Most aggressive wheel cleaner for painted alloy wheels? (Or DIY formula?)

[97K15004WD]

Looks like I'm trying these two next:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/p-s-wire-wheel-cleaner.332844/#post-5545081

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...oy-wheels-or-diy-formula.333058/#post-5550529

https://kleanstrip.com/cleaning-and-paint-prep/concrete-metal-prep/

Both are Phosphoric Acid, so giving these a try next

 

[97K15004WD]

Duplicate post

 

[The Critic]

I used this today and am somewhat disappointed with the results. I bought two bottles and followed the directions exactly. While there was a "red" runoff, the wheels still look very stained with almost no change.

I applied the spray on cool, dry, clean wheels (not in the sun). The spray went on kinda green colored. I waited the five minutes per the instructions, and agitated the surfaces with a brush.

I used a water hose to rinse off the chemicals, under normal household pressure. The runoff was "red" but it seems like this is a very mild cleaner made for wheels without severe buildup or staining.

Thoughts?

What type of finish do these wheels have? Do you have any pictures?

If wheels have been stained with brake dust for too long, it can sometimes be irreversible.

 

[97K15004WD]

What type of finish do these wheels have? Do you have any pictures?

If wheels have been stained with brake dust for too long, it can sometimes be irreversible.

No pictures, but I'll get some. I hope it's not irreversible. I guess worst case I take them off, bead blast them, 2K clear and start over.

I sure hope not though. Lot's of work I'd prefer not to do if at all possible.

 

[97K15004WD]

 

[The Critic]

That looks like staining. The acid at full strength may have some impact but I would not expect miracles.

 

[97K15004WD]

Does this make sense to try?

 

[johnnydc]

This might sound goofy, But I used a bottle brush on my drill with light polishing compound to get the really stuck on brake dust/ rust off my painted wheels and it worked great. You have to rinse right away though.

 

[Nukeman7]

Try this acid based cleaner by Armor All. It is readily available from Amazon and sometimes at WalMart.

 

[someonesomewhere]

Try this acid based cleaner by Armor All. It is readily available from Amazon and sometimes at WalMart.

View attachment 172702

This cleaner (shown in quoted post above) is currently $5.47 a bottle at Amazon, and this stuff works pretty well, if anybody is looking.

Eagle1 All Wheel & Tire is currently B1G1 at Advance Auto at $9 a bottle (so 2 for $9), and there's a 15% promo running currently. I used a $5 speed perks bonus on top of that, and got 2 bottles for $4.19 after tax. Used to be 1 of my favorites way back when.

 

[Gus_Mahn]

Though off label use, Purple Power Aluminum Brightner works great to clean coated wheels if used with caution on cool wheels out of the sun. Spray, scrub , rinse well before it drys.