wheel/hubcap cleaning problem

J

jvcn

New member
I have some sort of whitish gunk on one of the wheels (looks a bit like blobs of plaster or hardened plastic) that have stuck on (center and around it) and can't be removed by my normal washing and scrubbing.



I think that my wife bumped it against a wall at one time and didn't do anythng about it. Now that we have a new car and this has become my daily driver, I'm trying to get it clean. The rest of the car is in good shape.



Anyone have ideas how to clean this wheel? What to try first? Bleche-White? Alcohol?



??



Thx.
 
Welcome to Autopia! :wavey





If possible, a photo would really help. This sounds like it's on the wheel (not the tire) of the car? If so, try clay. Chemical product alternatives include a tar remover like Stoner Tarminator, 3m General Adhesive Cleaner or a prep product like Prepsol/Klen Strip Prep All



Never use Bleche-White on a wheel. In fact, I avoid that stuff altogether for anything.



HTH.
 
It is a good idea to first try to identify what it is that's stuck to your wheel. Then you would have a better chance of learning more about how to remove it.



I would not recommend using any solvent type products until you know for sure what you are dealing with.
 
Here's a pic. Washing and scrubbing with soap doesn't seem to help.



Ideas?:nixweiss
 

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Yikes! That looks like serious damage as in total wheel clear coat failure :eek: At least the part outside of that center circle part
 
Yes, that looks like the clear coat got scratched up pretty bad. Carefully examine it again and see if those marks aren't really scratches rather than something on the wheel. Run your fingernail across it and see if it feels like a depression (scratch) rather than some substance on top of the clear coat.



If it is scratched I'm not sure what/or how the best way to repair it might be, perhaps some of the experts can advise you on that.
 
At least some of it is definitely over the clear coat. Washing and scrubbing removed some of the gunk till you see what's left.



The white "fungus" (looks close up like dried papier mache) is the outer edge of what I didn't scrub off. I'm thinking of using a razor or something to pry it off, but was hoping someone would first suggest a cleaner that would loosen it.
 
I agree with Bill, that looks like complete clearcoat failure/separation. From the way its evenly distributed around the 'spokes' on the rim, I think that something caustic got trapped underneath the center cap and ate it's way out from there. You need to contact a rim refinishing shop.
 
Sigh...



I guess I'll just have to live with it. I like keeping it clean but I don't think it's worth spending a lot of money on a 6 yr old Dodge Stratus. And repairing or replacing that wheel would cost real money.



Oh, well. Waxing it is therapeutic for me.:(
 
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