Wheel Care on '16

Bowtiejohn · November 17, 2015

Just purchased a new '16 Silverado and would like recommendations as to proper cleaning, sealing, waxing of the Chrome wheels. (Any specific products would be helpful). Wan't to make sure I'm doing everything possible to keep them looking new and to protect them. I had a bad experience with my previous ride that had Chrome "PVD" wheels and had experienced some peeling after taking it thru a carwash. Thanks for the help!!!

newdude · November 17, 2015

For a good cleaning use a neutral product (nothing acidic or caustic). As far as GM goes:

Chemical staining in most cases results from acid based cleaners (refer to Figure 1 for an example). These stains are frequently milky, black, or greenish in appearance. They result from using cleaning solutions that contain acids on chrome wheels. Soap and water is usually sufficient to clean wheels.

If the customer insists on using a wheel cleaner they should only use one that specifically states that it is safe for chromed wheels and does not contain anything in the following list. (Dealers should also survey any products they use during prep or normal cleaning of stock units for these chemicals.)

Ammonium Bifluoride (fluoride source for dissolution of chrome)

Hydrofluoric Acid (directly dissolves chrome)

Hydrochloric Acid (directly dissolves chrome)

Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonic Acid

Sulfamic Acid

Phosphoric Acid

Hydroxyacetic Acid

Notice: Many wheel cleaner instructions advise to take care to avoid contact with painted surfaces. Most customers think of painted surfaces as the fenders, quarter panels and other exterior sheet metal. Many vehicles have painted brake calipers. Acidic wheel cleaners may craze, crack, or discolor the paint on the brake calipers. Damage from wheel cleaners is not covered under the vehicle new car warranty. Soap and water applied with a soft brush is usually all that is required to clean the calipers.

Whenever any wheel cleaner is used, it must be THOROUGHLY rinsed off of the wheel with clean, clear water. Special care must be taken to rinse under the hub cap, balance weights, wheel nuts, lug nut caps, between the wheel cladding and off the back side of the wheel. Wheels returned to the Warranty Parts Center (WPC) that exhibit damage from wheel cleaners most often have the damage around and under the wheel weight where the cleaner was incompletely flushed away.

Notice: Do not use cleaning solutions that contain hydrofluoric, oxalic and most other acids on chrome wheels (or any wheels).

If the customer is unsure of the chemical make-up of a particular wheel cleaner, it should be avoided.

For wheels showing signs of milky staining from acidic cleaners, refer to Customer Assistance and Instructions below.

After washing, I'd go for Collinite 850 and then a top coat of Collinite 845.

AdamsPolishes · November 18, 2015

Our Car Shampoo is pH neutral and would be safe for your chrome wheels. If the wheels get heavily contaminated with brake dust and dirt and you have trouble getting the dirt out of hard to reach corners of spokes and so on, then I recommend our Deep Wheel Cleaner. With the wheels and brakes cool to the touch and dry, you would spray the Deep Wheel Cleaner onto the wheel face and inside the barrel of the wheel too. After a minute or two, it will start to change to a purple color as it begins to break down the dirt and other particles on the wheel. You can then scrub the wheel face with something like our short handle wheel brush that has very soft nylon bristles that will not scratch the surface, and then the inside of the spokes and barrel with a Wheel Woolie or Turbo Stick. Then rinse the wheel off thoroughly to get all traces of the Deep Wheel Cleaner out of cracks, lug nut holes, barrel, rotor and caliper, and rinse out the wheel brushes after each wheel as well.

Next I would dry the wheel off with a microfiber drying towel or an air source - I use the Master Blaster SideKick. Once the wheels are dry, I like to use our Liquid Paint Sealant to protect them. I have used it on chrome, powdercoated, painted, and polished clear coat wheels with zero issues, but I would not recommend it on a bare polished billet aluminum wheel without a clear coat, or on matte or satin wheels because it would add unwanted shine to those two finishes. The Liquid Paint Sealant is a synthetic sealant, and it is the most durable product that we offer. On painted surfaces of the car, we typically see 4-6+ months of protection and water beading on the paint with one application. On a wheel that will be subject to higher temperatures and more harsh brake dust and dirt, you may see 3-4 months of protection on the wheels, and it will make them easier to clean off with our Car Shampoo with future washes. Adam's Car Shampoo will not strip any wax or sealant you may already have on the car or wheels.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I would be happy to help out!

Bowtiejohn · November 19, 2015

Our Car Shampoo is pH neutral and would be safe for your chrome wheels. If the wheels get heavily contaminated with brake dust and dirt and you have trouble getting the dirt out of hard to reach corners of spokes and so on, then I recommend our Deep Wheel Cleaner. With the wheels and brakes cool to the touch and dry, you would spray the Deep Wheel Cleaner onto the wheel face and inside the barrel of the wheel too. After a minute or two, it will start to change to a purple color as it begins to break down the dirt and other particles on the wheel. You can then scrub the wheel face with something like our short handle wheel brush that has very soft nylon bristles that will not scratch the surface, and then the inside of the spokes and barrel with a Wheel Woolie or Turbo Stick. Then rinse the wheel off thoroughly to get all traces of the Deep Wheel Cleaner out of cracks, lug nut holes, barrel, rotor and caliper, and rinse out the wheel brushes after each wheel as well.

Next I would dry the wheel off with a microfiber drying towel or an air source - I use the Master Blaster SideKick. Once the wheels are dry, I like to use our Liquid Paint Sealant to protect them. I have used it on chrome, powdercoated, painted, and polished clear coat wheels with zero issues, but I would not recommend it on a bare polished billet aluminum wheel without a clear coat, or on matte or satin wheels because it would add unwanted shine to those two finishes. The Liquid Paint Sealant is a synthetic sealant, and it is the most durable product that we offer. On painted surfaces of the car, we typically see 4-6+ months of protection and water beading on the paint with one application. On a wheel that will be subject to higher temperatures and more harsh brake dust and dirt, you may see 3-4 months of protection on the wheels, and it will make them easier to clean off with our Car Shampoo with future washes. Adam's Car Shampoo will not strip any wax or sealant you may already have on the car or wheels.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I would be happy to help out!

What would be the process for applying the Liquid paint sealant to the wheels, does it have to dry before removal? Does it have to be buffed off? A simple wipe off?

Thanks

AdamsPolishes · November 19, 2015

I apply it with a microfiber applicator pad in a thin even layer, just a little bit of product on the pad will spread a long way. It will haze up in about a minute or less, and then you would wipe it off with a clean premium microfiber towel. If I use a towel on wheels, I make sure that it immediately gets thrown into the wash pile afterward, because even if I had the wheel super clean to start, there is still a chance that I may have picked up some brake dust contaminants into the towel that I do not want touching any other part of the paint on my car or truck

Bowtiejohn · November 20, 2015

I apply it with a microfiber applicator pad in a thin even layer, just a little bit of product on the pad will spread a long way. It will haze up in about a minute or less, and then you would wipe it off with a clean premium microfiber towel. If I use a towel on wheels, I make sure that it immediately gets thrown into the wash pile afterward, because even if I had the wheel super clean to start, there is still a chance that I may have picked up some brake dust contaminants into the towel that I do not want touching any other part of the paint on my car or truck

Thanks, looking forward to cleaning up my ride!

karlmg · December 4, 2015

Sonax full effect is a good wheel cleaner also. You can gently brush your rims to remove the stubborn dirt and brake dust.

Skeeter McSkeet · December 8, 2015

Adams polishes have a ton of how to videos on their site as well for many products. I keep the quick detailer and one of their cloths in the truck at all times lol. Can't go wrong with them bud!

-Skeet