Polishing Alum Wheels

bigred · March 31, 2016, 07:06:34 AM

Guy's ,do you know of an easier way to polish alum wheels? I know there is not an EASY way as I have been down this road before .I used a comercial wheel and tire cleaner on my wheels and don't know if the wheels may have been a little to warm or if the place where I washed the bus had low water pressure,but any way,the danged stuff spotted my wheels they look like crap.Kind of like a guy wearing a thousand dollar suit and a pair of worn out shoes,if you know what I mean!

luvrbus · March 31, 2016, 07:16:59 AM

I have always used Blue Magic it's cheap and easy to use lol but you always dry the wheels no matter what you use like you BTDT

I just purchased 6 highly gloss wheels and Kane covers for my bus lol and now your post reminds me what is ahead something I forgot

DoubleEagle · March 31, 2016, 08:41:05 AM

You did not say where you washed your bus, but beware of truck washes which might have acid cleaners mixed in for making fuel tanks look brighter. The acid can leach out later if it is not completely flushed out and cause spotting.

bigred · March 31, 2016, 01:25:02 PM

Went out to the TA truck stop near where I live after posting this and found a wheel cleaner made by Zephyr .It was normally 16.99 for like a twelve ounce bottle but they have it on sale for 12.99.Haven't tried it on the Prevost yet but did on my motor home and it seems to "getter done" Will let you know about the Prevost later!

bigred · March 31, 2016, 01:25:50 PM

Went out to the TA truck stop near where I live after posting this and found a wheel cleaner made by Zephyr .It was normally 16.99 for like a twelve ounce bottle but they have it on sale for 12.99.Haven't tried it on the Prevost yet but did on my motor home and it seems to "getter done" Will let you know about the Prevost later!

chessie4905 · April 01, 2016, 04:10:02 AM

Wipe them dry after a thororough rinse. Many of these alum wheel cleaners are pretty agressive. Better to buff/ polish out and then only use dish detergent/water, rinse and dry. Or buw wheels with perma coating.

Scott & Heather · April 01, 2016, 04:41:13 AM

Which brings me to this thread drift: is it ok to run through blue beacon with a coach that has stainless below the beltline. I mean they make it look real good. But is it worse in the long run? Are the aluminum acid cleaners bad for aluminum and stainless? Should we be avoiding the truck washes?

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bigred · April 01, 2016, 05:42:19 AM

Scott:I avoid the truck washes because they use pressure washers.Don't know if the items they use are harmful or not.They really make road tractors look good and I have known drivers that used them every week .Over the long haul ,I don't know.After all,how many road tractors do you know off that are still in the road after twenty plus years??

TomC · April 01, 2016, 10:33:31 AM

My last truck had 6 aluminum rims, 4 fuel tanks and 2 aluminum buddy boxes. Needless to say, I have done everything from electric buffer with polishing paste, to Mother's, to having them professionally done. I can say without a shadow of a doubt the best polish I have ever used is Master Formula Metal Gloss and then the Sealer Gloss. You hand polish the wheels (about an hour each) then the key is immediately applying the sealer. It works so well, I haven't polished my rims in several years-while they aren't chrome shiny, they still have a nice polish to them. Here's the website-
http://www.masterformulametalgloss.com/index.html You'll see them at trade shows polishing the bottoms of aluminum soda cans. Believe me-this is the best product! Good Luck, TomC

DoubleEagle · April 01, 2016, 03:31:00 PM

Quote from: Scott Bennett on April 01, 2016, 04:41:13 AM
Which brings me to this thread drift: is it ok to run through blue beacon with a coach that has stainless below the beltline. I mean they make it look real good. But is it worse in the long run? Are the aluminum acid cleaners bad for aluminum and stainless? Should we be avoiding the truck washes?

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The acid based cleaners leave streaks on the anodized aluminum siding that comes on Eagles, particularly the polished variety that some have put on as an upgrade. After an Eagle is washed, the residue bleeds out from between the shiplap siding pieces. Stainless Steel should be resistant, but there are different grades of stainless. I drove a food grade stainless tanker that survived all cleanings.

buswarrior · April 01, 2016, 09:13:42 PM

Pressure washers are not friendly to old double pane glass.

Drives the moisture in where it may not have gone on its own...

And blasts all your ancient body sealing...

soap, bucket, brush, gentle water hose

happy coaching!
buswarrior

jackhanow · April 01, 2016, 10:50:39 PM

The truck washes reuse 80% of the water they take in, meaning they keep adding acid and wax and soap not to mention the salt and chemicals used in winter on the roadways. You can mix mothers and blue magic with green rouge from the ta truck stop in a jug with mineral spirits let it sit in the sun for a day or two and shake it up til the rouge dissolves and becomes creamy. Then rub in til it turns black. Don't rub side ways or swirl. Do the whole wheel takes about 15-20 min per wheel. Dust the wheel with flour and wipe. The flour helps remove the polish. Wipe with cloth and should be shiny. If it don't shine like chrome. Means you didn't do it right or they have clear coat on them. Will last a good long time. I spent a few years polishing for fuel and travel money using that recipe. If you use a wheel buffer it makes a mess but that helps get the rock dings out. That works best if you can jack the wheel up and release the brake so you can spin the wheel and you can work it more evenly. Make sure you wear rubber gloves.