[Jambo1]

Of all the years of detailing my own car and getting to a point settling on all the car care products that work really well for me (pretty much all the Carpro/Koch Chemie/Geist/Bilt Hamber products), I'm stumped with what I've experienced today.

I recently sold my 789M gloss black wheels and replaced with satin gunmetal wheels.

I was excited to be able to use my EZ Detail brush set (couldn't use this on gloss black due to certainty of scratching) - but noticed it wasn't cleaning it well at all. So I bust out the Microfiber Madness Incredibrush Flat AND the Wooly Wormitt, and still no dice.

I could take a clean rag and wipe dirt off after having cleaned the wheels.

The chemical for wheels I've settled on is P&S Brakebuster (my favorite is Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus - but that gets super expensive).

I've never really detailed anything matte or satin, so what am I missing here? I get satin will have a more rough texture, but this stumped me today.

All help appreciated!

[NSXR]

It sounds like you know exactly what you're doing, so if you're stumped we might all be stumped.

Maybe try something like PPG SX330? Painters use it to prep paint before sanding, and I've used it for years to clean wheels/cars before paint correcting.

[bosstones]

Are they super dirty w/ brake dust and road grime to start with?

I think Brake Buster can be foamed so maybe additional dwell time would help?

I'm in the seeming minority but I don't find Brake Buster to be very effective at anything other than very light/minor brake dust accumulation, where regular car wash solutions work equally well and with no more effort. It's not a heavy duty cleaner. For that, I like Sonax Beast and Griots Heavy Dury Brake Cleaner.

Also, random thought but could it also be that the less sheen of the satin finish makes it appear dirtier? Or is the surface not even so light refracts differently and/or traps dirt more?

[chefwong]

Jambo -

BB should clean it. For clarity, is it satin or is it matte clear. MY PC guy won't do wheels in matte clear these days, but will clear in satin. I'll have to re-ask him why one of these days.

If you are use a Iron Wheel Cleaner like Sonax, are you seeing -purple- even after washing it with BB.

Even with leftover car shampoo to clean the wheels, using a Iron Wheel Cleaner normally shows nothing on purple...so be mindful that it's only in the presence of Iron that it will do it.

Wheel Cleaners IMO are more effective when cleaning wheels. The Iron Wheel cleaner does make a nice -show and tell- when your see purple dripping

[Jambo1]

Originally Posted by bosstones

Are they super dirty w/ brake dust and road grime to start with?

I think Brake Buster can be foamed so maybe additional dwell time would help?

I'm in the seeming minority but I don't find Brake Buster to be very effective at anything other than very light/minor brake dust accumulation, where regular car wash solutions work equally well and with no more effort. It's not a heavy duty cleaner. For that, I like Sonax Beast and Griots Heavy Dury Brake Cleaner.

Also, random thought but could it also be that the less sheen of the satin finish makes it appear dirtier? Or is the surface not even so light refracts differently and/or traps dirt more?

No, these are brand new wheels, a week old on the car. Also, never let the car go without a wash over two weeks - so stickler with clean wheels, all through barrels.

I’m in agreement with you about P&S. Sonax Plus was my favorite and it’s just too expensive. I have to go through 5 gallon jug of P&S BB first - had got it for a steal over a year ago.

The wheels remained dirty by using a white cloth to see what’s picked up after cleaning. After some more elbow grease, they seemed much cleaner after wasting time re-cleaning again.

[Jambo1]

Originally Posted by chefwong

Jambo -

BB should clean it. For clarity, is it satin or is it matte clear. MY PC guy won't do wheels in matte clear these days, but will clear in satin. I'll have to re-ask him why one of these days.

If you are use a Iron Wheel Cleaner like Sonax, are you seeing -purple- even after washing it with BB.

Even with leftover car shampoo to clean the wheels, using a Iron Wheel Cleaner normally shows nothing on purple...so be mindful that it's only in the presence of Iron that it will do it.

Wheel Cleaners IMO are more effective when cleaning wheels. The Iron Wheel cleaner does make a nice -show and tell- when your see purple dripping

They are a satin finish. I also use the P&S BB with a Marolex foam sprayer, diluted 50/50. I used to use Carpro IronX on wheels before - I can give that a try.

[chefwong]

Have you tried using BB neat

I've used it 3:1 on a foamer . It's not like you're going to use IronX or Sonax 1:1 .......you use it straight

I'd try that 1st since you have it in your arsenal

[Jambo1]

Originally Posted by chefwong

Have you tried using BB neat

I've used it 3:1 on a foamer . It's not like you're going to use IronX or Sonax 1:1 .......

I'd try that 1st since you have it in your arsenal

Yes sir - that’s what I was planning to do on next wash. If I could find a cost effective 5 gallons of Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus, this would be golden.

[CTPJ]

I've used BB for a few years and have had decent results. I have recently heard very good things about Superior Dark Fury Wheel and Bug Cleaner and am going to try that next. It seems to be the new go-to for many of the YouTube detailers. O'Reilly's sells it for $29.99 gallon so it's very reasonable priced. Jambo1 You may want to try that

[chefwong]

Originally Posted by Jambo1

Yes sir - that’s what I was planning to do on next wash. If I could find a cost effective 5 gallons of Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus, this would be golden.

Are you wheels coated.

I believe you said brand new wheels. I would do deep wheel clean....then coat your wheels if you haven't. It does add just a -smidge- more gloss to satin. What color is the wheel ?

IME, coated wheels - I use leftover car shampoo. Every once in awhile, I'll hit the wheels with Iron cleaner (after cleaning my wheels) with shampoo just to see if I will get purple. ZERO purple with the Iron Cleaner......

I only use the Iron Cleaner about 3-4 times a year per car. Once when taking off summer wheels for the deep wash for storage. Second when taking off winter wheels - same deep wash for storage.. The other 2 are just mid-interim wheel washes during the summer season. And usually those 2 mid-interim washes.....zero purple...I just use it to give me the warm fuzzy feeling of doing best practice, going the extra mile.

Just because it's bleeding purple....IMO, wheel cleaner cleans better on wheels than a Iron Dissolving Cleaner.

[Jambo1]

Originally Posted by chefwong

Are you wheels coated.

I believe you said brand new wheels. I would do deep wheel clean....then coat your wheels if you haven't. It does add just a -smidge- more gloss to satin.

IME, coated wheels - I use leftover car shampoo. Every once in awhile, I'll hit the wheels with Iron cleaner (after cleaning my wheels) with shampoo just to see if I will get purple. ZERO purple with the Iron Cleaner......

They are coated - but I think I had a crappy batch of Armor IX (don’t ask me how I ended up buying that crap - it’s never worked compared to other stuff I’ve used). So, the coating failed as water didn’t behave in the usual manner on a coated surface.

The next time around, I’ll do a deep clean and re-coat with something else. Time waster for sure.

[chefwong]

Wait. So you're issues with with even with let's say.... a substandard LSP on it .....

I reread you 1st post. Brush aside, are you using some sort of hand mitt to clean the wheel faces/spokes or handheld brush. Maybe you're not making good contact.....with said tools. I'd try a MF towel and use that to clean the wheels if all you are using is the brushes tools in the OP....

I get's it's great to get inside to the wheel wells, but the spokes/faces which you see the most....might need something that makes better surface contact than the 3 items you had in your OP.