HELP! I think I ruined my...
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Lithia Springs, GA
HELP! I think I ruined my...
Polished aluminum wheels!!! I had some Wesley's Bleche White tire cleaner laying around that I bought for my F250 4x4 (painted steel wheels) to clean the raised white letters. Stuff works great!! So a few weeks later (today) I go to clean my Expedition (polished aluminum wheels) raised white letter tires without reading the label. You can guess the rest. The label says "do not use on aluminum or magnesium wheels as permanent damage will result." Now they have this awful streaking/discoloration. Any ideas on what to do to restore the wheels??? Thanks in advance, Steve.
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Just remember that your wheels may be made of aluminum, but they're painted with a clear paint to prevent the aluminum from tarnishing over time. Just ensure that whatever polish that you use is formulated for clearcoated wheels. I've used Bleche-Wite for seven years on my 1999 Expy. There is some streaking, but not so bad that it's an issue for me, and I keep my truck very clean.
In the future, ensure that the wheels are cool before using any tire cleaner. Heat will intensify the streaking process.
In the future, ensure that the wheels are cool before using any tire cleaner. Heat will intensify the streaking process.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: All over Texas
Paul, he said he has polished aluminum wheels, so I'm presuming they're aftermarket. No amount of mag polish will help painted/clear coated aluminum wheels. I've been using the Bleche White for 20+ years with no problems on any of my vehicles' wheels.
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Contact the company. The answer will impact how you should address this. They might be able to offer you suggestions and recommended products to deal with this.
Last edited by PaulC; Jul 27, 2005 at 04:17 PM.
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Junior User
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Thanks, I guess I need to research that a little. Figured this was the best place to start. You guys are great!
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if they are not clearcoated, you're fine... I have Eagle rims on my Expi, i went all winter in salt and sand without washing them, and they were a wreck... In the Spring I took fine steel wool to them and got them all clean, then went to town with the mothers polish, and they were fine. If they ARE clearcoated, you're screwed...
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Rochester, NY
Don't use steel wool on aluminum.... it can impart the iron into the aluminum and cause staining via oxidation (AKA Rust)... use stainless wool.
Mothers will do the trick on the Bleche White deposits... it might take a bit of elbow grease... but it will do it. I did a mirror finish on the frame and rims of a crotch rocket I used to have... Mothers worked awesome. For real difficult tarnishing, use it with a small buffing wheel.
Mothers will do the trick on the Bleche White deposits... it might take a bit of elbow grease... but it will do it. I did a mirror finish on the frame and rims of a crotch rocket I used to have... Mothers worked awesome. For real difficult tarnishing, use it with a small buffing wheel.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: South Jersey
I had the same problem on my 98 F150, I used bleech white a few times and it destroyed the clear, it turned it very dull and no amount of polishing would bring it back even with a wheel. I had to use a marine solvent to carefully remove the old clear and then I buffed the wheels back to a bright finish using a dremel polish pad and flitz metal polish, I got them to look new again but man what a pain in the butt it was, never again.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Lithia Springs, GA
Update
Well after a couple of hours with Mothers Mag + Aluminum Polish and a Dremel with the tiny polishing wheels, the rims look 50% better. I think with a bigger polisher they can be fully restored. They were not clearcoated after all. Will be kicking myself for a while over all this unnecessary work I have caused myself.
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From: Rochester, NY
Call a local chrome shop to see how much it would be to have them dipped.
Also, if you really want to get all the tarnish off them, you can go through the re-polishing process:
Wet Sand with 1000 grit sand paper (for deeper pits/damage)
Wet sand with 2000 grit sand paper
Buff with jeweler's rouge and high speed buffing wheel.
Don't sand any areas that you don't think you can polish out with the wheel, or a die grinder with buffing cones.
Also, if you really want to get all the tarnish off them, you can go through the re-polishing process:
Wet Sand with 1000 grit sand paper (for deeper pits/damage)
Wet sand with 2000 grit sand paper
Buff with jeweler's rouge and high speed buffing wheel.
Don't sand any areas that you don't think you can polish out with the wheel, or a die grinder with buffing cones.