I was washing my car today and found some kind of gunk on the passenger front side rim that would'nt come off with the usual wash treatment, sponge and car wash soap. I can't really describe it, just that it's sort've dark brownish / black in color, not sticky but smooth. Before I get some rim cleaner, I was wanting to ask first do I have to use an acid free cleaner to not harm the finish? A friend of mine was saying it would be ok to use SOS pads - not the industrial strength but softer soapy grade, but wouldn't that take off the finish anyway? BTW, are my factory rims alloy or what? Thanks for any advice.

 

Could it be road tar and or tree sap?

 

I was waiting for someone else to say: "Don't be such a cheapskate with your $30,000 car." But since no one else has weighed in: are you crazy! You're asking if you should take a steel wool pad to your rims? Spend the $10 for a bottle of wheel cleaner. I use Sonus Rim Bright , but there's many good products out there. Here's a good article on wheel cleaning.

Edit: By the way, does your friend drive a farm tractor? What kind of car is he using SOS pads to clean the rims on?

 

If I had to geuss, I'd say it does look like an illegitmate child of tar and tree sap... So that Sonus Rim stuff will basically break it up? Cool, thx for the advice...and flammage, dumbass questions welcome it I spose :D

 

Sorry, dude, I was making fun of your friend more than you. I want to see the paint on his SOS rims. If it's swirl-free, I'll eat an SOS pad. :p

 

I had the same stuff on mine. I just took delivery not long ago, and since it was raining when I picked up the car I took a raincheck on them doing a thorough detailing job. I believe the gunk on mine is leftover from the plastic wrap they put on the car while in transport. I used a claybar and a carwash mix as lube and it came right up.

 

I have some of the same black gunk on my rims. I was going to buy a sponge similar to those used to wash dishes (the green coarse side) and apply it to the rims to remove the gunk i can't get out with scrubbing alone. Is this an "SOS sponge"? the material is coarse, but not steel wool. If not, what kind of spray could I get to remove this gunk, I see armorall has one that says not to use on "coated wheels" or whatnot, so I'm up a creek!

-Rupes

 

Rupes--I think Waterlogged hit it on the nose--try clay barring to lift up the gunk. The green dish washing sponge you're talking about is not an SOS Sponge (SOS is more metallic looking). I wouldn't use that unless it was a last resort, although the paint on our rims is a lot harder than it is on the body and so is more resistant to marring.

 

I always use Collinite #845 to remove tar/breakdust/gunk from my wheels. I also use this stuff to clean the exhaust tips.

I'm proabably gonna get slammed for toting this wax because I'm selling it on ebay, but I'm tellin ya, this stuff is well worth it!!!

Georg