So I had someone clean my type s rims with a rim cleaner (pretty sure it was non acidic, but could be wrong), and after using the spray, my rims had a white, chalky looking residue left on them. I googled a ton about this and read that the clearcoat on my rims may have been stripped off. Could this be? I was finally able to get the white stuff off using soft scrub.

Has anyone heard of this before and know why this could have happened? What does it mean if the clearcoat was damaged?

unfortunately i dont have pics

 

Can't ask a question like this without pictures.

Pictures first, my decision after.

 

http://my350z.com/forum/cleaning-and...n-my-rims.html

thats what it looked like, and after reading that thread, seems like my clearcoat was destroyed??

 

If all else fails...............................plastidip

 

Well I managed to get the white residue off. But now I just wanna know what exactly it was.

 

 

Loll may have been

But seriously guys I'm worried that the clear coat on my rims is ruined

 

It could have, yes. You need to find out what was used to clean them.

 

Okay I will. Thing is, it was a friend and he started panicking when he couldn't get the white stuff off. He said the cleaner he used was malco brake off which is non acidic. But I feel like it may have been somethin different if te rim reacted like that.

 

Hmmm...yes, I just looked it up, it's non acidic. That is strange.

I know the TL stockies are not powder coated but my brother made the mistake of putting chrome cleaner on a set of powder coated wheels and it took the shine right out of them, they just became a flat grey.

Some cleaners can be too powerful, I stick to a brush/rag and the soap I use on the car.

 

Well I didn't actually see my friend spray it on. So when he got nervous he may have told me he used the non acidic one because he got nervous, so I have to find out what he used. But the bottle on the non acidic one did say to make sure the rim is cool. My rims were hot when he applied it so maybe that's why they became all white?

 

It's a possibility

Stick with soap and water next time

 

That your help. How can I tell if the clear coat is gone? Can I get another clear coat put on? What can happen to my rims if there is no clear coat?

 

Yeah you could have them cleared again. You're just more susceptible to chips in the paint, fading, pretty much what would happen to a car with no clear coat.

 

Okay wouldn't want that. Last question for ya. Any idea how much that costs? Can I do it myself?

 

No idea how much just clear coat would be. They do sell clear coat in a spray can but I wouldn't do it if you're not good with painting. Probably better to take it to a shop.

 

Thanks man. Mods, would you mind moving this thread to the problems and fixes section? I feel like I'll get more responses over there. Thanks

 

anyone know how much it costs to clear coat rims?

 

bump

 

I'll move this thread to the Wash and Wax section. Some experts there.

 

Just because it's not acidic doesn't mean it's gentle. It could be high in Alkaline content FYI.

 

thanks a lot

in your opinion, do you think the white residue was my clear coat coming off?

 

It's hard to say without seeing pictures.

I'm only seen the white cloudiness on wheels that doesn't have clear coat, so I can't say for sure what happened with yours.

 

Mine are chipping and they appear white where the clear coat is actually peeling away from the powdercoat base.

 

I think it was white residue from the cleaner being sprayed on a hot wheel ..


As far as the clear coming off .. I doubt it if you got the white residue off and they are back to looking normal.


Put a good coat of a sealant on them and move on ... Something like Nufinish Liquid.

It will clean them up a little more & protect them. You might get a little dark color on the applicator which would be left over residue but the second layer you apply shouldn't have much if any.

And as said above the best thing to do is wash your wheels with the tail end of the car wash soap and a dedicated mitt. Washing often is the key.. Brake dust tends to get sticky and corrosive if left on and it gets wet and sits.

I have gone on a 3 week road trip and my wheels were black and it washed all off with just soap & water.

Wheel cleaners are for marketing and lazy people.

 

I do these things every time I wash my car. Plus I use a brush to reach into the barrels. Works perfectly.

 

Thanks a lot man. I feel like (and hope) that you may be right that the white stuff was because my rims were so hot when he put it on and it dried to my rims. All of it is completely off and my rims look completely normal. They actually look the cleanest I have ever seen them because we waxed them to get the white stuff. Helped a little, but I used soft scrub to get it off and it came off easily with that.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Edit: Is the nufinish stuff a polish? it will help protect my wheels?