Community Forums

tofran · 10-02-2007, 06:44 AM

Hi folks, We have a motorhome which is new to us although it's 5 years old... The wheels look as if they haven't been cleaned very frequently. I've read on some old forum threads that the two part magic mix formula is a good way to clean & polish them. I haven't read an exact procedure for applying the acid wash.....Has anyone sprayed it on the wheels using a pump type pressure sprayer, then rinsed it off? BTW, we have the Accuride wheels. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.......Thanks !

tofran · 10-02-2007, 06:44 AM

Hi folks, We have a motorhome which is new to us although it's 5 years old... The wheels look as if they haven't been cleaned very frequently. I've read on some old forum threads that the two part magic mix formula is a good way to clean & polish them. I haven't read an exact procedure for applying the acid wash.....Has anyone sprayed it on the wheels using a pump type pressure sprayer, then rinsed it off? BTW, we have the Accuride wheels. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.......Thanks !

MonacoMama · 10-02-2007, 07:01 AM

Hi tofran!
First of all...let me give you a warm welcome to iRV2!

It looks like you always come on with questions...and I know you have found all the answers here from the members!

Aren't they great!!

You will always find the info you need from this site...which I consider the best website out there for this type of info...along with being the friendliest RV forum too!!

ok...back to your question...I am not going to have an answer...but I do remember hearing someone ask another person if the wheels are polished or not....it evidently will make a difference...so let them know that type of info also...

Again...welcome to iRV2 ...and if you are looking for any type of silliness or need a good chuckle...just look for me !

Bill Killen · 10-02-2007, 07:49 AM

Welcome to the group! I am not a pro, but I love to detail my cars, so I can offer some advice based on what I have learned and seen.

The first thing to do is to get some degreaser or 'simple green' aka SG you will use lots of it, so get a concentrated jug, its worth it.

spray the wheels and the wheel wells with SG and let it sit while you spray the other wheels.

Go back to the first one and use a wheel and tire brush to work the crud off the wheels. use more SG if needed to get things moving. do the same to the tire (this gets off the old tire dressing and road grime) and you can do it to the wheel wells too.

Get out the hose and spray things down and see where you are at. Repeat as needed. if there are bits that are still stuck on, then you may need to get some wheel cleaner (chrome for chrome, mag cleaner etc. I use Goo Gone or Goof Off in small bits to get some hard stains off.

I finish by polishing it with ICEWax.

Simple Green or degreaser is what the professionals use to get junk off high end wheels, so That is what I use. skip the wheel cleaners unless all else fails (in my opinion).

Good luck!

bk

Joe-K · 10-02-2007, 10:03 AM

Hi Tofran, and welcome aboard!

I'm personally a huge fan of the Magic Mix wheel cleaner.

The use is very simple. If the wheels are in bad shape, use the acid prewash and spray it right out of the sprayer on the bottle onto the wheels. Once you spray it on, wipe it around using a rag or paper towel to insure the entire wheel stays wet and so the wheel doesn't streak. After a couple minutes of wiping it around, hose it off with water and allow the wheel to dry.

After it dries, the wheel will be ready for polishing. The Magic mix polish wipes on and off like normal alluminum polish except it takes much less rubbing.

You'll be amazed at the finished product.

Poltax · 10-02-2007, 10:12 AM

If your wheels are Alum, do not use any type of acid or engine cleaner on them. You will not like the outcome. Clean up your wheels with the soap you use for the coach or your car. Then get your elbow grease ready with Mothers Alum Polish. If you have never used this before, make sure you have surgical gloves on. Put a bit of polish on an all cotton rag and then rub into the wheel till the polish turns black. The longer you rub, the blacker it gets. This is a good thing. Once you have rubbed in a circular motion doing small sections at a time, take a clean soft coton cloth and wipe the residue off. Your wheels will be shiny and new again. You may have stains or pits from road salt and what ever. Go over these areas again. You will not be able to rub out the pits. You can also use Flitz metal polish this works great as well. If this is not up your alley, then take your rig or wheels to the local metal polish business or chrome shop. They will have them shined up in no time.

paz · 10-02-2007, 12:44 PM

For bare aluminum (not DuraBrite) wheels, I second the motion for Mother's. But I'm lazy. I use Mother's Power Ball Mini, which is a foam ball with dozens of fingers on a long shaft that you can put in your hand drill. Use Mother's Power Polish with the ball. The Power Polish is a little more liquid than the Mother's Aluminum Polish to make it easier to spread onto the foam ball. I got my mini ball for about $18 at Wal-Mart. They had the Power Polish for about $9. Click HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page to see Mother's Power Ball Mini and Power Polish.

JerryForwood · 10-02-2007, 12:56 PM

Have you tried "Nevr-Dull?

rotts4u · 10-03-2007, 09:10 AM

I have used the never dull wadding material but for polishing I dont like it or anything nearly as well as I do White Diamonds. I have used about 8-10 different aluminum polishes over the years including meguires, two different ones from mothers, never dull, semichrome and a lot of others that escape me at the moment but I always go back to White diamonds. It is Sooo easy I can do a wheel in 5-10 minutes by hand.

dreamer · 10-03-2007, 09:38 AM

tofran,

I will second what paz suggested, get the mother's power ball. I use it and can polish a wheel in 15 minutes where before I would spend 2 hours per wheel polishing by hand. Use it with a polish of your choice, I use mother's. Good luck.

TaxedtoDeath · 10-03-2007, 10:43 AM

If the wheels have a permanent finish such as Accuride, I believe they recommend only using a degreaser such as simple green. I have used it for years and have had excellent results.

If you use acid you will destroy the finish and then you will always have to polish them!....