View Full Version : Dull Looking Polished Wheels
68 SuperRam
10-17-2012, 09:41 AM
Noticed that my polished aluminuim wheels - are not really that polished looking any more. Have always kept them clean and garaged. This happen to anyone else. Should I have been using some kind of polisher on them? Any way to get them back to that polished look again?
astroracer
10-17-2012, 11:30 AM
Keeping them clean isn't going to do the job, they need to be polished. If you don't have any aluminum wheel polish there is a ton of stuff out there. I have had real good success with Mother's Billet Polish, Blue Magic, White Diamond and Eagle 1. DO NOT use any of the wheel cleaners on them unless it says specifically for polished aluminum...
Mark
68 SuperRam
10-17-2012, 11:38 AM
That is what I thought. I have used Meguiar's4 Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner on them to get the dirt off - seemed to keep them clean - but will careful about using the right product. I will try the polish.
dipren443
10-17-2012, 01:52 PM
That is what I thought. I have used Meguiar's4 Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner on them to get the dirt off - seemed to keep them clean - but will careful about using the right product. I will try the polish.
What you are seeing is "rust" so to speak. Raw aluminum will react with the atmosphere and oxidize. This is what is referred to as Aluminum Oxide or Al2 O3. I used the rust example because iron/steel do the same thing except it is rust (Fe2 03 - Iron Oxide) in the traditional sense. Keeping them polished will help prevent this. Long term, they can be clear powdercoated if you want a maintenance free solution.
polished wheels are a pain in the butt. they hate water...even being washed. I'm glad I don't own a set anymore. but when I did, a true wheel guru told me that when washing your car your polished wheels should be the last thing you wash and the first thing you dry. and that this would help preserve the shine on a non dd car. he was right. I only polished my tt2's once per year.
LS1-IROC
10-18-2012, 02:50 AM
Mother's Billet is the best I've used.
hifi875
10-18-2012, 06:43 AM
get a scotchbrite pad and brush them. they will look better and require alot less maintnence. Best thing i ever did, was get rid of the bling!! Get tons more compliments also. Just my .02
Bigblue73
10-18-2012, 07:16 AM
get a scotchbrite pad and brush them. they will look better and require alot less maintnence. Best thing i ever did, was get rid of the bling!! Get tons more compliments also. Just my .02
Nice looking car! Who's wheels?
hifi875
10-18-2012, 01:26 PM
budnik diamond lites i bought from dse. the hoops were originally painted grey. they were on a project car for dale jr. and either didn't come out to their liking or didn't fit. anyway, I polished the front hoops because i still thought i had to have a little bling, but after seeing the light i got the scotchbrite pad out and went to work. the inner hoops are still painted, and that makes them real easy to clean.
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