Wheel Brightener???

[1 Clean WS6]

Hello all!!

I've been using Meg's Hot Rims Cool Care from the consumer line on all my detail jobs. I LOVE this product...it just eats through brake dust and I don't have to worry about it trashing any wheel that I'm working on. The only draw back is I go through a TON of this stuff and it is getting to the point where it is just not economically feasible for me to buy the small consumer bottles. My question is...is the Wheel Brightener product from the Meg's Detailer line comparable to this product in its cleaning abilities and its ease/safeness of use??

Many thanks,
Mike

[Rockpick]

Not sure that it's necessarily made for wheels but, I've been fairly successful in utilizing the Detailer Line Citri Gel on my wheels diluted 2:1.

[Rick]

Since it seems that your detailing many different vehicles I'd be very careful about which wheel cleaner you choose. You want one that will be safe for any type of wheel. I had some uncoated polished alluninum wheels on my last vehicle and sprayed the red bottle instant wheel cleaner on them not knowing (conveniently the warning has gotten larger on later bottles of this product) and the strong base formula almost instantly severely oxidized the alluminum.

Needless to say I had many many hours of using a die grinder with a polishing wheel attached to it to cut through the oxidized layer after that. Something you don't want to be stuck doing or paying for. On that note, I could be wrong, but I think the wheel brightener is not all wheel safe. Or am I thinking of the other detailer wheel cleaner?

[1 Clean WS6]

Hot Rims Cool Care is the stuff in the purple bottle and I have used it on many different wheels without ANY bad results...it's pretty much safe on everything but anodized wheels. Does anyone know if the Wheel Brightener from the Detailer line is just as safe??

[Rick]

Wheel Brightener (http://www.meguiars.com/store_meguiars/product_detail.cfm?sku=D-310)

"Safe on clear coated, painted, and chrome wheels"

Not all wheel safe in other words. You could use it, but keep a bottle of something safe in case you come across some uncoated alluminum wheels. I'd be really careful with that one though. Might be better to have something thats safe for everything and not worry about it. The light weight oem alloy wheels on my car are polished clear coated allunimun on the face, but the back is just straight alluminum and I used some of the more aggressive cleaner on them and it left a little trail of oxidation on the back side of the wheel from that. Luckily this doesn't effect the appearance in any way, but I now have been using gold class all wheel cleaner, which isn't listed on meguiars web page that I can find. But it's safe on all wheels, works great (possibly better than hot rims in my opinion) and comes in a good size 32oz bottle.

[nini43]

i can't rave about this enough!!! i use it on all wheels but uncoated wheels. i don't dilute , just use it straight. i have a bmw,do a lot of european cars and it works just fine without scrubbing , on the negleted wheels you may try a white 3m pad to help. if you spray all 4 wheels ,then come back and rinse i think you will save a bunch of time too! i like to spray it inside the wheel as far as possible so it gives a real nice look
good luck

[Billorlando]

Hey there


I use the wheel brightner in 5gal capacity for most of my vehicles I do run into trhe occasional polished chrome or aluminum wheels. I will not to use this chemical on polished rims it is pretty strong. Also it works well on non pitted wheels and with a little elbow grease it works on the pitted wheels as well.My guys had a real problem with wheel brightner when we were changing from wheel acid because they were so use to spray on and wash off. However in alot of local cities wheel acid is being prohibited ...
so the wheel brightner works well in most cases anything else we use a dremel tool and a high speed angular buff pad with a polishing compound. A good investment with the wheel brightner chemical is long wheel brushes kind of tapered as you go to the end they seem to work well and are not hard to use at all...

[wash_me]

Originally posted by Billorlando
Anything else we use a dremel tool and a high speed angular buff pad with a polishing compound.


Can you tell me more about the dremel tool and the angular buff pad. Pictures would be nice :D.

[Fr0zen]

What color is the wheel brighter. ? I think I might have gotten a sample from a friend of some. How well does it work is it a spray and rinse. ?

[Fr0zen]

Reason I ask if cause I got this from a friend that works at a dealer. The product in the bottle is not Mark V I emailed them and they have no purple wheel cleaners or APC's. Since Acid based cleaners are usally clear not color'd im thinking this might be Meguiars Detailer Line wheel brightner.

What do you think. ?

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

I have been using the Meguiar's Detailer Series Wheel Brightener (D-14001) for sometime now and just love the stuff! It is purple in color, has a cherry smell, and when diluted 4:1, works awesome!!! :xyxthumbs I too avoid using it on polished and uncoated wheels.

Tim

[Fr0zen]

I see does it work alot better then something like A2Z or Hot wheels because those products seem to do barly anything on heavy caked on brake dust.

Is it a spray and rinse. ?

[Tim Lingor]

Hey Frozen, Long time no see!

