OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Off Topics Cleaning Alloy Wheel.

I gave the polished aluminium alloy wheels on my car a long overdue clean and the alloy wheel cleaner I used (non acidic) didn't shift the baked on brake dust residue on the sides (shown by pink line), despite using a brush. I've tried several ways without satisfaction.
Bathroom cleaning paste got it off easily enough, but dulled the finish. Autosol metal polish only slightly removes it but leaves the finish to the desired shine.

I tried fast acting oven cleaner, but again it left the finish even duller than the bathroom cleaner (pointed out by white line).

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I even tried my hand held steam cleaner. No effect.

Hi Mf

Hmm nothing cleans and shines like steelo.



Cheers
Max.

Hi maxwestern,

another guy mentioned that to me yesterday.
I have some no name brand. I'll give it a go.

I’m not usually one to plug a commercial product but I use a spray on wheel cleaner from autoglym. Having damaged wheels before using incompatible products I’m fairly wary.

If there is stuck on tar-like residue I use eucalyptus oil on a clean cotton cloth.

Steel wool can remove the outer hardened layer or finish and can cause problems because the surface it provides is then more porous and softer making it more prone to contamination and needing more cleaning.

Hi Mf and Ironbark

The problem with no name brand is it may not be stainless and any tiny part of the steel wool that could get stuck between the tyre
and the rim will rust but if you wash the wheel thoroughly afterwards you shouldn't have that problem.

Good advice Ironbark for later model mag wheels but the one in the top pic looks like around 1987 Ford Laser so
not really any surface problems to worry about ,looking at the wheel there is no protective coating to scrub off.

Cheers
Max.

Yes max and ironbark, no clear on the wheels anymore.
I had it machined off as it was peeling and looking ugly. Was told to polish them monthly but didn't keep to that for long and baked on brake dust took hold and now wishing I could keep routine.

I sure hope Autoglym is worth the price as Maguires certainly was not.

Thank you for the suggestions. More welcome.

G'day Mf and Ironbark

I've heard mothers mag and aluminum polish is good but probably best to use a buffing wheel on a drill
or grinder.Usually eBay sells the polishing pad for the grinder or drill.



Cheers
Max.

Hmm I'll have to keep a look out for this Mother's alloy wheel paste. Sounds like the ideal product I need.

I watched the video in full and would not know about it if not for watching. Thank you MW.

I have the mothers paste and use it on small parts with a pad on my dremmel. It works quite well, traditional green polish might also be good. I use the red and the green. I think red is coarse and green fine but because I use them relatively infrequently I could have it in reverse. When I sharpen tools I add a bit to a strip of old leather as a final hone as well.

Where did you get the Mother's polish?
That red and green paste usually supplied with sets of polishing wheels confuses me and puts me off giving rotary tools a try in polishing. If only I knew which wheels and polishes to use, I'd be out there shining all the time.

Hey ironbark and maxwestern,

,, got my slime covered paws on the small jar of the Mother's mag and 'aluminum' polish so I'll see how it goes. I've already tried a tiny bit and while it didn't remove the stubborn brake dust, it did shine up the aluminium well.

The steel wool is usually good for removing brake dust Mf.

That reminds me, I meant to suggest you try a dilution of Simple Green. Try 50:50 water:Simple Green. Squirt on, agitate with a nylon bristle brush and hose off. There’s different brake compounds and different alloys and they react differently so it may or may not be effective.

If it doesn’t work you can always increase the concentration but I’d do it in an inconspicuous place first just to test it.

Other people use baking soda made into a paste, it’s not something I’ve tried on decorative part of a car or motorbike myself but I have used it to clean soaked in blackened grease off aluminium castings. I’ve had other bike riders use it to clean rims so it might work. With the castings I washed them off afterwards and then dried them before giving a liberal spray with WD40. I find it soaks into the top layer of uncoated alloy and helps stop other muck soaking in.

I’m no expert on the polishes.

I bought my supply years ago and I don’t use much of it so it’s lasted well. My note in the box says:

Green - stainless steels

Red - precious metals (gold, silver, nickel)

White - ordinary steels, chrome, ss(stainless steel) light cutting

I’d forgotten about the white.

I do know they’re designed to be used with a decent amount of tool pressure and with rotary buffers.

If I’m after a fine edge on a chisel or blade I wipe some on the strips of leather I keep for the job and pull the blade in a reverse direction over the rouged up leather. This is after all the main work with stones. I have a couple of tools that really come up trumps with this treatment.

I have a rotary buffer but it’s been a while since it’s been in use.

Appreciate the information on the three colours.

Regards the Simple Green, you're referring to the general cleaner right? I looked it up and they also have specialty cleaners including wheel cleaner.

I happen to have that very SCA polishing pad set in the video that I haven't opened yet. I was going to try it but it says it's for polishing precious metals, so didn't try it on the wheels.
This guy got good results on his mag wheel using it.

Thank you for all those ideas ironbark and that YouTube link maxwestern.

Yes, the general cleaner, I didn’t know there were other types, so I’ve learned something. I hope it’s still the same stuff.

Well, if it isn't the same formulation at least I can use it to clean the house.

I did get a small pack of Mother's a while ago and went about giving one wheel a detailing today.
First pic shows the left front wheel in uncleaned state.
The right hand wheel was even dirtier and was first off the rank.
Showing after washing and cleaning the vent holes thoroughly using a rag soaked in wheel cleaner before fitting to the car and applying a Mother's mag wheel polish. Not perfect but gave more of a mirrored look.

Quite pleased. Now three more to go.