Been searching around the site for information or advice on wheel protection. Whats the difference between a wax and a sealent? The current waxes I have are BlackFire Wet Diamond and Meguiars Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax. Would these be safte to apply to my wheels which are clear coated?
Wax or Sealant on wheels?
- Thread starter dawgboy
- Start date
imported_agentf11
New member
I prefer Zaino on my wheels. I have found that other sealants like REjex also work well. Definitely not a carnuaba wax, too much heat.
snoboarder8232
New member
I will second Collinite 845. It's very durable and heat resistant. After all it is called "insulator wax".
Accumulator
Well-known member
I've never had any huge issues from using waxes on wheels. Yeah, I know...heat, ferrous contamination, brake pad dust...it all sounds like a recipe for disaster with a wax as opposed to a sealant huh? Thing is, I never experienced any of those terrible issues :nixweiss
No, I wouldn't use Souveran before a track day, but I don't think the waxes are as unsuitable for this as one might expect. Yeah, they do contaminate a little quicker than sealants, but then some people can make a good argument for not LSPing wheels period, finding that they're happier just leaving them "bare" (or using a good leaves-stuff-behind QD or spray LSP every time) and cleaning them with wheel cleaners.
Actually, I'm leaving the BBS wheels on my beater-Audi bare and just using FK425 or FK146 after I wash them (with Griot's Wheel Cleaner). To my eyes, they look *almost* as nice as the wheels I have all nicely LSPed and when the LSPed ones start to get near that "oughta redo 'em" point the bare wheels actually look *better*. IME the appearance advantage to LSPing wheels does start to drop off somewhat quickly.
No, I wouldn't use Souveran before a track day, but I don't think the waxes are as unsuitable for this as one might expect. Yeah, they do contaminate a little quicker than sealants, but then some people can make a good argument for not LSPing wheels period, finding that they're happier just leaving them "bare" (or using a good leaves-stuff-behind QD or spray LSP every time) and cleaning them with wheel cleaners.
Actually, I'm leaving the BBS wheels on my beater-Audi bare and just using FK425 or FK146 after I wash them (with Griot's Wheel Cleaner). To my eyes, they look *almost* as nice as the wheels I have all nicely LSPed and when the LSPed ones start to get near that "oughta redo 'em" point the bare wheels actually look *better*. IME the appearance advantage to LSPing wheels does start to drop off somewhat quickly.
If the wheels are clear coated treat them like your paint. I use IW and it works very well. I have found "wheel waxes/sealants" to be a joke. They don't do anything a good wax or sealant already does. It just one more product to sell you and there are plenty willing to buy it for their "collections". So if your not into collecting and just want a product that does the job any good wax or sealant will do. The main thing is to use something.
imported_DetailDan
New member
Accumulator said:
I dont seal the wheels on my personal car. It gets washed once a week and usually a good pressure washing is all thats needed. Otherwise soap and water gets the job done.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Anthony A said:
I've been kinda surprised to find out how many of my wheels were powdercoated instead of (conventionally) painted. Didn't realize it in some cases until my painter started trying to strip the finish off to redo them...I woulda sworn they were just b/c paint (if pretty tough stuff).
I've tried that a few times on my winter wheels, which IMO makes for a good, if demanding test. I wasn't impressed until I tried layering it, and then I changed my tune as several applications (spread a day or so apart) really did work better for me.
That's what I always figured too, not that I've ever actually *tried* any of those "wheel products". Just seems silly to me (heh heh, I've been wrong before, but I don't think I am on this one).
Or at least keep 'em clean enough that you don't get pitting or other issues. I was kinda :nervous: about leaving the Audi's BBSs bare, but after two years they're just fine. Sure wouldn't want to neglect them the way I can my sealed wheels though!
Dan
Well-known member
Everyone slams Poorboys wheel sealant based on one attribute, it does not seem to bead well for long. I really like it because its a fantastic cleaner and is very easy to apply. I haven't found any wax/sealant that prevents road tar from sticking to my wheels, but the PBWS does a fantastic job of removing the tar and looks great.
Accumulator
Well-known member
yakky- I wonder if people would be more charitable towards the Poorboy's Wheel Sealant if it were called something else :think:
Dan
Well-known member
Accumulator said:
I think they might, something along the lines of wheel care or cleaner-wax might work better.
Accumulator
Well-known member
yakky said:
Yeah, but then some people knee-jerk towards hatred when they read "cleaner-wax" too
FastEddysDetail
New member
For wheels i have found that Jetseal works the best!
PB wheel sealant works good to just does not last long.
PB wheel sealant works good to just does not last long.
Dan
Well-known member
Anthony A said:
I did ask that same question. The stuff looks fantastic on silver, I ended up doing a front fender on my suv. It looks like someone was able to get 2-3 layers of qd to stick on top of it somehow. Really deep and wet, but like mentioned doesn't last. As far as other cleaner waxes, other than AIO, nothing really cleans as well as this stuff. It is much easier to use than AIO. I need to test AIO vs the Wheel sealant and find out which lasts longer.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Yakky & Anthony A.- I see where both of you are coming from, but I do find that sometimes a certain product is *just right* for some given situation. Not *dramatically* better, but enough so that I'd rather reach for it than anything else. And, OTOH, if such subtleties aren't significant to somebody, well, that's cool too.
Easier to use than KAIO huh? That's something...
Heh heh, after the first rain my wheels usually look pretty nasty anyhow
Maybe I'm misreading something here...but that approach really works great for me on the V8's BBS wheels, and I was expecting to be disappointed. The FK425 adds just enough that they *are* shined up a little, and that little bit does matter (well, at least to me ). Plus, they seem to stay decent-looking a little longer and then clean up a little bit better. But eh, it's nothing all *that* dramatic I guess.
But I oughta try one of those brake dust repellant products, bet that'd be better (if more expensive). That might help with how the brakdust looks so terrible after a rain.
Easier to use than KAIO huh? That's something...
What is FK425 going to do other than shine them up a little. It's only a QD and will wash off after the first rain.[/QUOTE]Legacy99 said:
Heh heh, after the first rain my wheels usually look pretty nasty anyhow
Maybe I'm misreading something here...but that approach really works great for me on the V8's BBS wheels, and I was expecting to be disappointed. The FK425 adds just enough that they *are* shined up a little, and that little bit does matter (well, at least to me
). Plus, they seem to stay decent-looking a little longer and then clean up a little bit better. But eh, it's nothing all *that* dramatic I guess.But I oughta try one of those brake dust repellant products, bet that'd be better (if more expensive). That might help with how the brakdust looks so terrible after a rain.