Yes, it is a spray on, lightly agitate, and then rinse off. I have found it better than A2Z, as you can adjust the strength as necessary. However, I usually just use it at 4:1.

Tim

[Fr0zen]

Yep been lurking on Meguiars Online For a While decided to sign up. Do you still come by Detail city. ?

My wheels have certain spots with alot of grime on the insides of the wheels. Even scrubbing it doesnt come off if you scrape it with a screw driver a little it will come off. Thats why I need something stronger to get them perfect.

Im still trying to figure out what that purple stuff is I got in that bottle. I dont want to smell it cause it might be acid based. But from the looks it seems to be Wheel Brightner.

[karma]

What rims are yall talkin '@bout that this stuff isnt good 4? also can you tell by lookin at the rims if you shoulnt use this stuff on them? ok

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Frozen.... I still stop by DC once in a while but generally, MOL is my home! Give the Wheel Brightener a try. I know you will like it!!! :)

As for wheels to avoid, I would suggest avoiding uncoated polished aluminum as well as anodized wheels. The best way to know for sure is to contact the manufacturer of the wheels. Otherwise, for uncoated aluminum, it will give off a black residue when you use a metal polish on them.

****If you are unsure what the wheel is, do not use any wheel cleaners them. Just wash and polish/seal with a good polymer like Meguiar's #20 Polymer Sealant.

Tim

[karma]

very helpful. Thanks Tim!!!:bow

[RamAirV1]

Meguair's #36 Wheel Cleaner is very good. I believe it is safe to use on all wheels. Being in the professional line it is probably available in bulk volumes.

IMHO, if you have clear coated wheels, you should treat them just like paint. Like Tim says, use #20 on them and the brake dust will clean off very easily with car wash soap and water. Any wheel cleaner that I know of will remove wax and polymers. And I have yet to see a wheel cleaner that will remove heavy brake dust without brush agitation. You're just as well off using car wash.

Most factory wheels, if they are painted or polished aluminum, are clearcoated.

RamAirV1

[1 Clean WS6]

Well....it's been 7 months since I first started this post and I can now comment on the Meg's Detailer Line Wheel Brightener. I've been using it on every detail at full strength and here are my findings...

1) DO NOT use it on anodized or un-coated aluminum wheels. It will flash oxidize the un-coated aluminum. It can easily be fixed with some metal polish but is time consuming...ask me how I know. :cool: :wall:

2) Make sure the rim is cool when you apply it. If it isn't...remove immediately. Same rule of thumb if you are applying the product in strong direct sunlight...remove immediately.

3) I use a pressure washer for my detailing and it seems to be the only way to completely remove all the product residue. I tried it once with a garden hose and it did not work nearly half as well. Of course....your mileage will vary.

4) My normal routine for using this product is to spray all four wheels with the Wheel Brightener at full strength then blast them with my pressure washer. I use NO agitation and the product will remove even the toughest brake dust. When I wash the car I will go back over the rim with a soapy wash mitt to make sure all the product residue is gone. Rinse again with the pressure washer and BAM...the rim looks new (inside and out).

Wheel Brightener has become an integral part of my detail routine and a product I would not be able to live without. It saves me TONS of time on each detail and produces awesome results.

Mike :coolgleam

[RamAirV1]

Hmmmmmm. I never thought about using a pressure washer to clean wheels. I could see where that would be a huge time saver. I only detail my own car and I don't own a pressure washer. Cleaning with a brush is definitely time consuming. At least the TA and GTO 5- spoke wheels are easy to clean compared to other types.

I almost bought a set of TT II (Torque Thruster II wheels by American Racing) until I found out the were not clear coated. I didn't want to be polishing my wheels every other weekend!

RamAirV1

[karma]

While working for a detail shop I used a pressure washer to clean rimmmms. Works great. Now a days i just wash car then wheels with different brushes then rinse dry last after detailing interior and pait or whatever I use tire shine to clean wheels and have had no problems at all. just use tire applicator to dress tires then spray dressing on rim (!!! without getting on paint !!!) then wipe off. what do you guys think about this it works for me and cleans brake dust tar everything and gives ultimate shine.:coolgleam

[J SOLO]

Ive been useing wheel brightner for awhile also I agree with everything 1cleanws6 said.It will save you a ton of time.Im getting ready to order more.It is a great value being consentrate.:xyxthumbs

[Fr0zen]

What dilution ratio do you use for it? Also do you wear eye protection and everything, or?

[Rollman]

Originally posted by Fr0zen
What dilution ratio do you use for it? Also do you wear eye protection and everything, or?

You can delute it 4:1 . I use it 1:1 and have no problems , it cuts right through brake dust. My only problem is with sprayer heads , even the chem heads don't last . I just tried using an old A2Z bottle to see how that holds up .