cleaning and waxing 18" polished aluminum wheels

asburydan

Member

Oct 6, 2000

110

2

19

Calabash, NC

Sep 5, 2010

#1

• Sep 5, 2010

• #1

I bought a can of Meguiar's "Hot Rims Mag and Aluminum Polish with a photo of a polished wheel on the top. Got it home, fully read the back, and found the following: "Not recommentded for gold plating, anodized, painted or clear coated aluminum wheels." I don't think my wheels fall into those categories, but wanted to check with you before using on my wheels on my '09 GT. Thanks.

 

Wraith413

Member

Jul 1, 2009

418

0

16

Galveston

Sep 6, 2010

#2

• Sep 6, 2010

• #2

What wheels do you have on your car now? Most of the stock Ford rims are clear coated.

 

asburydan

Member

Oct 6, 2000

110

2

19

Calabash, NC

Sep 6, 2010

#3

• Sep 6, 2010

• #3

Wraith413 said:

What wheels do you have on your car now? Most of the stock Ford rims are clear coated.

Click to expand...

They are stock from factory and window sticker says 18" polished aluminum so I don't know if they are clear coat. Thanks.


Posted via Mobile Device

 

jmuva44

Founding Member

Nov 25, 2000

1,338

0

36

Richmond, VA

Sep 8, 2010

#4

• Sep 8, 2010

• #4

Soap
Water

 

W

Wind-Farmer

Member

Sep 2, 2008

268

1

18

Minnesota

Sep 8, 2010

#5

• Sep 8, 2010

• #5

Yep clear coated. Do not use any cleaner on your wheels. I have learned from having many sets of rims...every cleaner will do its tole on the wheel.

Warm water and soap only.

 

I

InTheWind07

New Member

Aug 25, 2010

26

0

0

New Bern, NC

Sep 8, 2010

#6

• Sep 8, 2010

• #6

poorboysworld.com

poorboysworld.com

And....done.

 

asburydan

Member

Oct 6, 2000

110

2

19

Calabash, NC

Sep 9, 2010

#7

• Sep 9, 2010

• #7

Call from Ford

I got a follow-up call from research folks at Ford to my question to Ford's customer care. They said they checked with the manufacturer, and the 18" polished aluminum wheels are clear coated.

 

Tony Quatermass

New Member

Oct 3, 2012

2

0

1

Oct 3, 2012

#8

• Oct 3, 2012

• #8

I also have the 18'" polished aluminum wheels on my 2012 GT Premium.

I bought this (http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g14324-hot-rimsreg-aluminum-wheel-cleaner/) which says,
"Hot Rims™ Aluminum Wheel Cleaner is the ultra-safe solution for cleaning uncoated aluminum. Guaranteed safe for uncoated and polished aluminum wheels as well as anodized and powder-coated wheel surfaces – it’s even safe on all brake components."

So, I guess I'm glad I haven't actually had a chance to use it yet.

If I should only use soap and water, what type of soap is OK?
I currently use Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner for the rest of the car. Is it also OK for clear coated wheels?

 

joe_momma

Member

Nov 29, 1999

115

7

19

Oct 5, 2012

#9

• Oct 5, 2012

• #9

Yes, that will work just fine for your wheels. Just do them last or use a seperate bucket/mitt/etc to wash them. Otherwise, all that junk that comes off (brake dust/etc) will end up on your car, which you don't want.

 

Svtpilot

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

944

59

59

Long Island, NY

Oct 7, 2012

#10

• Oct 7, 2012

• #10

On my stock rims soap and water works great.