Aluminum Wheel Cleaner...got to get some bleech spots out!!

I used some Mr.Bleech spray on the white raised lettering on my BFG tires. It really brought out the white in the lettering, the only problem is that I got some overspray on the aluminum rims. Looks real bad. any ideas on how to get this off? I tried some DE Nova Shine and didn't come out. Tried good ole soap and water and still nothing......anybody ever have this before?


kissel

Are your wheels clear coated or bare alum. ?

------------------
96 Black Impala SS
Authorized Zaino Showcar Polish Distributor
www.zainobros.com (http://www.zainobros.com)
Remember #3

The wheels are the Torque Thrust D's and I think that they are the bare aluminim. not 100% sure though. They are grooved and doesn't really feel like there is a clear coat over the aluminum part. I tried some of the Mothers polish yesterday and not much happenend......

i guess i will keep trying......

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by kissel:
The wheels are the Torque Thrust D's and I think that they are the bare aluminim. not 100% sure though. They are grooved and doesn't really feel like there is a clear coat over the aluminum part. I tried some of the Mothers polish yesterday and not much happenend......

i guess i will keep trying......</font>


This is why I advise this board not to use any kind of strong tire cleaner or brake dust remover as these products attack the finish on wheels, especially custom wheels. You will need to find some metal polish that is stronger and rougher than the Mothers, if you go to a truck stop most truck stops carry metal polishes in different grades of abrasiveness. Usually they have like a red, white, and green metal polish bars and you will start with the roughest and work down to the most fine.


------------------
96 Black Impala SS
Authorized Zaino Showcar Polish Distributor
www.zainobros.com (http://www.zainobros.com)
Remember #3

thanks kevin

the product was Westley's Bleche-Wite. I have used this before on my daily driver and never had a problem, the rims are painted so that is probably why. After I tried to get this off my aluminum rims I read that package and it tells you not to spray it on or overspray it on your mag or alum rims. It is my mistake for not reading the directions, duh. I am going to call the company today and see what they recommend. Looks like I will also try some abrasive stuff too......i figure i can't hurt them now.....

tell ya what, i learned my lesson on this one!!

thanks for your reply

kissel

Use care if they are clear coated. You don't want to go through the clear coat in your efforts to fix it.

Metal polishes actually remove metal, so the rag you use will turn dark or black. If that doesn't happen, you have clear coated wheels. Metal polishes can damage clear coats.

To safely check you wheels for clear coat, use a small dab of paint polish or cleaner/wax on a small spot of a clean wheel. The rag will turn dark if the wheels are bare, but because the product is much less agressive than a metal polish it won't hurt the finish if they're cleared.


Good luck!

Jeff

Torque Thrust D's are not clear coated.

"Metal polishes actually remove metal, so the rag you use will turn dark or black"

No, not really, the metal polish does not remove any metal (if it does that is some bad ass polish) the black stuff you see if removing oxidation in a chemical reaction that takes place between the metal and chemicals in the metal polish



------------------
96 Black Impala SS
Authorized Zaino Showcar Polish Distributor
www.zainobros.com (http://www.zainobros.com)
Remember #3

well i called the manufacture of Westley's and they recommended that I use Eagle One Never Dull or Blue Magic polish. I tried the Never Dull and some of it came off. I then tried the Blue Magic and some of the bleech spots came off but it looks like I am going to have to work at if for a while.

I won't have the car back for a few days because of getting the carb tuned and I am going out of town so when I get back I am going to hopefully get these things back to the way they should look. thanks for the info. and yeah the rims are not clear coated. they are grooved which is making it challenging to clean them good


kissel-

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by KevinSS:
Torque Thrust D's are not clear coated.

"Metal polishes actually remove metal, so the rag you use will turn dark or black"

No, not really, the metal polish does not remove any metal (if it does that is some bad ass polish) the black stuff you see if removing oxidation in a chemical reaction that takes place between the metal and chemicals in the metal polish

</font>


Have to partially disagree with you Kevin. You're right that much of the discoloration is from oxidized material (ask yourself, what is the oxidized material?) and the chemical cleaners in the polishes. It's not a lot of metal coming off, but enough to discolor a white rag even on "perfect" surfaces. Hence the reason many of these polishes can remove minor scratches on aluminum wheels. It's the same process we use when we use paint polishes to repair flaws. If no material was coming off, then we wouldn't get the results we see.

Jeff

i have the same problem as you. i have aluminum alloy eagle alloys and my wheels looked like crap. i used mothers on them. i worked 1/2 hour on each wheel. the wheels looked great when i was finished. the problem is that i had oxidation 2 weeks later. they looked terrible again. i don't know if these wheels have a clear coat on them or not but i need to do something. suggestions would be great. thanks

Originally posted by cals400ex
i have the same problem as you. i have aluminum alloy eagle alloys and my wheels looked like crap. i used mothers on them. i worked 1/2 hour on each wheel. the wheels looked great when i was finished. the problem is that i had oxidation 2 weeks later. they looked terrible again. i don't know if these wheels have a clear coat on them or not but i need to do something. suggestions would be great. thanks

After polishing the wheels, use a wax or sealant to keep them protected. A synthetic product will keep them much better protected that a natural wax.

Also, keep them maintained regularly (at least once a week) with a cleaner, either a wheel cleaner or car wash soap. Then rewax or polish.

:)

i don't believe these wheels are clear-coated, but then again i am not sure. i did not know if i could put any wax on these or not. you guys actually polish your wheels every week? i understand to clean them every week. any suggestions on a synthetic product to use? this car does not go out in any bad weather including rain. they just oxidize so quickly and it takes a good 1/2 hour per wheel to repolish them. i may call the company up and see what they have to say.

I use Westley's or even Castrol Super Clean on my tires and I have billet aluminum wheels. I spray the cleaner very lightly away from the wheel onto the tires. I have even sprayed a rag with tire cleaner and wiped. I spray the tires off when I am done so that none of the cleaner gets on the wheel.