Warning: the downside of a coating type product...

[wannafbody]

Several years ago, a coating product hit the market. It was sold on TV, internet and even in some stores. For kicks, I decided to try it on a set of wheels. Seemed to work pretty good. Last year I noticed a cloudy look on one of the wheels. My first thought was the clearcoat was going bad. Now the other wheels have the same appearance. I decided to take take my fingernail and scratch the wheel. Much to my surprise, I can scratch away the cloudiness. Seems as if the coating is breaking down. I`m glad I didn`t use the product on the cars paint. I think with some effort the coating can probably be removed.

 

[Sizzle Chest]

I`m sure you can polish it off. Too bad this happened.

I wonder if this goes on with a lot of the `new` products that are advertised!

 

[wannafbody]

At this point the new products haven`t been out long enough to know for sure. I doubt that some of these companies do long term testing. If they do, it`s probably months and not years. I know one company did long term testing of products and never jumped on the coating bandwagon. Maybe that was smart, I don`t know.

 

[Accumulator]

Oh boy, glad I never tried [whatever that Coating is].

wannafbody- I`d be awfully [displeased] if that happened to me! Hope the redo won`t be too much of a PIA.

 

[acuRAS82]

At this point the new products haven`t been out long enough to know for sure. I doubt that some of these companies do long term testing. If they do, it`s probably months and not years. I know one company did long term testing of products and never jumped on the coating bandwagon. Maybe that was smart, I don`t know.

Is your concern that maybe a coating product won’t be able to be polished off and then be “stuck” on until this unusual peeling stage?

 

[Swanicyouth]

The coating can oxidize depending on whatever. Paint is uneven - peaks and valleys. Is it ever possible to remove all the coating (in the valleys)? Who knows ???

 

[wannafbody]

Is your concern that maybe a coating product won’t be able to be polished off and then be “stuck” on until this unusual peeling stage?

I`m not completely sure. Here`s the thing, with these type of products, we don`t know how they adhere to the surface. I suspect that the ones that seem to have less durability like Mother Ceramic Coating maybe doesn`t bond as hard to the surface and simply gets wiped off when washing. The ones that adhere in a stronger manner may bond tighter to the surface. Here`s the thing, in this case, for certain, a wash doesn`t remove this coating(IIRC it was called New Wheel or something similar). A manual scrubbing of some type will be needed to break the bond. It`s just one more thing to think about.

 

[acuRAS82]

Yes, abrasives are generally the accepted method to ensure removal of coatings.

 

[Coatings=crack]

I’m actually impressed something is left on wheels several years later.... if anything else it was a durable wheel coating....

What did you use to clean wheels? Matbe their was a slow reaction over the years?


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[atbalfour]

I’m actually impressed something is left on wheels several years later.... if anything else it was a durable wheel coating....

What did you use to clean wheels? Matbe their was a slow reaction over the years?


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If it can be scratched off I would suggest it sounds more like contamination or build up than anything else. Maybe road film?

Also second the above post... it has done well to last that long - never mind on wheels and having to withstand that temperature range.

 

[Accumulator]

I’m actually impressed something is left on wheels several years later....

I coated the Tahoe`s wheels years ago (I`d have to check the Detailing Log to say just when, it`s been forever..). Other than the bare spots in the barrels where the wheelweights were then (new tires last year) the coating is still just fine.

But that`s with the original OptiCoat, which I gather isn`t around any more. Unless I get that kind of performance out of some available alternative, I`ll probably just go back to conventional LSPs, which usually last until the seasonal change-overs when the wheels come off the (uear-round),vehicles anyhow.

 

[wannafbody]

If it can be scratched off I would suggest it sounds more like contamination or build up than anything else. Maybe road film?

Also second the above post... it has done well to last that long - never mind on wheels and having to withstand that temperature range.

Most of the time I washed the wheels with regular car soap. I didn`t use wheel cleaner very often. On occasion I`d use a rinseless wash. Initially I thought it might be failing clearcoat on the wheels but it doesn`t look thick enough.

 

[atbalfour]

Regular soap won`t be enough to shift traffic film. I would use a dedicated wheel cleaner - others will be able to suggest products available in your local area.

I could be wrong by the way - coatings wear off, they don`t generally flake or leave residue unless it`s a really bad product.

 

[DetailZeus]

Regular soap won`t be enough to shift traffic film. I would use a dedicated wheel cleaner - others will be able to suggest products available in your local area.

I could be wrong by the way - coatings wear off, they don`t generally flake or leave residue unless it`s a really bad product.

Isn`t the whole point of coating a wheel is you can just maintain with shampoo? I`m also not imagining wannafbody`s rims being horribly neglected.

 

[Accumulator]

Regular soap won`t be enough to shift traffic film...

-AND-

Isn`t the whole point of coating a wheel is you can just maintain with shampoo?

A sorta-strong Shampoo (basically the same mix that I use as a concentrate for the Foamguns) is all I`ve used to clean my wheels (and wells/undercarriage/etc.) for years, both the ones that are Coated and the ones wearing conventional LSPs. The only ones that need Wheel Cleaners are the bare winter wheels for the Tahoe.

 

[wannafbody]

As for whether car wash is enough or wheel cleaners are needed is dependent to a large extent on the brake pads that are on the vehicle. A semi metallic pad leaves gunk that`s harder to remove than an organic or cermanic pad . This particular vehicle has a kevlar based pad which doesn`t really stick to the wheel.

 

[atbalfour]

Wheel coatings are no different to paint coatings in that they need occasional decontamination to function properly.

Iron contamination will still stick, as will Road film.

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[Coatings=crack]

Isn`t the whole point of coating a wheel is you can just maintain with shampoo? I`m also not imagining wannafbody`s rims being horribly neglected.

I’d assume that lower panels of a car that is coated can get caked up with traffic film as can all LSP’s. Suppose the wheels would too.


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[Accumulator]

As for whether car wash is enough or wheel cleaners are needed is dependent to a large extent on the brake pads that are on the vehicle..

Noting that I don`t run ceramic pads as I`ve never experienced optimal braking with them (what a waste to take `em off after a little while for replacement with something better ), I guess this is just another case where I`ll thank my lucky stars that I`ve never had problems cleaning *any* brake dust off LSPed/Coated wheels.

Sure not saying that others oughta expect my experiences though, much less questioning that it is indeed an issue for some people. I`m starting to think I`ve stumbled onto some kind of Sweet Spot with regard to maintaining our vehicles, what with the way I just don`t have to contaminate/aggressively clean the way I used to...whatever`s responsible, I`ll take it!