How to properly clean fuchs
 

Hi,

My fuchs are covered with some kind of haze/film. I don't t know what it is.
But how should I properly clean this without damaging the surface?
Unfortunately water and soap don't work...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1538935782.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1538935782.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1538935782.jpg

It looks like someone has used an alloy wheel cleaner on them, I have seem that milky staining before on a friend's car after he mistakenly used something quite acidic. I would give them a good clean with soapy water and once dry give them a good coating of Vaseline. The friend's wheels eventually lost that residue/marking.

Ian

It looks to me like someone used some sort of not very friendly spray wheel cleaner or tire dressing that may have etched the anodizing of the wheel. If that's the case, there's really not much you can do short of refinishing the wheel as it is imbedded into the metal.

I hope I'm wrong.

After reading some more I also believe this is the issue. alloy wheel cleaner leaves a milky-film behind, and that's what it is...
How long should the vaseline stay on the rim?

Had exactly the same issue. Mine looked EXACTLY like yours.

Porsche recommends using Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) in your glovebox manual.

Rub it on, then wipe it off.

Works great.

Harvey Wiedman's marching orders: nothing more than mild soap and water to clean Fuchs.

^+1 Al Weir agrees with the above - lukewarm water and mild soap, no detergents of any kind. Also recommended waxing after cleaning.

Vaseline will go a long way to improving the looks of your wheels. Mine were polished so the advice above (esp. waxing) is intended a preventative against the road grime and muck thrown up on the wheel.

You rub it in and it stays there.

The white oxidation of the black parts polishes away with a cutting compound.

Yes, that works on the black painted parts of the wheel. However, if you try to polish out the white on the bare metal, it'll polish through the anodization of the wheel, likely without removing the milky looking parts.

On my car, a detailer used some product that did much the same thing on a set of wheels with a year old Weidman RSR finish. That was six years ago and the marks are still plain to see, though it's not obvious to the casual observer. But it sure pisses me off every time I wash the car and see those marks.

By the way, if anyone is considering stripping the anodizing, go to a chromer and have them drop the wheels into their soaking tank for a few minutes. I have tried both sanding the anodizing off (holy cats!) and the chromer, and the chromer worked like a charm. Be sure to pull the wheels and check often, but the tank will strip that anodizing so cleanly you will find little need to prep before polish, mask, and semi-gloss black.

I'd give Ferex a shot on the outer edges.

Hello - check out the link below to some excellent wheel cleaning products. I would highly recommend the Sonax cleaner. My wheels were super dirty and it worked through the grime instantly.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/CARE/POR_CARE_CARWHL-detail.htm

What??????

Ferex is to remove iron deposits.
That's not going to work... may do damage.


Use VASELINE as Porsche recommends.

Here is a before an after vaseline treatment:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1539030908.jpg

You use it on Fuchs?

Ferrex is used to remove all sorts of stains and deposits on wheels. Vaseline is great for finishing, cleaning not so much.

How much vaseline do you leave on the wheel? Seems like a sticky dirt magnet to me.

I don't normally discuss religion in an online forum, but you might consider using "Honda Spray Cleaner & Polish". It is one of the best detailing products on the market. It is perfect for Fuchs because it works on anodized and painted surfaces, so no border issues.

http://a.co/d/2LtJK48

You can purchase it online or at nearly all Honda Motorcycle and Automotive Dealer parts counters. Pelican would do well to add this to their already amazing product offering.

It quickly cleans up a set of Fuchs and leaves a very slick, invisible layer that helps shed dust and provides some UV protection.


Porsche recommended Vaseline in the old days because this wasn't available yet...Fact.
;)


PS
To the OP, I agree with others, it looks like someone used one of the wheel "cleaners" that has a PH level that is outside the range of what anodizing can survive.

That's kind of the point. I like to use a soft cloth to apply quite a bit of Vaseline to the wheels, let them sit for a while then use another soft cloth to wipe off the excess. What Vaseline that is left on the wheels will attract brake dust and other nasty stuff.

THEN the next time I clean the wheels.....and this is the important part......I take a generic spray bottle with nothing but water and a boatload of paper towels to get the old Vaseline off BEFORE trying to clean them and apply a new coating of Vaseline.

You'll put a soapy cloth on the wheels with the old Vaseline still intact exactly once to realize you have a greasy gooey soapy cloth and a greasy gooey wheel to deal with and should have used the spray bottle and paper towels first!

The typical spray on "Tire Dressings" will also stain your Fuchs wheels in no time. I did that exactly once. Since then I just scrub the sidewalls of the tires with a stiff brush followed by a once over with a soapy rag and rinse immediately and do without any kind of "dressing".

I dont use a ton. I apply it then buff it off with a clean cloth. I dont think you can use too much. Just makes the wiping of it away a little more difficult.

Harvey refinished mine and that was his advice to me. That's what I do and the wheels look perfect.

I gave it a try with Vaseline a week ago. There are still some stripes visible, but less visible then before. I guess I need to repeat this process a couple of times :)

Thanks for all your advise!!

I generally use those products and after years my wheels still seems new.

For polishing https://angelwax.com/alchemy-metal-polish/

For maintaining (instead of vaseline that can "keep" brake pads powder)
https://dodojuice.net/products/metal-of-honour-metal-sealant-30ml

Did the Vaseline treatment, left liberal amount in for hour, toothbrush scrub and light scotch bright scrub on stubborn areas. Cleaned excess off applied fresh clean buffed in cost of Vaseline and have looked spectacular for a couple of weeks now.

Got new Wiedmans. Per Obsessed Garage and my experience coating 10 other RS Porsches, I used IPA prep and coated with Gtechniq CSL. Brake dust literally washes off!http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1602886741.jpg

The old joke on this board is "That'll buff right out" should apply here. Unless the aluminum is anodized, and it doesn't look like it is, metal polish like Mother's or semichrome or maybe even NeverDull cotton wadding should clean up the rim. Just use a small buffing wheel on a die-grinder or drill motor to speed things up.

The black paint is another matter. That looks like cheap rattle can paint that may or may not clean up with generic cleaner wax. If not, you're out of easy, cheap options and strip & re-spray may be the only way out.

We must have a special "super anodizing" that goes onto the Fuchs of our NZ cars.

I have dogs peeing on my wheels, car lives at the beach so lots of salt spray. Their monthly clean is just part of the wash and wax scrub down the rest of the car gets. And they look perfect.

Not bad for a 40 year old car.

What a minefield it appears !

Good thing using the engine degreaser did no harm as far as I can tell.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1710638243.jpg



Side question, can scratches, minor dings be fixed, it's just cosmetics at the end of the day, without having to rip out and recoat ?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1712108498.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/31540-preserving-fuchs.html#post178962

Oldie but goodie.

Vaseline.

P21S wheel cleaner. pH balanced. Spray on, let sit for a couple of minutes and wash off the dirt with a wet sponge. Rinse and micro fiber towel to dry. Works like a champ.