Best cleaner for Alcoas?

[Nevada7.3]

What's the best cleaner / polish to shine up the Alcoa aluminum rims on my '97? Is there anything I need to stay away from that might damage any coatings they have, etc?

Thanks in advance

[kramarj]

To make them pop strip them and polish them. If you don't want to do that Mothers makes them shine pretty good. I really like White Diamond polish, but have never tried it on clear coated wheels, works wonders on bare aluminum though. This is what they look like if you strip and polish them, it's a huge improvement-

[sgt dave]

What do you use to strip the clearcoat off?

[kramarj]

I use this stuff:Mar-Hyde(R) Tal-Strip(R) II Aircraft Coating Remover Aerosol, 3711, 12 oz, 12 per case:*Mar-Hyde® Tal-Strip® II Aircraft Coating Remover Aerosol, 3711, 12 oz, 12 per case. If you try it I highly recommend rubber gloves because it burns real bad on the skin. One of these days I will do a write up on it, I have been asked quite a few times how to do it.

[sgt dave]

Thanks, I'll look into it.

[rolsmojave3]

Did you strip the clear coat with the tires on the wheels? I've used stripper similar to clean up dirty diamond plate and it works great!

[7.3550Duty]

If you guys wanna clean your alcoas and still keep the clear coat on. Not sure if you guys have like a Kenworth or Peterbilt dealer near by or any big rig truck shop locally. Go in there and ask for some aluma brite cleaner. You mix that up with some water, spray it on the wheels, let it sit for a few seconds, then have a wash mitt sitting in soapy water, wash wheel like normal. Let dry and break out the alum polish and your wheel will be all rid of the road grime and will be all clean. Once your done polishing, throw some flower in the wheel, wipe around with a clean towel and throw it back on the truck and it will be bright as new.

[kramarj]

Originally Posted by rolsmojave3

Did you strip the clear coat with the tires on the wheels? I've used stripper similar to clean up dirty diamond plate and it works great!

I did one set that way, I just tried to keep it off of the tires. I didn't worry about the valve stems as I sold the tires that were on the rims, but I can't imagine that stripper would be good on rubber.

[Nevada7.3]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I don't think I'm quite ready to strip my clearcoat. Mostly because I'm not very diligent about keeping them clean. They often go all winter without a good thorough cleaning. I will try the other options. Luckily they're not in too bad a shape, just need to shine up some old tarnish and stains.

Originally Posted by 7.3550Duty

Once your done polishing, throw some flower in the wheel, wipe around with a clean towel and throw it back on the truck and it will be bright as new.

I'm not sure what this means. Do I actually wipe baking flour on the finish? What does that do?

[Fordman247365]

Originally Posted by 7.3550Duty

If you guys wanna clean your alcoas and still keep the clear coat on. Not sure if you guys have like a Kenworth or Peterbilt dealer near by or any big rig truck shop locally. Go in there and ask for some aluma brite cleaner. You mix that up with some water, spray it on the wheels, let it sit for a few seconds, then have a wash mitt sitting in soapy water, wash wheel like normal. Let dry and break out the alum polish and your wheel will be all rid of the road grime and will be all clean. Once your done polishing, throw some flower in the wheel, wipe around with a clean towel and throw it back on the truck and it will be bright as new.

I am going to strip mine here soon, I also have aluma shine which I think is the same stuff. My clear is screwed up so I dont have any choice but to strip them.

I assume the flour is to take up any left over polish and leave a clean dry surface?