how to remove water stains on Fuchs (pic)

davis911s · davis911s's Garage

I am looking at how to get rid of these stains? Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks
Shawn

Mark 69 911 · 06-18-2001, 04:10 PM

Shawn, They're probably not water stains but the scars of using too harsh a cleaner. The cleaner stained or removed the clear coat. Try polishing the clear coat with car polish.

targa88 · 06-18-2001, 04:15 PM

Try a liberal coating of vaseline - set over night. Wipe of excess, buff and polish. You will be amazed

mideastmafia · 06-18-2001, 04:58 PM

or,

try using a VERY little ammount of rubbing compound with a rag and see what develops.

SHAUN

davis911s · davis911s's Garage

I will try vaseline again, I tried it the other day but only let it set for 5-10 minutes. Didn't want to leave it on too long.If that doesn't work I will try the polishing compound.

But I thought they looked like water stains, however I really don't know what I am talking about

Thanks guys

Norm Faustino · Norm Faustino's Garage

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[This message has been edited by Norm Faustino (edited 06-20-2001).]

Early_S_Man · 06-18-2001, 07:51 PM

Shawn,

If those Fuchs are still 'stock' anodized, and have never been polished ... you Don't want to be using ANY kind of acid, or ABRASIVES on them!!! The 'Vaseline treatment' won't harm them in any way, and may restore the appearance to like-new, especially if repeated, weekly, and monthly thereafter, if noticeable improvement shows after an overnight application ... and it should be a HEAVY coat of Vaseline, left overnight to just 'sit' there ... then rub off the next day with a soft polishing rag.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

grsilvia · 06-19-2001, 02:41 AM

Shawn,
I've used straight vinegar applied in small doses by a soft cotton cloth with great success on powder coated wheels, clear coat, windshield glass, chrome and non clear coated aluminum wheels.

Gary

davis911s · davis911s's Garage

Thanks again everybody. Warren I am NOT POSITIVE if they are stock anodized, but I am not going to take the chance. I will do the overnight vaseline and see the results.

Thanks again everybody,

What causes these stains? I just got the wheels and they were like that.

Shawn

davis911s · davis911s's Garage

Thanks again everybody. Warren I am NOT POSITIVE if they are stock anodized, but I am not going to take the chance. I will do the overnight vaseline and see the results.

Thanks again everybody,

What causes these stains? I just got the wheels and they were like that.

Shawn

Jdub · 06-19-2001, 06:42 AM

As Warren indicated you never use abrasives or chemicals on these wheels: lukewarm water and mild soap only! Don't ask me how I know...

I went ahead and popped the tires when I had the car up on 'jacks, taking the rims to a strip bath and polishing the rims, repainting the centers in satin black. Lots of war stories via the Search button.

Jw

jbripps · jbripps's Garage

I have been told by my mechanic that you ONLY wash the rims with soap and water, however, he did recommend spraying them with wd-40 to give them a shine, and put a protective layer on them, so the dust/dirt won't stick to them. Has anyone else heard of this? I have yet to give it a shot.

Pete Kinsey · 06-21-2001, 05:23 PM

Be careful with the WD-40 treatment if you are using stick-on wheel weights. It will loosen the adhesive backing and they'll fall off. I, too, prefer the Vaseline treatment.
Pete Kinsey

Doug Zielke · 06-21-2001, 05:26 PM

WD-40? Dunno.
I use good ol' Lemon Pledge (stolen from Mrs. Zielke's cupboard).
Shines and protects, blah, blah, blah.

------------------
'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

ADRNLN · ADRNLN's Garage

Ok, here's what *I've* learned after a lot of online digging around. Of course, I'd love to hear alternatives and contradicitons. My stock Fuchs outer rims also suffer from staining from an inapropriate cleaner. When the bottle says "do NOT use on anodized rims", believe it!! You'll be sorry you used the stuff.

I got an answer from a company who makes metal cleaners (one in particular, called "Metal Wax".) What their explanation was is this: Anodizing is actually a super-hard plastic coating that is baked/bonded onto a metal finish. Tiny cracks and puncture holes can occur over time, and the anodizing can just plain old get weak over the years. Harsh acid-based wheel cleaners can work their way into the tiny cracks and holes, get between the anodized surface and the metal itself, and create the Rorschach test-looking stains. The only way to actually remove the stain would be to get a neutralizing agent underneath the anodized layer, hit the stains, and restore the finish.

Now while all this *sounds* like it makes sense, in practice, it's not so easy to actually work out. Wheel Enhancements has simply said the only way to eliminate the stains is to strip and refinish the rims. And although Vaseline (as well as waxes, including Metal Wax) can work wonders to put a shine on the wheels, my feeling is that it's really just a band-aid fix. The stains are usually still lurking beneath the surface, albeit with a shiny new face. (Nonetheless, Vaseline is a heck of a lot less expensive than refinishing the rims!)

--Steve

Wil Ferch · 02-23-2005, 05:49 PM

Anodizing is not a "plastic" coating but is closer to a controlled chemical corrosion of the surface that is both ( paradoxically) hard yet somewhat porous....

The porosity is what allows it to show stains "underneath"...and no amount of polish is going to fix that.

If vaseline ( the best first-try) doesn't work, either live with it or refinish ( strip and re-anodize)

Or....look at my "economy" RSR finish thread and see where that might lead you !

Wil

randywebb · 02-23-2005, 09:56 PM

I think there is some trick with rubbing alcohol and heat - search for that.

Don't follow the advice of people who think anodizing is a plastic...

ADRNLN · ADRNLN's Garage

Alcohol and heat... Sounds interesting. I could use a little of both right now. It's freezing here in CT and we just got dumped on with snow again.

Yeah... anodizing as a plasticized finish didn't entirely make sense, but it didn't sound far feched, either. Not being a metal refinisher, I just figured, "Huh. How 'bout that." I guess it sounded logical, seeing how some plastic things -- especially some toys and plastic toy cars -- are also "anodized".

If the anodized finish on wheels is indeed somewhat porous, then maybe there is hope; maybe some undiscovered chemical concoction out there can get through the surface and correct the stains, just as the acid-based wheel cleaner had done to stain them in the first place... ? ? ? If any of us come up with something, we can go into business and make a killing!

Time to have a beer and shovel more snow...

Wil Ferch · 02-25-2005, 07:02 AM

Maybe this definition of anodizing helps....there are other's...do a google search...

http://www.anodizing.org/definitions.html

Wil

Moses · 02-25-2005, 07:12 AM

When I first got my 911, it had sadly neglected Fuchs with 20 year old water spots on the rims. I used Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish and I was completely shocked by the result. They looked new. Best of all, it is completely easy to use. Gently work the paste into the rim and watch the white paste turn black as the anodized aluminum returns to it's original beauty. Probably the best car care product I ever used.