Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

So your saying you have 3 year old product still being sold to the public without the proper WARNING's?
Thanks but, "No Thanks".

While we are not distributing old product, it is impossible for us to police everything that distributors have in inventory. Even if we tell everyone that a product or product label has been superseded, that alone does not guarantee that a distributor or retailer will remove it from their shelves. We once had a customer call up very annoyed that the Quik Detailer they recently purchased on a "Manager's Special" at their local grocery store (yes, grocery store!) had a rebate tag hanging on it that showed an expiration date for the rebate that was over a year old. They wanted to know if we'd still honor the rebate now that they'd purchased the product.

So, yes, there are times when old inventory is still being sold in places. Sometimes that even leads to a customer purchasing a spoiled product simply due to the age. While in reality that is quite rare, it is not unheard of. Nonetheless, we are always happy to replace that with fresh product.

But once again, it seems the critically important thing here is that the product did no real damage to your wheels. The film you experienced wiped off and everything is fine, correct?

[Shawn T.]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

I think the important item here is that Meguiars is willing to give you the proper product to maintain your wheels.

You messed up. We've all done it. I've done it. But, that is no reason to go bashing a company that has a tremendous following of professionals and consumers. The important thing is that we learn from our mistakes and now you have learned to buy the Aluminum Wheel Cleaner instead.

I remember one time I let APC (All Purpose Cleaner) dwell on paint too long at too strong a dilution in the sun. Yeah, I stanined the paint on my mom's black Civic but I was able to fix it with a quick call to Customer Care and finding out the best procedure. And I then learned not to do that again.

Good luck on maintaining those wheels!


EDIT: I also remember using M01 Medium Cut Cleaner by hand one time. That was also a bad idea but after posting my issues, they were resolved and I learned never to do that again either. The thread is in the Working by Hand section if you want to see.

[CSI K-9]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

These are KMC wheels. There should be a WARNING on the bottle if the product isnt safe for powdercoated surfaces. There isnt.

There is NO STEP 7 on the bottle. But there IS a step 6.
"For anodized, magnesium, un-coated or powdercoated wheels, use Meguiar's Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner".

It helps if you actually read the label, not complain about it after the fact.

It's because of people like you that McDonald's had to put labels on their coffee cups reminding them that coffee is hot.....

[Andrew C.]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

James, the bottle you picked up appears to be an old bottle. I do not think that Meguiar's is distributing old bottles to vendors, but rather that the vendor your purchased it from has had the bottle for over 3 years in their inventory.

It doesn't explicitly say warning, but it does tell you that if you have powder coated wheels to use Aluminum Wheel Cleaner. I'm not sure how much more forward you want the bottle to say it, but it seems pretty clear to me.

[james1300]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

So your saying you have 3 year old product still being sold to the public without the proper WARNING's?
Thanks but, "No Thanks".

[james1300]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

This bottle was purchased LAST month from Schucks/Orielly Auto Parts.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

No I'm not happy. But, its my own fault.
How does "Not safe for motorcycle wheels or aftermarket brake componets", apply?
There is NO STEP 7 on the bottle. But there IS a step 6.
"For anodized, magnesium, un-coated or powdercoated wheels, use Meguiar's Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner". No 'WARNING'. Just a statement.
So? Where did the haze come from? I don't know. I had used Meguiar's
paste wax on them to protect the finish. Maybe the "Hot Rims 'All Wheel cleaner" stripped the wax off?

My KMC wheels are painted. I called Tire Rack. They in turn checked with KMC.

KMC wants me to use 'mild soap and water'. So, thats what I'll be using.

"Not safe on motorcycle wheels or aftermarket brake components"
How does this apply to a automotive wheel? It doesnt. If it supposed to be a WARNING then, it needs to state, "Not for use on powdercoated surfaces".

"Step 7 of the instructions on the back of the bottle states:"

"Do not use on anodized, magnesium, un-coated, or powder-coated wheels"

There is NO STEP 7 on the bottle. But there IS a step 6.
"For anodized, magnesium, un-coated or powdercoated wheels, use Meguiar's Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner". No 'WARNING'. Just a statement.

There are NOT several warnings on the bottle. There are vague statements. Some not relating to automotive wheels at all.

Well, you aren't going to like this response, but you have an old bottle in your possession. Attached is an image of the current (three years old, at least) label on a bottle of All Wheel Cleaner:



Everything we stated above is clearly written on the bottle. It also states to read wheel manufacturer care guidlines before using this product. Now, I don't have an earlier label that matches the one you have, but I do have one that is even older. It, too, states to check with wheel manufacturer guidlines, not to use on powder-coat, etc.

And really, flat out telling you to use a different product on powder-coat, polished, magnesium, etc is not vague - it's telling you to you something else, not this!

Regardless, the most important aspect of all this is that, in fact, the product did NOT damage your wheels. Not at all. Did it strip the wax? Absolutely. But it damage your wheels? Apparently not. And what does the wheel manufacturer recommend? Soap and water, apparently.

[Chubbz91]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

Yeah I forgot to clean my wheels before putting them away for the winter so as I read in another forum using a paint brush to loosen brake dust and other things and aluminum wheel cleaner should be a good combo

[james1300]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

The front of the bottle clearly states:

"Safe on ALL factory-coated wheel types"

The main description on the back of the bottle specifically references Factory Wheel Surfaces three separate times.

