Removing Wax Off Wheels?!

M

Miami Dave

New member
Well I made the dumb mistake of using wax as a protective product on my new wheels before I got them mounted with rubber and installed. Well its been 8 months now and the wax has hazed into a white, cloudy, film and I am wondering what can take it off? I have tried regular car wash soap, dishwashing soap, even as small piece of Opticlay with no luck. I was going to try a pertroleum based product next but want some opinions first. Basically I need a wax stripper of sorts. Next time I will use PB wheel Sealant instead. Lesson Learned.
 
I'm going to guess since its been 8 months thats not the wax thats making your wheels cloudy. And waxing your wheels is not a dumb mistake, its a good way to keep them up and make cleaning them easier. Without knowing if your wheels are painted or plated its hard to say what it is and what to do. Either way i bet a light polish with a paint/metal polish will clear them right up.
 
You're gonna need some really hot water a stiff brush and a floor wax remover.

High pressure without heat won't be as effective. Youre going to need to melt that wax.

Hopefully you did not use carnauba wax. Its the hardest to remove.

Tires need air. If you don't get the wax off It will cause your tires to dry and crack.
 
32VDOHC said:
You're gonna need some really hot water a stiff brush and a floor wax remover.

High pressure without heat won't be as effective. Youre going to need to melt that wax.

Hopefully you did not use carnauba wax. Its the hardest to remove.

Tires need air. If you don't get the wax off It will cause your tires to dry and crack.
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He doesn't have wax on his tires, he has it on his wheels.



Miami Dave, along the lines of what TrueDetailer indicated, a paint cleaner (an OTC one like Meg's Deep Crystal Step 1) should remove the wax, and help some if what you have is actually oxidation. If you have an uncoated wheel (chrome or aluminum) then a metal polish would be in order. A picture or a more thorough description of your wheels might help. And please, no stiff brush on the wheels!
 
^I am appauled that you think any human being would take a stiff brush to their wheels. :lol:



Ok, the wheels are painted and are made by RAYS in japan. They are bronze in color but their surface is a little textured and thus are not completely smooth. When I apply water to them it still beads water off but the "residue" becomes not visible. When they dry completely the film comes back. Ironically the wax I used to "seal" them is actually the Megs Deep Crystal Carnauba Step 3 so using Deep Crystal Step 1 seems to make sense. Does step 1 contain any oils or "conditioners" in it. The reason I ask is that it seems when the wax is hydrated it becomes invisible and thus I want to actually strip it off and not just "hydrate" it so that it becomes visually acceptable. I think that Step 2 of the DC system is the one with fillers but hey you never know. Here is a pic of the wheels before all of this:



DSCN3151.jpg
 
Usually that disappear-when-wet film is oxidation or CC failure, although beading usually doesn't occur when that happens (unless you just put some more wax on). Wheels are always a pain to polish but at least it looks like you can get to all the spokes pretty easily by hand. You should try a couple of test spokes with the DC1 or whatever else you have and let us know if it helps. A Mother's Powerball might make things easier.
 


32VDOHC said:
You're gonna need some really hot water a stiff brush and a floor wax remover.

High pressure without heat won't be as effective. Youre going to need to melt that wax.

Hopefully you did not use carnauba wax. Its the hardest to remove.

Tires need air. If you don't get the wax off It will cause your tires to dry and crack.
Click to expand...

He doesn't have wax on his wheels.



Miami Dave said:
Well its been 8 months





I have tried regular car wash soap, dishwashing soap, even as small piece of Opticlay with no luck.
Click to expand...







 
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