Alloy Cleaning

[el_gencer]

I was cleaning the car yesterday and i noticed that there are brownish stains on the alloys.

They didn't seem to brush off and the last time i tried the turtle wax alloy cleaners i might as well just used water as it made no difference.

Any advice on this is welcome.

[Steviewevie]

Got some pics of the stains on the alloys ? Is it baked-on brake dust ?

[aztecbandit1]

I've always used wonder wheels on mine and works a treat, Apply it to the wheels give it a gentle scrub with a small brush then rinse off :)

[redz_UK]

Autoglym work a treat for me...

[Steviewevie]

I use Bilbery from ValetPro, very good stuff.

[el_gencer]

By the look of things it's baked on brake dust that doesn't seem to shift. I'll get some pics uploaded.

[Steviewevie]

By the look of things it's baked on brake dust that doesn't seem to shift. I'll get some pics uploaded.

I recommend the Bilbery cleaner. It won't harm your alloys but you can use it at a more concentrated strength if you need to for those stubborn stains. Having said that, it's very effective even at more diluted ratios vs brake dust.

[el_gencer]

Cheers Steviewevie i'll give that a go.

[Dave1986]

Did u order this stuff? How did u get on, i have a bad case of baked on brakedust on a polished lip so iv just orderd a bottle, hope it does the trick :)

[aido]

I read somewhere that B+Q brick cleaner is the same stuff as Wonder Wheels but just more concentrated and works out loads cheaper so maybe another option you want to try for that proper serious dirt - don't leave it on the wheels long at all though as it's acid!

[Steviewevie]

I read somewhere that B+Q brick cleaner is the same stuff as Wonder Wheels but just more concentrated and works out loads cheaper so maybe another option you want to try for that proper serious dirt - don't leave it on the wheels long at all though as it's acid!

:o

Try it at your own risk but I wouldn't put an acidic cleaner anywhere near my wheels, let alone something designed for cleaning bricks !

You shouldn't need an acidic cleaner even for very marked wheels, if you use the right sort of stuff.

[aido]

You have to be very careful with that Wonderwheels stuff - it is aimed more for the serious muck - I'm interested in that Bilberry stuff though!

The acid is ok but you have to get it off quick otherwise it can turn the alloys yellow over time - last time I had a good go with it you could see skin missing off my hands where it had been eaten away

[Dave1986]

I got my Billberry stuff through the door the other day, iv yet 2 put my spare wheels on and spend some time with my wheels to see how/if they clean up.

I'll be back when i give it a bash :)

[aido]

Are there any shops I can get Bilberry or is it a mail order jobbie? I'm going to try Wonder Wheels on one of mine as nothing seems to be shifting the metal where it appears to have binded a bit after one of my brakes went spectacularly wrong

[Steviewevie]

Are there any shops I can get Bilberry or is it a mail order jobbie?

Don't know, sorry, I got mine online. I wonder if it might end up being more expensive in a shop ?

[aido]

Just had a look at their forums and assume I could probably get it from their approved valet companies but I'll wait and see if this Wonder Wheels will shift these marks I've got - if it won't nothing will (unless anyone has some neat hydrochloric acid lying around please :D )

[dgman]

Just had a look at their forums and assume I could probably get it from their approved valet companies but I'll wait and see if this Wonder Wheels will shift these marks I've got - if it won't nothing will (unless anyone has some neat hydrochloric acid lying around please :D )

i find the wonder wheels very good and a bottle last's for ages and i have found that by sealing my wheels reduces the need for a wheel cleaner to a couple of times a year.

[Normski]

Just had a look at their forums and assume I could probably get it from their approved valet companies but I'll wait and see if this Wonder Wheels will shift these marks I've got - if it won't nothing will (unless anyone has some neat hydrochloric acid lying around please :D )

DON'T use WonderWheels! It's like brick acid

I use Meguiar's Wheel Brightener and it works brilliantly! I got mine from Elite Car Care - check out the product link here. You dliute it down and spray on. Agitate with a soft brush and then wash off. It's safe for all sorts of wheels - including polished ones and multi-piece ones.

They even sell the Bilberry stuff if you want to stick with that!

Let me know how you get on.

Ta.

[aido]

DON'T use WonderWheels! It's like brick acid

I use Meguiar's Wheel Brightener and it works brilliantly!

PMSL what do you think is in that stuff

http://www.carwash.com/article.asp?IndexID=6631269

It's just as bad for you as Wonder Wheels

[dgman]

Just had a look at their forums and assume I could probably get it from their approved valet companies but I'll wait and see if this Wonder Wheels will shift these marks I've got - if it won't nothing will (unless anyone has some neat hydrochloric acid lying around please :D )

DON'T use WonderWheels! It's like brick acid

I use Meguiar's Wheel Brightener and it works brilliantly! I got mine from Elite Car Care - check out the product link here. You dliute it down and spray on. Agitate with a soft brush and then wash off. It's safe for all sorts of wheels - including polished ones and multi-piece ones.

They even sell the Bilberry stuff if you want to stick with that!

Let me know how you get on.

Ta.

has wonder wheels caused damaged too your wheels in some way.

[Steviewevie]

I don't understand why you'd choose to use something acidic on your wheels (which will therefore cause them damage over time, even if it's not noticeable at first), when there are non-acidic choices available.

[aido]

To be fair mate they're ok as long as you use them correctly - if you leave them too long on the wheel it will absolutely bugger them up

A lot of the acid free cleaners are actually alkalines so still not PH neutral (cue Dove advert about soft hands!)

It's why some acid free ones are so effective - essentially they're just as aggressive as the acid - just at the alkaline end of the scale - they can still cause damage if used incorrectly.

The best thing you could ever use is plain water but it would be a nightmare to clean :o

I think as long as you go into it knowing the benefits and drawbacks then you're cooking on gas :)

[dgman]

i have looked at my bottle of wonder wheels and there is no mention of acid anywhere on it and neither are there any hazardous warning symbols,i have also looked at the data sheet but there is no mention of acid.are we talking about the same product here or something else.

[aido]

Is it this stuff you're using mate:

That's the stuff that took a layer of skin off my hands - I respect it more now

Trying to find the active ingredient in it now!

[dgman]

Is it this stuff you're using mate:

That's the stuff that took a layer of skin off my hands - I respect it more now

Trying to find the active ingredient in it now!

yes that's the one,btw i do use brick cleaner,not on the wheels and that has nothing in common with wonder wheels.