Suggestions on Wheel Cleaner

J

JSFM35X

Active member
Its time to order some more wheel cleaner. Before i just re order the same one i have been using though i would ask for feedback.



I want the strongest wheel cleaner than will not damage clear coated rims. I have been using P21S Gel on my wheels for a few years. The one that comes in the gold box.



It does a great job but it is kind of expensive. I have no complaints on how it works and how is makes the rims POP. Just wondering if there is a consensus on a better product or a laess expensive product that is just as strong and SAFE?



Thanks,



Jeff
 
I like the P21S gel, too, but it is a bit pricey. Lately, I've been cleaning just about everything with Hi-Temp's Prep Wash. It works well on pretty much everything I've used it on. It's nasty enough to clean some pretty rough wheels, too. Prep Wash is quite a bit stronger than P21S wheel gel, too.
 
Meguiar's Wheel Brightener is safe on clearcoated wheels. I've been using it for a couple years with no problems. I have a bottle of P21S too, but that only gets used for aftermarket or non-clearcoated wheels
 
Chemical Guy's Sticky Citrus Wheel Cleaner. Dilute it 3:1. Strong enough to cut through most grime, and I use it on high-end rims without a problem so far. Very economical. I put it in a lawn & garden sprayer myself.
 
diabolus said:
Meguiar's Wheel Brightener is safe on clearcoated wheels.
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yeah, but how often would you need to use it? if you apply some protection to the wheels and then use WB, it would remove it. as D&D Auto Detail mentioned, there on after soapy water should be ample enough to maintain them...
 
JSFM35X said:
...I want the strongest wheel cleaner than will not damage clear coated rims...
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That would be Megs Wheel Brightener.



D&D Auto Detail said:
No reason you should need anything stronger than soap and water to maintain your own wheels.
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I wash wheels with ONR weekly along with the rest of the car, and it does the job, but when I take the wheels off for the season (I run separate winter & summer wheels) I do the whole wheel front & back with Wheel Brightener, then I apply OPS to the wheels & dress the tires. I'm not going to maintain the back side of the rims as well as the front while they're on the car.



That's for my road cars, the race car uses Hawk Blue pads and nothing but Wheel Brightener is going to take that dust off.
 
SuperBee364 said:
I like the P21S gel, too, but it is a bit pricey. Lately, I've been cleaning just about everything with Hi-Temp's Prep Wash. It works well on pretty much everything I've used it on. It's nasty enough to clean some pretty rough wheels, too. Prep Wash is quite a bit stronger than P21S wheel gel, too.
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Is it safe on clear coated wheels?
 
D&D Auto Detail said:
No reason you should need anything stronger than soap and water to maintain your own wheels.
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Normally I would agree, but bc of all the rain i did not get to wash the car for 3 weeks and the wheels weere dirty. I either use a wheel cleaner, or I have to work harder than i care to.
 
JSFM35X said:
Is it safe on clear coated wheels?
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Yup, it is. And it's really addicting stuff, once you get passed the smell. It's one of the strongest cleaners (that isn't acid based) I've used. It's also cheap enough that if you buy a bottle and don't like it (doubtful), you're not out much.



Silicone Remover



I don't know why the link and page title says "silicone remover", the name of the Product is "Prep Wash"



Mix it one to one, and it is strong stuff. Use it straight, and I'd put it up against any non-acid wheel cleaner out there.
 
JSFM35X said:
Normally I would agree, but bc of all the rain i did not get to wash the car for 3 weeks and the wheels weere dirty. I either use a wheel cleaner, or I have to work harder than i care to.
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Are you applying a coat of sealant to them? What kind of car is it?
 
D&D Auto Detail said:
Are you applying a coat of sealant to them? What kind of car is it?
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its an 08 M35X. Brake dust is not horrible like on my past BMW's but I like my wheels to pop. I have tried rejex and upgp and to tell you the truth I still need to adjitate teh dirt so sealents for wheels are not worth the time of application. Am I missing something?



Thanks for all the replies. i apprecuiate them. The P21S Gold Gel is something I am used to and will probably continue with. I have found great products soliciting the opinion of this board. YOU GUYS ARE ALL AWESOME.



AND I APPRECIATE YOU ADVISE!



jEFF
 
Sealants make the wheels pop but I haven't found them effective at shedding brake dust so I can't justify the time it takes to apply them. And if you use any moderately strong wheel cleaner it will strip it right off. I like Surf City Grime Destroyer cut 1:1 as a cheaper alternative to P21s gel. You may even be able to cut it more since it sounds like you have low dust pads. Pep Boys around here carry it and it's $12 for 24oz. After two weeks my BMW wheels are black with brake dust so I like something that actually starts melting the brake dust when you spray it on. Seems to be pretty mild, it's safe for car paint, and no nasty fumes like Eagle A2Z or Megs WB.
 
Dunbar42 said:
Sealants make the wheels pop but I haven't found them effective at shedding brake dust so I can't justify the time it takes to apply them. .
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This has been my feeling as well...until I applied FK1 1000p to the wheels. The wheels looks great, they stay clean a bit longer and wash up with ease. I've generally been anti-wheel wax for the same reason as you, Dunbar: I use wheel cleaner at every wash session. I'm using Griot's most of the time and that one is gentle. The FK1 product is holding up well as the Griot's is mild and an excellent cleaner. Even if I have to re-apply the sealant every 10 wash cycles, I "think" it's worth it. Maybe I'll fell different once I gain more experience.
 
JSFM35X said:
Just wondering if there is a consensus on a better product or a laess expensive product that is just as strong and SAFE?
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Griot's product is virtually identical to the P21s regular at a fraction of the price.
 
tom p. said:
This has been my feeling as well...until I applied FK1 1000p to the wheels.
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I've tried it on my BMW, looked great but it didn't make brake dust any easier to remove. Only thing that does that is a cleaner strong enough to strip an LSP.
 
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