Alloy Cleaner Beware!

[TravisFR]

Don't use Kleen Freaks Acid Free Wheel Cleaner! I used it yesterday and it burnt the paint off my alloys, had to do a full respray today, the picture doesn't show it clearly but that wheel was the 'best' out of the 4

KEEP AWAY!

 

[Joshkcupra]

I'd see if it would be effective on the grafitti on the bumper

 

[TravisFR]

Next joke

 

[herbie147]

Did you let the product go dry?

 

[dw911]

Use over cleaner next time, it's cheaper, appears to do the same job as your kleen wheel cleaner
It's says acid free on the kleen bottle in your picture, if it is, I'd hate to see what the non acid free one would do to alloy wheels

But seriously that's bad, that's why I never use any wheel cleaners
Although I guess there are safe ones out there

 

[shnazzle]

It depends on how long you leave it on

I did the same with our previous Leon with diamond cut alloys, but with Halfords home make alloy cleaner.
I spent 1 hour after that scrubbing each spoke with G3 scratch remover and paint renovator to polish it off manually. It looked a bit more dull, but the costs of re-doing a diamond-cut alloy weren't worth it

 

[TravisFR]

Did you let the product go dry?

No I washed it off before it dried but it had enough time to get through the paint :/

 

[TravisFR]

Use over cleaner, it's cheaper, appears to do the same job as your wheel cleaner

But seriously that's bad, that's why I never use any wheel cleaners
Although I guess there are safe ones out there

I'll never use an alloy cleaner again, I'll stick to elbow grease!

 

[TravisFR]

It depends on how long you leave it on

I did the same with our previous Leon with diamond cut alloys, but with Halfords home make alloy cleaner.
I spent 1 hour after that scrubbing each spoke with G3 scratch remover and paint renovator to polish it off manually. It looked a bit more dull, but the costs of re-doing a diamond-cut alloy weren't worth it

Spent hours on them yesterday, tried everything but it did nothing so had to paint them today :/

 

[shnazzle]

I'll never use an alloy cleaner again, I'll stick to elbow grease!

The process is: Put on, scrub in, leave for 30 seconds or so, rinse off.
You let it dry, you let it die

 

[TravisFR]

The process is: Put on, scrub in, leave for 30 seconds or so, rinse off.
You let it dry, you let it die

Was on for no more than a minute and I used that process

 

[shnazzle]

https://plus.google.com/101648562745767165053/posts/EfRnUuZcNBX

Don't know if this link works but this was my alloy when I left Halfords wheel cleaner to dry. Later down in the post shows the after shot, after G3 Scratch Remover

 

[shnazzle]

Kleen Freaks:
"Acid free wheel cleaner is safe to use on 99% of all wheels. Safe on all clear coated and powdercoated wheels, do not use on polished stainless, alloy or un-lacquered paint. Ready to use out of the bottle "

haha.. Fail

 

[TravisFR]

Looks like that sorted it! Mine are all painted now anyway, just thought I'd let everyone know what can happen

 

[shnazzle]

Looks like that sorted it! Mine are all painted now anyway, just thought I'd let everyone know what can happen

Good stuff. Yeah alloy cleaner can be nasty stuff. You're generally ok on powdercoated or painted wheels, because it would take a hell of an acid to get through that.
But on diamond cut wheels (alloy) or stainless you have to really be careful what you use as it WILL eat into the metal. I've even seen it eat a groove into the alloy and leave this dusty white residue.

People forget that when you start going into specialist products, which wheel cleaner is, then you have to know the ins and outs.

Like knowing what waxes to mix with what glazes, or sealants and glazes, etc

 

[dj_troopa]

Kleen Freaks had this problem with their wheel cleaner before where it damaged a guys wheels!

Get rid of the 'scene' cleaning products and get yourself some Valet Pro Bilberry Wheel Cleaner! It's the best stuff to use and very safe. It's been around for years and VERY popular.

 

[beddin90]

Never seen that before! Will stay clear