Bright Wheels Less Work

[sickntwstdtoy]

http://www.carbrite.com/servlet/net.ebiz.velocity.ShowPagePublic?pg=static/E011M&lb=none

ONE OF MY TECHNICIANS BROUGHT ME A BOTTLE OF THIS WHEEL CLEANER FOR MY 82'S. THEY HAVE BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE SINCE 89 AND THEY HAD BRAKE DUSTON THEM THAT WHOLE TIME WHICH ATE INTO THE ALUM. I SPRAYED THIS STUFF ON FULL STRENGTH, 30 SECONDS LATER SPRAYED OFF WITH WATER AND THE WHEELS LOOK BRAND NEW. NOT POLISHED BUT LIKE BRAND NEW ALUMINUM. NO ELBOW GREASE JUST A SHOT OF ACID AND A SHOT OF WATER, ALSO CLEANED THE BRAKE CALIPER TO LIKE NEW BY ACCIDENT, PICS TO FOLLOW.

[Andrew]

Also called, Automotive paint remover or Brake Fluid.

[SilverMk2]

No this stuff is different and you are not supposed to use it on aluminum wheels. It actually etches the metal. This stuff is a great chrome wheel cleaner.

[sickntwstdtoy]

i used it for my alum wheels and the etching action actually got the brake dust out of the pores and stuff. i only left it on a short time and it worked well. and yes it cleans chrome plating very well i cleaned the edelbrock air cleaner i had on my mud truck and it removed the rust and restored the shine.

[dogstar]

it destroys aluminum wheels... generally keeps etching even after its rinsed away, and can cause microscopic cracks which eventually turn into fatigue cracks, which eventually break completely.

an aluminum wheel cleaner and a little scrubbing is MUCH better in the long run.

[CJSREDPRA]

AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Just read the 1st few lines of the description.....

"This is a acid based wheel cleaner".... Well doh... Product name: "E011M Wheel Acid".

Great stuff if you want to damage your aluminum wheels. And NOWHERE in the description does it say it's clearcoat safe. Since it's a ACID, it probably isn't safe....

Uh.... No....... Stay away from this stuff & don't use it on your stock wheels.

[RedP85]

'82 did not have clearcoat, IIRC.

But I agree, for long term, this is not the product to use.
To restore a real bad wheel, fine, but then the regular cleaning with the proper stuff.

[sickntwstdtoy]

redp85 you are correct my wheels are not clear coated, also i am not using it on a regular basis, i will be using a standard off the shelf cleaner but my wheels were beyond normal methods when i got them.

[batmobile]

`1

[modestmouse]

Aluminum has + positive Ions, and the acid has - negative ions, the acid will take those positive ions away, and thus ruining the strength of the wheels. You should apply some type of base to the wheels to prevent the acid from eating the metal even further. This will fix the wheel strength issues temporarily, and still keep the wheels looking good.

I would leave the basic material on the wheels for a while. probably like a day or two just to make sure.

If you want to clean the wheels you should use sand paper, or some of those wheel polishers.

Come on man! Is this from an experience? You think a spray on cleaner can "ruin the strength of the wheels"?

[dogstar]

Come on man! Is this from an experience? You think a spray on cleaner can "ruin the strength of the wheels"?


like ive already said

it destroys aluminum wheels... generally keeps etching even after its rinsed away, and can cause microscopic cracks which eventually turn into fatigue cracks, which eventually break completely.

ask any one in the aircraft industry, generally any acids are kept under lock and key, and not allowed anywhere near the aircraft.
hell, theyre usually only used in sealed enclosures so the mist wont even get on the aluminum.

[Funkycheeze]

the acid causes micropores to form on the surface of the metal

once the acid is washed away, the pores remain, and become stress concentrators - fatigue cracking then starts at the base of the pores

bad stuff, that is

[Supra GTR]

Anything that cleans in 30 seconds... :gtfoslap:

Wonder what happens when the wheel flings the residue onto the sides of the car? :ugly_08:

[MooSeviSion1]

sand blasting!

[modestmouse]

Yeah, sand or beadblasting works A ok for me. I redid my the compressor housing on a turbo of mine and it looked like a fresh casting.

[Greg G]

Note to self: do not follow behind Sick during the Quakertown cruise :D

[Greg G]

PS - Im never a fan of cleaning short cuts

[sickntwstdtoy]

dont worry greg i wont make the cruise anyhow. sorry for posting this. it worked for me and no probs or paint damage as of yet. only paint damage is from melted rubber lol. i was just merely writing what worked for me.

[lechner]

No need to apologize for a post Sick. People learn from it, that's the whole point of the forum. Somebody uses that stuff on an aluminum wheel everyday. At least a few people read this and can better evaluate whether they want to take that shortcut.