How to clean wheel wells

[GS4_Fiend]

Anyone tired OPC?

 

[Chicagoareanew]

I've used adam's undercarriage spray, and it looks fine in the wheel wells, but it can be splotchy and temperamental if you use it on black trim. I wouldn't buy it again because I'd rather have a product that can do 2 things well.

 

[Thats Fresh]

i just cleaned out my suspension and wheel wells today.

used P21S TAW and a boar haired brush. rinsed and sprayed wax and covered plastic with 303.

 

[Bigpoppa3346]

When they are dirty, I use Hi-Temps Tire Cleaner and a brush, once I have dried them off then they get Hyper Dressing at 3:1. Provides an awesome look, but on older, more abraded wells, it doesn't do a great job of covering up the road rash since it is not a "heavy" dressing. I assume a solvent based dressing would do a better job in those instances.



On my car (which I rarely drive), I can clean the wells (along with everything else) with ONR and they come out looking like new, I don't even need to dress them afterwards (although I usually will anyways).

 

[green dimnd]

Mop 'N Glo always works for me.

 

[Accumulator]

i just cleaned out my suspension and wheel wells today.

used P21S TAW and a boar haired brush. rinsed and sprayed wax and covered plastic with 303.

Now that they're cleaned and dressed, you can use that BHB and shampoo mix to keep them that way The 303 holds up to gentle cleaning pretty well, usually quite a bit better than the Z16 that I usually use instead.

 

[Thats Fresh]

i have to use a mitt to clean mine during washes. its the only thing that could barely fit unless i jack my car up each time. i havent tried Z16 yet.

 

[Thats Fresh]

OP, here are few images from the other day. (i think after i saw this thread, i decided to clean my wheel wells) haha. while i was at it. i detailed everything in reach, suspension, control arms, heat sheild, shocks. *i made sure not to get anything on the bottom half of the shock tube and suspension bushings. i ended up polishing my wheels also in another thread.



P21S TAW diluted 3:1

P21s Wheel Gel (front of wheel)

Hot Water in spray bottle for rinsing

8x10 tarp $2 from Northern Tools

BHB from Nothern Tools

various brushes and foam sponge

303 Aerospace Protectant

CG109



BEFORE

AFTER

DAMN i have some sexy legs, lOL

BHB from Northern Tools

BEFORE (DIRTAY)

AFTER (before sealant)

my favorite diluted APC. P21S TAW

after few minutes of TAW dwelling, i used foam sponge and grime came right off with one swipe

used these for spokes and tight areas (valve stem and lug holes)

 

[Bunky]

Does anyone used Meg's All Season Dressing in wheel wells?



I would think it is more durable than the water based products (Adams. Griots, Hyperdressing, CG, etc).

 

[chuckstang95]

OP, here are few images from the other day. (i think after i saw this thread, i decided to clean my wheel wells) haha. while i was at it. i detailed everything in reach, suspension, control arms, heat sheild, shocks. *i made sure not to get anything on the bottom half of the shock tube and suspension bushings. i ended up polishing my wheels also in another thread.



P21S TAW diluted 3:1

P21s Wheel Gel (front of wheel)

Hot Water in spray bottle for rinsing

8x10 tarp $2 from Northern Tools

BHB from Nothern Tools

various brushes and foam sponge

303 Aerospace Protectant

CG109



BEFORE

AFTER

DAMN i have some sexy legs, lOL

BHB from Northern Tools

BEFORE (DIRTAY)

AFTER (before sealant)

my favorite diluted APC. P21S TAW

after few minutes of TAW dwelling, i used foam sponge and grime came right off with one swipe

used these for spokes and tight areas (valve stem and lug holes)

Random, but have you found any harm in just jacking one corner of the car for this type of thing?



I had issues in the past



Also, if you use the Total auto wash, do you have to wax whatever it was you cleaned after? I assume dressing will not protuct the plastic in the wheel wells, what do you use for protection on the plastic? I already have a wheel wax that I use for the rims. Stuff sucks though ahha, cant even remember who makes it



thanks

 

[Accumulator]

..have you found any harm in just jacking one corner of the car for this type of thing?



I had issues in the past..

What kind of issues...I'd think it'd be the same as jacking up one corner to change a tire :think:



I usually do half the vehicle at a time, but I still don't see what would cause a problem (I'm assuming doors closed, proper jacking points, etc.).

Also, if you use the Total auto wash, do you have to wax whatever it was you cleaned after? I assume dressing will not protuct the plastic in the wheel wells, what do you use for protection on the plastic? I already have a wheel wax that I use for the rims. Stuff sucks though ahha, cant even remember who makes it..

I polish/AIO and wax/seal the metal bits and use something like Endurance or at least Autoglym Bumper Care on the plastic/rubber. No the dressing don't last long and some people use floorcare products for something longer-lasting. I just let the dressing wear/wash away and then I usuallydo quickie touchups with Z16/whatever if (big "if" in my case) I bother dressing it at all. To be honest, I'm usually satisfied with the plastic being clean but not dressed, at least on daily drivers and especially on ones where it doesn't really show (gotta dress it on the Yukon or it looks awful).



On the painted metal (note that most such areas are *not* clearcoated IME), I find certain products work especially well: If you're gonna wax (e.g., with Collinite), I'd use 1Z Ultra/Extra polish. If you're trying to clean and don't want to worry much about polish residue, I'd use Klasse or Zaino AIO. For flat/satin/matte black finished pieces I *really* like BlackFire's polish and sealant. FWIW, on the garage-queen S8 I use the same regimen as on the rest of the car...my usual polishes and UPP.



That BF-on-black stuff approach is one of my faves...undercarriages, wheelwells, under the hood, I'm 100% sold on that approach. It even works miracles on the MPV's slightly surface-rusted rear brake drums!

 

[chuckstang95]

Thanks alot, thats alot of great ideas there.



I notice everyone says they water down APC like total auto wash 3:1



Is that just to conserve product or for other reasons?



Just thought I'd ask ya while your here since you did so well on your wells



Thanks

 

[kaotikdt]

Thanks alot, thats alot of great ideas there.



I notice everyone says they water down APC like total auto wash 3:1



Is that just to conserve product or for other reasons?



Just thought I'd ask ya while your here since you did so well on your wells



Thanks

I think it has to do with what you are trying to achieve and what you are trying to remove. I use P21S Total wash too and you can do and wash pretty much anything with it. Using different ratios help out to degrease and/or remove safely any embedded materials on the paint too. I've heard people even shooting P21S total wash in a foam gun to loose any grime. It really depends on what you want to do. You also don't want to shoot full force and waste product when you can ratio it and still get the results you were looking for.



Now anyone correct me if I'm wrong :argue lol

 

[imported_mburnickas]

I love this stuff. I've found that a quick spritz of this stuff, even on an unwashed wheel well still looks Great!

I only bought 16oz of it for my auto etc and it works MINT..I wish I bought the gallon...



I have use Optimum Tire Shine in there (okay at best), cheap foam tire stuff, sucked and even PB Natural look..CG Bare Bones wins hands down...



and I agree, I never clean the wells and after spraying the stuff look news for 11 years old cars...Tell anyone to buy it.

 

[akimel]

Has anyone used either Stoner's Trim Shine or More Shine on the wheel wells as a dressing? How do they work? Does one work better than the other, or are they equivalent? TIA.