How to remove 58k worth of dirt?!?

[.LiamC.]

Was planning on removing my front wheels today and cleaning the inside of them and seal with Poorboys, but I then came across an problem. I don't think they've ever been cleaned in the 58,000 miles the car has done. They were seriously awful, nothing I've got would touch the dirt that's on there.

What would people recommend for this? I tried using some normal shampoo (Zaino) and some Autoglym Wheel Cleaner, which worked reasonably well on the rear's when I did them last September.

Here is what I'm faced with:

Liam

 

[JamesBryan]

A decent wheel cleaner, maybe a strong mix of degreaser, tar remover (autosmart tardis), ironX, clay, polish.

If that doesn't clean them, then you're fucked lol

 

[Clart]

I'd scrape as much of the crap off and invest in some iron x / bilberry wheel cleaner.

 

[S1MON]

Decent steam cleaner/power washer should piss it off?

 

[.LiamC.]

Yeah I was thinking something such as IronX was probably my best bet, cheers lads

 

[JamesBryan]

Decent steam cleaner/power washer should piss it off?

If he has access to a steam cleaner, then yes that would help loosen a fair bit of it.

 

[.LiamC.]

Which I don't I'm afraid lol

 

[JamesBryan]

Which I don't I'm afraid lol

Elbow grease then mate :dapprove:

 

[.LiamC.]

Yep, doesn't matter though, keeps me busy for a few hours lol. I see there is a paste version of Iron X? Would you use the normal stuff to start with, then the more difficult patches with the paste?

 

[S1MON]

take them all off and take them down to a local garage pressure washer? That should get alot of it off.

 

[JamesBryan]

Yep, doesn't matter though, keeps me busy for a few hours lol. I see there is a paste version of Iron X? Would you use the normal stuff to start with, then the more difficult patches with the paste?

I'd stick to the normal ironX spray mate.

 

[Yellow Dave]

search for my thread on using a decent wheel sealant. dont p!ss about with cheap jack half @ss'd wheel sealants that wouldnt provide as much protection as colli 476s or fk1000 hybrid wax

nano quartz wheel sealants or leave them as they are.

do it once do it properly. all purpose cleaner, maybe a tar remover. definitely an iron remover. then look into cleansing for proper sealant

 

[.LiamC.]

I'd stick to the normal ironX spray mate.

Ok mate, cheers

search for my thread on using a decent wheel sealant. dont p!ss about with cheap jack half @ss'd wheel sealants that wouldnt provide as much protection as colli 476s or fk1000 hybrid wax

nano quartz wheel sealants or leave them as they are.

do it once do it properly. all purpose cleaner, maybe a tar remover. definitely an iron remover. then look into cleansing for proper sealant

Ok cheers, I will have a search for your thread! I've never been into 'detailing' as such, but always cleaned all my cars weekly. Starting to get a bug for it a little now, so over the coming months I'll be investing in better products

 

[Gildstar]

bilberry works dreams!

 

[.LiamC.]

I'm going to order some Iron X and Bilberry this week

 

[robgooch]

Im selling litres of Esumpa Revolution wheel cleaner for £9 posted. It's strong stuff!

 

[Gally]

Billberry? That's a funny old product that.

 

[Gally]

Oh and Bilberry isn't the product for that type of dirt.

 

[Gildstar]

Billberry? That's a funny old product that.

ValetPro Bilberry Wheel cleaner, that better for you sir?

Oh and Bilberry isn't the product for that type of dirt.

Really? I tend to use it for any type of dirt that's on my turbines after cleaning them with a pressure washer.

 

[.LiamC.]

Oh and Bilberry isn't the product for that type of dirt.

What would you recommend gally?

 

[alex-avfc]

I'd be getting some auto glym engine and machine cleaner or some Autosmart g101 on those (degreasers)

 

[Carlv8415]

I used Wonder Wheels. Had a set of team dynamics that hadn't been cleaned for about 10 years. Used a whole 1 litre bottle. Good stuff tho

 

[.LiamC.]

Isn't that the stuff that is going cheap in Tesco at the moment? Think I saw a thread on here this morning about that stuff, very similar to Iron X from what I read? Might have to walk over to Tesco in the morning

 

[Yellow Dave]

acidic isnt it?

and 1L to clean even the worst of wheels

oh well, live and learn

 

[Carlv8415]

Got it free and it worked! What's the problem...

 

[Yellow Dave]

it can, damage the alloy and the finish, it can

and having to use 1L of it its obviously not working that well

as said, see my thread on sealing wheels properly

 

[Gally]

Went from Silver to Chromoflair (read dull Silver)

 

[bright]

it can, damage the alloy and the finish, it can

and having to use 1L of it its obviously not working that well

as said, see my thread on sealing wheels properly

For occasional use in circumstances like this, an acidic wheel cleaner isn't going to annihilate the finish on the wheels is it?

 

[Gally]

ValetPro Bilberry Wheel cleaner, that better for you sir?



Really? I tend to use it for any type of dirt that's on my turbines after cleaning them with a pressure washer.

Lols. No just it's a very cheap product mate.

 

[Carlv8415]

Lols. No just it's a very cheap product mate.

So cheap it was free Nothing else would work! Baked on brake dust so I used it then polished and waxed them

 

[wisey02]

Yeah I would get some wonder wheels. Like what's been said using it every 6 months or so won't be bad for the wheels. Just make sure you wash the wheels again after using it and you will be fine.

 

[alex-avfc]

Nothing wrong with cheap products if they work well.

 

[robgooch]

Scouring pads are cheap and will get a car clean, but will damage everything it touches in the meantime. Just like acidic wheel cleaner.

 

[Carlv8415]

Scouring pads are cheap and will get a car clean, but will damage everything it touches in the meantime. Just like acidic wheel cleaner.

It's not the product that's the problem, it's how often you decide to use it. Using acid wheel cleaner every week will do damage, yet using them once to get all the worse dirt and brake dust of will not. If it does then that's some s**t lacquer they been using.

 

[Gally]

Nothing wrong with cheap products if they work well.

It's more the fact it's a really cheap product that is charged a lot for.

 

[Dave H]

Try some 'ally brite' from a local truck wash. Usually its hydrofluoric acid or phosphoric acid and will need to be diluted 3:1. It will probably shift nearly all of that in one go. If you do be very very careful with it (rubber gloves and googles TBH) and rinse it off and away from everything. It's strong stuff, so best just use it once. I've used diluted phos acid a couple of times over the years on my 182 wheels and there's not been any damage, but i'd never use it regularly.

 

[Yellow Dave]

working on the car at the weekend, hands got covered in grease. Swarfega wasn't getting it off after a couple of washes so just used bleach

 

[aucky]

Butter was too hard from being the fridge so I sparked up the oxy-acetylene, etc

 

[Chapppers11]

It's more the fact it's a really cheap product that is charged a lot for.

Unless you pay £15 for 5L.

 

[LiamR172]

Isn't that the stuff that is going cheap in Tesco at the moment? Think I saw a thread on here this morning about that stuff, very similar to Iron X from what I read? Might have to walk over to Tesco in the morning

Yes.. 1.73 for a bottle of wonder wheels in tescos, or 9 quid in halfords!

Its not acidic i dont think.