[claycourter01]

Wheel Cleaning Questions:

I have been using Poor Boy's Wheel Sealant, which I think is a great product.

To clean and prep the wheels I have also been using the PB Spray & Rinse, which is a very effective cleaner, but recently I read that because it is acid-based it may be too strong for maintenance. So my question is, if I am using this for maintenance cleaning, is it stripping the sealant? If I dilute it can it be used for maintenance or should I only use this when I want to remove all the sealant?

I know the non-acid products like P21S are more gentle but I purchased a lot of Spray and Rinse on the assumption that I would be using it for maintenance cleaning.

thanks!

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by claycourter01

Wheel Cleaning Questions:

I have been using Poor Boy's Wheel Sealant, which I think is a great product.

To clean and prep the wheels I have also been using the PB Spray & Rinse, which is a very effective cleaner, but recently I read that because it is acid-based it may be too strong for maintenance. So my question is, if I am using this for maintenance cleaning, is it stripping the sealant? If I dilute it can it be used for maintenance or should I only use this when I want to remove all the sealant?

I know the non-acid products like P21S are more gentle but I purchased a lot of Spray and Rinse on the assumption that I would be using it for maintenance cleaning.

thanks!

if its acid based, I bet you it is stripping your sealant.

just clean and seal your wheels. After that, if you clean your wheels often enough mild car wash soap will be enough to keep your wheels squeaky clean.

I did not use any wheel cleaner on my CSL reps in almost 2 years but they were very very clean, you just have to keep up on it.

[kei169]

yeah! i guess ANY cleaner will remove some of your wheel sealant. But with this thing, i guess it will remove most of the wheel sealant.

If i were you, i would buy a P21S, a very very good wheel cleaner, for regular maintenence. And leave that acid cleaner for removing super dirty rims.

my own experience, after i have applied a coat of wheel sealant, (i use Jet seal 109), i find it is very easy to clean. Simply just rinse the rims off with high pressure water, and it looks clean again. I don't even brother to take out my P21S.
Provided, i apply jet seal every 5-6 weeks.

just my 20cents....
Hope it helps

[06-325]

magic eraser is awesome! try it if you haven't. All you need is water (don't even need soap) and an eraser and the dirt comes off right away with minimal effort. I have 5 spoke wheel though. It might be harder to clean wheels with many spokes.

[zaxjax]

Amazing Roll-Off, Surf City Road Grime Destroyer, and P21S Total Auto Wash really work on dirty, stubborn grime on wheels.

[claycourter01]

thanks guys--I appreciate the input.

[SpecC]

i'd say just use a stronger concentration of car shampoo that won't strip sealant for regular washes

p21s is not cost effective for that matter at sll

zaxjax's suggestions are also very good imo

[UncleWede]

Once you have PB sealant on there, just use Simple Green to clean both rims and tires, then re-dress the tires. Costs all of about $5 for a jug of Simple Green. . .

[zaxjax]

If you use Simple Green make sure you dilute it 5:1. Simple Green can do damage, don't ask me how I know it's a long story.

[brocken]

I don't use any kind of wheel cleaner, just water and a mf towel on my wheels and all the nasty stuff comes right off. Even with the grodie break dust our cars are prone to.
No need to use a harsh wheel cleaner.
If you still want to use a cleaner I say try S100(you get it at harley dealers). It's a great spray on, hose off cleaner and it's safe for paint and all sorts of surfaces. Usually i have to wipe a little still but it's excellent at lifting dirt from surfaces.

[claycourter01]

thanks for all the input; it's amazing how many different products there are for wheel cleaning, and different theories. I guess the bottom line is that acidic products like PB Spray and Rinse are good for an occasional thorough cleaning and sealant removal, but that non-acidic products are better for maintenance cleaning.

It also seems to me that P21S is way overpriced, though a good product.

A related question, re. tire dressing: I was wondering if you always try to clean and re-use tire dressing applicators, or count them as disposable? With a water-based tire dressing, e.g. Zaino, it seems possible to clean the applicator after use, but with any gel or silicone based dressing, trying to rinse and clean the applicator seems to become a bigger project than applying the dressing, so I'm thinking of just using foam pads and tossing after each application. Your approach?

thanks!

[twinturboa51]

i used to buy cheapo sponges from auto zone and cut them up into smaller pieces to use for tire dressing. i got them for $1.50, theyre the basic yellow ones. although if you use the stoner tire dressing you dont have to use anything to spread it. i have been using stoner for a while now and its great.

[claycourter01]

Originally Posted by twinturboa51

i used to buy cheapo sponges from auto zone and cut them up into smaller pieces to use for tire dressing. i got them for $1.50, theyre the basic yellow ones. although if you use the stoner tire dressing you dont have to use anything to spread it. i have been using stoner for a while now and its great.

thanks! I have used the Stoner spray also and found that it's a good product. I have read some reports about aerosols leading to browning on tires so I have been trying hand-applied products but the Stoner spray does seem good to me.

[BK]

Soap + E-Z Detail Brush = clean wheels. Do your wheels and wheel wells before washing the rest of the car. Dump the bucket, then start with fresh buckets to wash the rest of your car.

I just got the E-Z Detail Brush about a month or so ago, and damn if I shouldn't have gotten it sooner. It's a little pricey for what it is, but it makes cleaning the wheels so much easier.

Lots of places sell it, but I liked to DI because they're a sponsor here. I'm sure some of the other sponsors here also sell it.

[1N54E92]

P21s is great . buy in volume. I have the 5 liter jug.

[g9sBMW]

Originally Posted by 06-325

magic eraser is awesome! try it if you haven't. All you need is water (don't even need soap) and an eraser and the dirt comes off right away with minimal effort. I have 5 spoke wheel though. It might be harder to clean wheels with many spokes.

+1

[claycourter01]

Originally Posted by BK

Soap + E-Z Detail Brush = clean wheels. Do your wheels and wheel wells before washing the rest of the car. Dump the bucket, then start with fresh buckets to wash the rest of your car.

I just got the E-Z Detail Brush about a month or so ago, and damn if I shouldn't have gotten it sooner. It's a little pricey for what it is, but it makes cleaning the wheels so much easier.

Lots of places sell it, but I liked to DI because they're a sponsor here. I'm sure some of the other sponsors here also sell it.

absolutely right on that one. I got an E-Z Detail brush recently and it is a great product. Have tried several wheel brushes and this is the first one that I have found also easily cleans behind the wheel spokes (in a 325i), which reduces the buildup of brake dust.

Strange thing about many other wheel brushes is that they have metal tips, which easily scratch the wheel. Some of them will have a plastic cover on the end, which usually gets caught in the wheel and then scratches it. Anyway E-Z Detail is the best.

[UncleWede]

If you use the 303, there isn't any silicone or waxes. I think most of the browning of tires actually comes from UV damage, not the aerosol components, and 303 protects from UV.

When I retire a MF towel because it gets too dirty, it becomes my 303/tire towel.

[BMW1986]

PS21's or Sticky Gel Citrus Wheel Cleaner?

[kei169]

my vote on p21s

Originally Posted by BMW1986

PS21's or Sticky Gel Citrus Wheel Cleaner?