Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

si-forks

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I am lucky to have two sets of wheels for my E39 525 a beautiful set of summer only stainless deep dish alloys and a set of original M wheels which i use on the car in the winter months . The M wheels have not had a clean in two years so today i gave them a good clean using oven cleaner ! With great results , sprayed on the cleaner left it for 20 mins, and then washed off with hot water , they came up great but i would say like anything i would do a test spot on your wheels first !! Worked on mine fine but better safe than sorry .
ONLY USE AS A ONE OFF ON OLD WHEELS
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Snoops

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

Did you just do the front "face" of the wheels or did you manage to get to the inside of the wheels??

I know some people take their wheels off for easy access but not wishing to do that I struggle a bit access wise on the inner wheel getting all the tar marks off using conventional alloy cleaner.

I suspect this oven cleaner is considerably stronger so I wondered if you'd had good results on the inside too??
 

Garythefish

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

Worth a mention

"For use on oven interiors only. For use on cold ovens only. Do not use on self-cleaning ovens, microwave ovens, hot ovens, exterior surfaces, chrome, aluminium, zinc, copper, plastic or polished/lacquered surfaces. Do not use outdoors. If in doubt about whether it is suitable for use on your surface, refer to manufacturer’s instructions."
 

Snoops

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

Garythefish said:
Worth a mention

"For use on oven interiors only. For use on cold ovens only. Do not use on self-cleaning ovens, microwave ovens, hot ovens, exterior surfaces, chrome, aluminium, zinc, copper, plastic or polished/lacquered surfaces. Do not use outdoors. If in doubt about whether it is suitable for use on your surface, refer to manufacturer’s instructions."
Are those the instructions for that particular product Gary??

I know from experience (unfortunately) that some oven products you are instructed to use on a hot oven, but I suspect most will say don't use on other surfaces to cover their backs.

Spot testing in an unobtrusive spot is key with any product not necessarily designed for the item you're cleaning.
 
B

badman gee

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

This Is not reccomended,

Alloy wheels should be cleaned with soapy water.
 

NeRo

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

Be interesting to see what the long term effects are - I guess if you've any weak areas on the lacquer it will get underneath and start to lift ?

I use and would recommend, Dodo Juice - Mellow Yellow

I've also seen Bilberry Acid Free Wheel Cleaner get good reviews.
 

si-forks

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As i said test it on your wheels first and i would only do it as a one off on dirty old wheels NOT on good alloys it is not made for wheels never use oven cleaner all the time. Now the dirt is off i will clean them with soapy water

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r37

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

a product i can recommend is lotoxane degreaser. Was developed as a cleaner for components on submarines and is safe on all surfaces, cleaned my wheels today after re-greasing the the bolts and ive never seen them shine so much. Tar just melted off and after a good rinse and wipe down they look excelent.
 

billz

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

I just did mine last Sunday, Old fashioned way wheels off degreaser then soapy water with a very fine but chunky paintbrush, then polished and waxed, didnt take that long only 6 hrs :) but they now look like new. I do this every 3 months.
 

Boysie

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

I have never used any acid type cleaner on the wheels x_x
It has a long term effect on the laquer
Power wash and soapy water only
And then wax the rims :) "twice a year"
 
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badman gee

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

Boysie said:
I have never used any acid type cleaner on the wheels x_x
It has a long term effect on the laquer
Power wash and soapy water only
And then wax the rims :) "twice a year"
:D
 

GazHyde

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

I used what used to be call Wolfs Brake Duster, but now named Wolfs Decon Gel. The wheels on my MINI were beyond vile and nothing I had would touch it! The beauty of it is it's PH Neutral, and you can leave it on the wheel as long as you like. I coated mine for about 30 minutes, and then wiped over with a wet sponge (although hosing is easier, but I don't have a hose...) It also has a lovely peppermint smell to it.

Apply it and watch your wheels turn red as it dissolves the iron deposits... Here is a sped up video of it working. I can't find my before and after pictures to show how good it is.

 

Jamezee

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

badman gee said:
Boysie said:
I have never used any acid type cleaner on the wheels x_x
It has a long term effect on the laquer
Power wash and soapy water only
And then wax the rims :) "twice a year"
:D
Snap. It always seems to take me longer to do my wheels than the rest of the car, there are that many 'spokes', it is worth the effort though :baa
 

Snoops

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

Having seen this thread originally I thought I'd have a search of the internet to see what other folks use.

Varied range of products used, including Mr Muscle oven cleaner surprisingly.... however one product recommended for tar
removal surprised me..... cover in margarine and leave for a short while and then just wipe away :-o
 

Tufarlian

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

Oven cleaner? You're braver than I am!

Bilberry acid free wheel cleaner. Discovered it last year and it is better than any other wheel cleaner I've tried.

Cheaper too. Don't look in Halfords though. They don't do it. Try eBay or specialist valeting sites.

Mark
 

si-forks

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I've only got i can't believe its not butter will that work :grin::grin:
Worth ago, also WD 40 is good on tar on paint work
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Boysie

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

si-forks said:
I've only got i can't believe its not butter will that work :grin::grin:
Dont use Anchor, you wont get anywhere :D :D
 

TitanTim

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

I use P21S on mine,

http://www.performancemotorcare.com/aca ... ___1L.html

Only ever used it once on my original Z3 alloys and was good stuff.

I would never use any cleaners on the Schnitzers which is why they're washed weekly during the summer.

Dealers are notorious for using acidic cleaners as makes their job easier. When I bought the 1 Series it was a 3 month old demo and all the hubs were completely rusted, happily they put it right however when I took the salesman around all their demo cars, all the hubs were going the same. Never allow a dealer to clean your car come service time [-x

Tim.
 

z3cade

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

I used wheel acid on my original 2.8 alloys and it completely distroyed the surface laquer.. Tuned the laquer into a white haze.. I won't ever use that stuff again..
 
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badman gee

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Re: Cleaning your wheels with oven cleaner

Hot soapy water, coat of polish and coats of wax,

They will be so easy to clean every time.

Mark
 
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