How long can I leave Hot rims on the wheel before washing off ??? SAFE MODE !!!

[Webb]

I know the instructions says 30 seconds,but usually after spraying on wheel and tires I like to go over with a brush on the tire then EZ brush the wheel sides and the interior,usually takes about 5 minutes from the time I sprayed until rinsing.
I'm asking because I don't want to damage the clear coat on my new wheels.

Thanks

[Murr1525]

Re: How long can I leave Hot rims on the wheel before washing off ??? SAFE MODE !!!

5 minutes wouldnt be recomended...

I usually do tire and wheelwells first with APC. Then do the wheels, brushing the barrel and face. Trying to move quickly, the wheel part cant be over 2 minutes I suppose.

If you feel you move slowly, you may want to look at the Aluminum Wheel Wash, which is milder.

[raiderscott]

Re: How long can I leave Hot rims on the wheel before washing off ??? SAFE MODE !!!

I just purchased a gallon of APC. I suppose I can use this on the tires, wheel wells, engine compartment and any other areas that need cleaning. Correct? Apparently, I need to dilute the APC in a plastic spray bottle?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: How long can I leave Hot rims on the wheel before washing off ??? SAFE MODE !!!

We assume you're talking about Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner rather than HR Aluminum or HR Chrome Wheel Cleaner.

If you want to clean your wheels, tires, and wheel wells in one go, here's what we'd recommend:

Option 1 - Spray your cleaner (APC, etc) into the wheel wells and onto the tire sidewalls, then spray the wheel cleaner onto the wheels. Agitate the wheel wells and tires, then agitate the wheels as needed and rinse everything thoroughly with water. The scrubbing of the wheel wells and tires shouldn't take more than a minute. As long as you're working on factory wheels that are in good shape (ie, no clear coat peeling from previous damage or age) you'll be fine.

Option 2 - If the tire sidewalls and wheel wells are really a mess and you need longer to scrub them, spray your cleaner onto these two areas only and scrub as needed. When you're done with that go ahead and spray the wheel cleaner onto the wheels, let sit for a few seconds, agitate as needed, and then flush everything thoroughly with water.

Option 3 - Reverse the above step, concentrating on the wheel first (spray, let sit for a few seconds, agitate as needed, rinse thoroughly) and then work on the sidewall and wells.

Regardless which option you choose, the following tips should always be followed:

• Always work on one wheel at a time, start to finish (ie, never spray all four wheels with wheel cleaner and then start agitating the first one)
• Never, under any circumstances, allow the wheel cleaner to dry on the surface
• Be aware of components other than the wheels that might be impacted by your wheel cleaner - aftermarket brake parts are often anodized or powder coated and can be damaged by All Wheel Cleaner and Chrome Wheel Cleaner. Consider these parts as well when choosing a wheel cleaner.
• Spray the wheel cleaner onto the wheel starting at the bottom of the wheel and working up. This helps to avoid any concentrated cleaner running down the face of the wheel and potentially causing any staining. While very rare, if you mismatch cleaner to wheel this can cause a noticeable stain.
• Always work on wheels that are cool to the touch. Spraying a wheel cleaner onto a hot wheel can cause a near flash drying effect of the cleaner, and that can lead to problems. If need be, hose the wheels with water before cleaning.

[Webb]

Re: How long can I leave Hot rims on the wheel before washing off ??? SAFE MODE !!!

Thanks Mike,no the car is brand new with painted aluminum wheels.Should I use a specific wheel cleaner for aluminum or not ?

Thanks

Pic

[Murr1525]

Re: How long can I leave Hot rims on the wheel before washing off ??? SAFE MODE !!!

The Hot Rims All Wheel is safe for painted aluminum when used like the directions say. But the Aluminum Wheels Wash is even milder, so more leeway to be safe.

As long as you are cleaning regularly, you wont need the extra strength.

If you clean very often, just car soap may be all you need.

[Webb]

Re: How long can I leave Hot rims on the wheel before washing off ??? SAFE MODE !!!

This is clear coated,should I wax them ?

[Murr1525]

Re: How long can I leave Hot rims on the wheel before washing off ??? SAFE MODE !!!

You certainly can treat them like regular paint, so clay, paing cleaner, and wax are all options.

Although another new option is the Break Dust Barrier.

[ChevyNick]

I don't mean to hijack here, but I personally have no experience with meguiars tire related products. Do they whiten white letter tires very well? Or should I continue to use Westlys Bleche White on the lettering? I currently use Simple Green as my main tire and wheel cleaner. I notice that it appears to make the side wall discolored though, Especially if I had a tire dressing applied from a previous detail.

So if I switched to Meguiars All Wheel Cleaner or whatever, would I experience similar outcomes? Or would it be better? Worse?

[synesthesia]

Re: How long can I leave Hot rims on the wheel before washing off ??? SAFE MODE !!!

Simple green has know to cause damage to rubber. At mechanic school we have been warned that simple green can deteriorate the rubber hoses and lines. For my muscle car with white letter tires, I use old school elbow grease and some scouring pad and simple soap. That Bleche White product does discolor the black parts of the wheel so use a tooth brush and that product on the white letters only. If you do use simple green, make sure you rinse the tires well. Simple green may cause the rubber to crack if left on. This is only my experience with these products.