Best way to clean inside of super dirty rim?

[SirFerret]

Hey all,

I just purchased a set of second hand alloy rims for my car!

The front face is flawless and was easily cleaned with some wheel cleaner. The barrel of the rims are filthy and would barely budge with Sonax wheel cleaner, a brush, and even a power washer.

What other products or techniques can I use to attempt to make the filthy barrel clean again? Thanks!

[Rsurfer]

Hey all,

I just purchased a set of second hand alloy rims for my car!

The front face is flawless and was easily cleaned with some wheel cleaner. The barrel of the rims are filthy and would barely budge with Sonax wheel cleaner, a brush, and even a power washer.

What other products or techniques can I use to attempt to make the filthy barrel clean again? Thanks!

Meg's Wheel Brightner. It is an acid, so use eye protection and gloves. You can try 1:5 and work up as needed.

[jamesboyy]

Another vote for acid another option is to have them refurbished

[SirFerret]

So I have worked on them with all my current cleaning products and tons of elbow grease, and this is all I can get them to. Will the acid cleaner remove the rest of this nasty 15 year baked grime?

http://i.imgur.com/3O6jVPw.jpg
The worst wheel

http://i.imgur.com/vNJTotM.jpg
The cleanest wheel

http://i.imgur.com/ebTjEOo.jpg
All four after my attempted cleaning.

[moosehead89]

Have you tried purple power?

[SirFerret]

Have you tried purple power?

I tried using an industrial degreaser (Oil Eater, full strength mix) as my first cleaning step, and that broke some of it up. I have not tried actual Purple Power, but it is just a degreaser as well. I cannot imagine it making a huge difference.

I do have some in the garage, so it's worth a shot :xyxthumbs:.

[wdmaccord]

Have you tried any tar removers? Almost looks like asphalt sealcoat.

[SirFerret]

Have you tried any tar removers? Almost looks like asphalt sealcoat.

I have not tried a tar remover.

The lighting makes it look black, but it is most certainly brown caked in brake dust and road grime.

I have a steamer, would that work at helping remove this?

[FUNX650]

Remember: It took 15 years for all of this layer-upon-layer
of build-up to happen.

So far...
You've done an excellent job of removing several layers with the products you have on hand. It's not going to be easy to remove the remaining layers. Keep up the good work.

IMHO: You need to steer clear of the "acids".
You sure don't want to screw around
with your health&safety...
let alone screw-up the wheels' outer faces!


Bob

[LSpec]

I had rims that looked like yours at the end the problem was the clear coat damaged, i only got the job done with paint remover.

Or you can try with gasoline the regular one.. And then degreaser. Worked on another set


Downloading................

[Tato]

I'd suggest IronX paste to get a bit more improvement on this, but I cannot assure you'll get them flawless again.

Thought about a 're-paint'? Don't know if it's a possibility.

Kind Regards.

[mark98xlt]

Meguiars dub wheel cleaner is cheaper then using iron x and just as effective!

[BobbyG]

Seriously, try kerosene or mineral spirits and scrub with a brass brush. If it's an asphalt product these should do the trick....:props:

[BillE]

Maybe give 'brake cleaner' a go?

Bill

[Mike Phillips]

I've owned a lot of aluminum wheels in my life, I like that I can "fix" them. Not as easy with chrome and painted rims.

Here's how I restored a set of 16.5 Slotted Mags.... used a product from Fitz called, Aluminum Pre-Clean.



Old School Aluminum Slotted Mag Wheels - Extreme Makeover (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/27892-old-school-aluminum-slotted-mag-wheels-extreme-makeover.html)



I recently picked up a set of 4 old school Aluminum Slotted Mag Wheels for my truck and today they're getting and extreme makeover...


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags001.jpg


These are in about the same shape as the wheel that Oley from Flitz and I restored in this thread...

Show Car Garage Video: How to clean and polish aluminum wheels by machine with Flitz Metal Polish (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/25403-show-car-garage-video-how-clean-polish-aluminum-wheels-machine-flitz-metal-polish.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags002.jpg



Oley from Flitz calls this "White Rust"
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags003.jpg


First up... wash with Flitz Aluminum Pre-Clean. In the link above there's a video where we used this product and the results were truly amazing...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags004.jpg


Next up will be putting the Wolfgang MetallWerk Aluminum Polishing System to the test...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags005.jpg


Lake Country Wool-Ball 3 inch & 5 inch Wool Polishing Balls
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags006.jpg


Nitrile Gloves to keep your hands clean and shielded from chemicals...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags007.jpg


Even though the backs and insides of the wheels are not seen I'm going do my best to clean them up a little bit...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags008.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags009.jpg


First up is washing and cleaning with the Pre-Clean... I'll be back in a few hours...


Here's the time stamp from the start of this thread...

08-14-2010, 11:13 AM


Here's the time stamp for the update to this thread with after pictures...

08-14-2010, 06:22 PM



Took a short lunch break and a second break to run over to Robert's "Impressions Detailing" to pick up my spare, which is the slotted mag Oley and I polished out with a 35" Bogger on it...

And here are the results after about 5 hours of work; first a reminder as to how the backs of the wheels looked before starting. You can see the Flitz Aluminum Pre-Clean soaking in and going to work.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags0071.jpg


Here's the back of the wheels now...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags0081.jpg


Fronts after polishing...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags0091.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags010.jpg


And cleaned up the insides too...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/EOSlottedMags011.jpg




Tons more info in the actual thread, the above is just the eye candy...


Old School Aluminum Slotted Mag Wheels - Extreme Makeover (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/27892-old-school-aluminum-slotted-mag-wheels-extreme-makeover.html)


:)