Clean alloys

ofcork

Can anyone recommend something to clean where the spokes join the wheel on my avensis alloys,have used wheel cleaner with a green pad but impossible to get off.

Foxhole Norman

ofcork wrote: »

Can anyone recommend something to clean where the spokes join the wheel on my avensis alloys,have used wheel cleaner with a green pad but impossible to get off.

Do you mean embedded black dots, usually this is fallout which you'd need a fallout remover to remove, it could be little spots of tar too.

Mister Jingles

Iron X or Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel.

Curran

May even need IronX Paste, which would be a more concentrated option - but only needed if they are really destroyed with fallout.

ofcork

Pardon my ignorance but what is fallout?

Curran

The main one is hit particles from your brake pads & discs that embed in the surface of your alloys and bodywork.
Other sources would be if the car is parked near railway lines, near welding or cutting, etc.

ofcork

Thanks in all my years of driving never heard of fallout will try the iron x.

166man

Sorry to Hijack here lads but it's somewhat related.

To do a job on the wheels, especially the insides, what is the best procedure? I haven't seen them yet but can only assume they're fairly caked in tar/general dirt.

What would be the procedure to bring them back to a condition where I can seal them if that makes sense?


Thanks lads.

Foxhole Norman

166man wrote: »

Sorry to Hijack here lads but it's somewhat related.

To do a job on the wheels, especially the insides, what is the best procedure? I haven't seen them yet but can only assume they're fairly caked in tar/general dirt.

What would be the procedure to bring them back to a condition where I can seal them if that makes sense?


Thanks lads.

Wash them with regular wheel cleaner, fallout remover until you're left with tar, remove tar, Claybar, seal. That'd be my procedure anyway!

demanufactured

Just as an FYI
I bought a bottle of AutoGlym wheel cleaner - not great.
It only removes niormal brake dust buildup - any caked on brakedust will remain, even with using a wheel brush. , and the srayer itself is not very user friendly.

dar83

Most of the Autoglym stuff isn't that great to be honest. If you're usually only buying your supplies from Halfords or the likes, then go for Meguairs Hot Rims Wheel cleaner (purple looking bottle), it's much much better than anything else they have at removing day to day fallout.

The secret to keeping wheels well and easy to clean is to keep on top of the cleaning. I generally just snow foam the car and use the wheel woollies with the foam to surface clean them, then rinse and see if they need anything further. I'd use How Wheels on them every second or third wash to remove anything on them (low enough daily mileage for me thankfully).

nc6000

Curran wrote: »

The main one is hit particles from your brake pads & discs that embed in the surface of your alloys and bodywork.
Other sources would be if the car is parked near railway lines, near welding or cutting, etc.

Parking near a railway line can mess up your alloy wheels? :eek:

bazz26

I use Iron X and imo it really is best for the likes removing fallout from alloy wheels. Contains no acid so won't damage the lacquer either.

Curran

nc6000 wrote: »

Parking near a railway line can mess up your alloy wheels? :eek:

No, it wont mess up your alloys! Fallout can embed in your paintwork aslo, not just your alloys.

Curran wrote: »

....embed in the surface of your alloys and bodywork.
Other sources would be if the car is parked near railway lines, near welding or cutting, etc.

What I meant was that other source of fallout that can bond and contaminate your car (bodywork) would be from being parked near railway lines, near welding or cutting, other industrial.
This sort of contamination isnt visible to the eye (can be seen on wheels that havent been cared for, like little spots of tar that tar remover doesnt remove)...but it contributes to the overall demise of a cars appearance if its not cared for. More obvious on lighter colours, and the use of a fallout remover can really boost a cars appearance; little effort, much reward.
After a wash you could rub your fingers across the surface of the paintwork, if the paintwork is contaminated it will feel like a very fine sandpaper. Decontaminated paintwork will feel totally smooth.

Even a brand new car, can have fallout embedded. They sit in open car parks after production or after being delivered to the port, waiting to be ordered / collected.