Under the "DIRECTIONS" section of the back label it states:

"Not safe on motorcycle wheels or aftermarket brake components"

Step 7 of the instructions on the back of the bottle states:

"Do not use on anodized, magnesium, un-coated, or powder-coated wheels"

There are several warnings on the bottle.


And if we understand you fully here, the haze wiped off and there is no damage to the wheels, right? But in the end you've got a product that you paid for but really can't use on your wheels, so you're out the cost of the product. Well, we certainly don't see that as a good thing at all, and we'd be happy to replace that product with our Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner, which is completely safe to use on your wheels. If you'd be so kind as to PM me your full name and shipping address I can get that product out to you ASAP.

No I'm not happy. But, its my own fault.
How does "Not safe for motorcycle wheels or aftermarket brake componets", apply?
There is NO STEP 7 on the bottle. But there IS a step 6.
"For anodized, magnesium, un-coated or powdercoated wheels, use Meguiar's Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner". No 'WARNING'. Just a statement.
So? Where did the haze come from? I don't know. I had used Meguiar's
paste wax on them to protect the finish. Maybe the "Hot Rims 'All Wheel cleaner" stripped the wax off?

My KMC wheels are painted. I called Tire Rack. They in turn checked with KMC.

KMC wants me to use 'mild soap and water'. So, thats what I'll be using.

"Not safe on motorcycle wheels or aftermarket brake components"
How does this apply to a automotive wheel? It doesnt. If it supposed to be a WARNING then, it needs to state, "Not for use on powdercoated surfaces".

"Step 7 of the instructions on the back of the bottle states:"

"Do not use on anodized, magnesium, un-coated, or powder-coated wheels"

There is NO STEP 7 on the bottle. But there IS a step 6.
"For anodized, magnesium, un-coated or powdercoated wheels, use Meguiar's Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner". No 'WARNING'. Just a statement.

There are NOT several warnings on the bottle. There are vague statements. Some not relating to automotive wheels at all.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

An important thing to keep in mind when selecting the Aluminum Wheel Cleaner - it is designed to be safe even on bare, high polished aluminum, which is incredibly delicate material. So if it's safe there, how powerful do you think the cleaners will be in it? Right, not super strong. So if you've got badly embedded brake dust, don't expect to just spray some Aluminum Wheel Cleaner on it and rinse away all the grime. That's just part of the price you pay for running wheels with a delicate finish - upkeep is harder.

[Murr1525]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

I use the Aluminum Wheel Cleaner all the time, seems to work just fine with a little agitation.

[Chubbz91]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

Wow thats nice of you Michael. I have a painted aluminum alloy I believe painted gold and i sprayed two coats of clear coat on it. I use the All Wheel Cleaner several times and love it. I may just try the Aluminum wheel cleaner just for the hell of it

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

The front of the bottle clearly states:

"Safe on ALL factory-coated wheel types"

The main description on the back of the bottle specifically references Factory Wheel Surfaces three separate times.

Under the "DIRECTIONS" section of the back label it states:

"Not safe on motorcycle wheels or aftermarket brake components"

Step 7 of the instructions on the back of the bottle states:

"Do not use on anodized, magnesium, un-coated, or powder-coated wheels"

There are several warnings on the bottle.


And if we understand you fully here, the haze wiped off and there is no damage to the wheels, right? But in the end you've got a product that you paid for but really can't use on your wheels, so you're out the cost of the product. Well, we certainly don't see that as a good thing at all, and we'd be happy to replace that product with our Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner, which is completely safe to use on your wheels. If you'd be so kind as to PM me your full name and shipping address I can get that product out to you ASAP.

[james1300]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

Are you sure these wheels are painted and not powder coated? All Wheel Cleaner is safe on all factory wheels and aftermarket painted wheels too, but it's not safe on powdercoat.

It is also important to spray onto a cool wheel, let dwell for just 15 to 20 seconds before agitating and fully rinsing off. Never allow it to self dry on the surface, don't just wipe it off, and don't spray all 4 wheels in succession and then start agitating the first wheel. One wheel at a time, start to finish.

These are KMC wheels. There should be a WARNING on the bottle if the product isnt safe for powdercoated surfaces. There isnt.
'All Wheel Cleaner', isnt for ALL wheels.
The wheels where at 50 degrees and pre-rinsed prior to applying product.
I Never let any wheel cleaner 'self dry'.

" There should be a WARNING on the bottle if the product isnt safe for powdercoated surfaces". There isnt.

I'm throwing this stuff out. If theres even a chance I could harm my expensive wheels using this unmarked/miss labeled 'Meguiar's' product
its not worth it.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Hot Rims ALL Wheel cleaner? Painted wheels?

Are you sure these wheels are painted and not powder coated? All Wheel Cleaner is safe on all factory wheels and aftermarket painted wheels too, but it's not safe on powdercoat.

It is also important to spray onto a cool wheel, let dwell for just 15 to 20 seconds before agitating and fully rinsing off. Never allow it to self dry on the surface, don't just wipe it off, and don't spray all 4 wheels in succession and then start agitating the first wheel. One wheel at a time, start to finish.