SAFEST and "best" wheel cleaner for polished aluminum wheels...?

[pologuy]

Wondering if anyone had any suggestions for the SAFEST and "best" wheel cleaner for polished aluminum wheels...?

 

[tom p.]

Are the wheels coated or just bare aluminum?

 

[pologuy]

They are the 20" polished aluminum wheels on the Lincoln MKS twin turbo.

 

[XxBoostinxX]

They appear to be polished but clear coated. I wouldn't expect them to be bare aluminum.

 

[tom p.]

Yeah, there's no way they'd not be clear coated.

Any gentle wheel cleaner used on a weekly basis is going to be fine for standard production wheels. My best product recommendations will the the regular Griot's product, regular P21S or Autoglym's standard wheel cleaner. The Autoglym product is difficult to purchase. I believe you'll find the standard Griot's cleaner at Advance Auto Parts.

 

[Accumulator]

They appear to be polished but clear coated. I wouldn't expect them to be bare aluminum.

Same opinion here, I'd @SSume (uh-oh ) that they're just like the "Machined Finish" ones on my A8 and Tahoe, namely cleared (aren't they powdercoated these days?).

I cannot *imagine* a newer Lincoln coming with bare aluminum, they'd oxidize something awful before it left the lot. So I'd treat them just like any other nice modern wheels.

I'd use something known to be safe (if awfully gentle) like Griot's Wheel Cleaner or P21s.

 

[pologuy]

Meguiar's used to make an excellent one that was part of their "professional" Mirror Glaze line - #36 Mirror Glaze Wheel Cleaner...

But for some strange reason they don't make it anymore...

 

[The Guz]

Apply some metal polish on a small area of the wheel. If it comes up black it's uncoated metal. More than likely these are coated.

 

[pologuy]

Anyone try Sonax...?

 

[tom p.]

Yes.

 

[Rsurfer]

Blackfire Metal Sealant, safe, effective and a breeze to apply and remove.

 

[mnehls86]

Anyone try Sonax...?

Yep. Good stuff. Safe, cleans well and removes iron particles.