How to properly clean fuchs

[gerben1986]

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...

[Ian Comerford]

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

[Canada Kev]

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.

[gerben1986]

Originally Posted by Ian Comerford

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

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?

[tcar]

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.

[famoroso]

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

[Jdub]

^+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.

[safe]

Originally Posted by gerben1986

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?

You rub it in and it stays there.

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

[Canada Kev]

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.

[Jdub]

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.

[MrBonus]

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

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

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

[tcar]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

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

What??????

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


Use VASELINE as Porsche recommends.

[Ayles]

Here is a before an after vaseline treatment:

[safe]

Originally Posted by Dmitry at Pelican Parts

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

You use it on Fuchs?

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by tcar

What??????

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


Use VASELINE as Porsche recommends.

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

[RDM]

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

[Quasimoto]

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.

[SCadaddle]

Originally Posted by RDM

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

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".

[Ayles]

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.