotors is an everyday battle for me too. After I'm finishing detailing a vehicle, I can't take any wheel pics until I 'polish the rotors' i.e. take if for a quick stop and go around the block to get the layer of brown off the rotors.

As for the calipers, this staining will occur if you're working on a vehicle that's just been driven, it's called scorching. 2 ideas, first is non abrassive. Make sure the vehicle has cooled off. Touch the rotors. Dish soap solution and a wheel brush. Second, if the 1st didn't work...Super fine steel wool matched with the same product you used in the first place will take care of the stain, assuming the calipers aren't painted fancy like a tuner car. Texas toothbrushes work awesome against grooved/hard to reach areas too. Just make sure you flush all the product off completely, then flush it again for good measure.

How I learned, you might ask? There's a touchless wash I used to live practically next door to. I'd stop there after work on Fridays. All was touchless but it had a wheel scrubber. To take full advantage, I used to spray down my wheels with wheel and tire cleaner while I was waiting in line for the wash. About a month of applying cleaner to heated wheels, I noticed the same thing you did.

[All of 75]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

Well thank you. So basically, I can't do anything about it, other than drive around the block? Maybe I could try another wheel cleaner?

[Black1]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

ALL wheel cleaners will scorch if used on hot parts.... If you are worried about it, soap and water only should be used from now on.

Always, always, always let your brakes and wheels cool before using wheel cleaner (of any type or brand). .... It even says so right on the bottle.

[music_man185]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

if you have aluminum wheels, you could use hot rims aluminum wheel cleaner. it has a lower ph level and shouldn't be as harmful. or some quik wheel detailer or soap and water.

[All of 75]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

The rotors were COMPLETELY cool.

[roushstage2]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

Depending on rotor material, that will happen. My rotors will rust just from water. :/ As for the calipers, you may want to try a milder cleaner such as soap and water (works well 99% of the time anyways) or Hot Rims Aluminum Cleaner.

[Oyama]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

And the calipers themselves seem to remain stained.

No amount of wiping or cleaning with other products removes this effect.

I used "Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner" for the first time on my 1 week old 2011 Honda CRV. It did a nice job on the rims but it also dulled the calipers to a white milky color. I was a bit saddened by this...

Have you by any chance found a way of cleaning this effect off?

[Murr1525]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

Even the Aluminum Wheel Wash will put rust on rotors, or at least mine.

[mb911]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

Same thing happened to me several years ago. All Wheel Cleaner is quite harsh. "All Wheel," isn't the best name IMHO. It removes a lot of grime/dirt/brake dust, but it does that by being a very strong product. Not nice on brake parts and whatnot.

The aluminum cleaner is the most gentle they make. It has been "ok," for me. I still try to be a bit careful, but it seems MUCH more gentle.

[coach477]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

i used hot wheel cleaner today and it didn't do a good job of cleaning the brakes dust,
because after i cleaned the wheels i had to go back and wipe the wheels off . the wheels
had a little amount of dust still on. Also after finishing the washing the car i noticed that
i put the bottle of hot wheel cleaner on the floor of my garage and it turned the garage floor
very white where the bottle had leaked. very strange for a product which is supposed to be
for ALL wheels. I am not very happy with this product.

[Zcar]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

Rats. I just bought a bottle of it today and after reading this thread I'm afraid to use it on my new 370Z.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

i used hot wheel cleaner today and it didn't do a good job of cleaning the brakes dust,
because after i cleaned the wheels i had to go back and wipe the wheels off . the wheels
had a little amount of dust still on. Also after finishing the washing the car i noticed that
i put the bottle of hot wheel cleaner on the floor of my garage and it turned the garage floor
very white where the bottle had leaked. very strange for a product which is supposed to be
for ALL wheels. I am not very happy with this product.

Can you describe the entire wheel washing sequence you used in a bit more detail? Did you just spray the product on and then rinse it off? Or did you agitate it with something?

How severe was the brake dust? How long had it been since the wheels were fully cleaned?

[Detroit CC]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

Guys and girls, hate to brake (intentional pun and spelling error) it to you but the material used in brake (discs) rotors is always going to rust.
You're never going to round this unless you're using/detailing a supercar that has ceramic brakes.
Everyday cars, Vans and Trucks use cast iron as the raw material for the brake discs.
You do not want any material of any description between the brake pad and disc as this will reduce braking efficiency.

So, all in all, your brake disc gets wet, the oxidation process starts, simple as that I am afraid.
It doesn't matter what product you use on the disc to get them clean, they will always rust.
Try this, clean your disc so that it is shiny and you are happy.
Then park your car anywhere outside and leave it for a week in the rain, the result will be four oxidising discs.

It's the same as the inside of the exhaust pipe, it will always be black.

[Zcar]

Re: Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner Brake Rotor Staining?

Guys and girls, hate to brake (intentional pun and spelling error) it to you but the material used in brake (discs) rotors is always going to rust.
You're never going to round this unless you're using/detailing a supercar that has ceramic brakes.
Everyday cars, Vans and Trucks use cast iron as the raw material for the brake discs.
You do not want any material of any description between the brake pad and disc as this will reduce braking efficiency.

So, all in all, your brake disc gets wet, the oxidation process starts, simple as that I am afraid.
It doesn't matter what product you use on the disc to get them clean, they will always rust.
Try this, clean your disc so that it is shiny and you are happy.
Then park your car anywhere outside and leave it for a week in the rain, the result will be four oxidising discs.

It's the same as the inside of the exhaust pipe, it will always be black.

I imagine that anyone who has washed a car with disc brakes knows that there will be some rust on the rotors. It appears that there is some discoloration occurring on the calipers which is what my concern would be.