Insider Secrets to Cleaning and Maintaining Chrome Rims

A Quick Guide Designed To More Then Double The Life of Your Chrome Wheels With Proven Insider Techniques

 

Introduction

 With over fifteen years in the automotive appearance industry I have developed proven techniques that make a difference in the appearance and longevity of all automobile surfaces. The primary product I use for cleaning and waxing all nonporous surfaces is Fukken Wax. It works on Paint, Glass, Hard Plastics, Fiberglass, Polished Medals, and CHROME; and it is Clear-coat and Gel-coat safe.

Fukken Wax has been developed and formulated to lift dirt away from the vehicle surface; Fukken Wax is a combination of lubricants, cleaning agents and premium carnauba wax with an aerosol delivery system. I believe it is the best product of its kind in the market today.

In this book I will give you some tried and true methods developed over the years; and that have proven to increase both the appearance and longevity of CHROME WHEELS.

If you will use my Insider Techniques outlined in this book, they will more than Double the life of your chrome wheels.

ENJOY!

Common Problems

 Because of the recent popularly of chrome wheels we see the need to address the problem of keeping and maintaining the appearance of what is often an expensive investment.

One of the most common problems we see is “Pitting”, this is where we can see and feel small holes appear in the surface of the chrome finish.

Another problem is “Rust”; poor maintenance and neglect are the usual culprits when it comes to rust.

The next common problem is “Blistering”, this is a condition where the surface of the chrome begins to rise away from the medal.

“Break Dust” is another factor in diminishing the appearance of chrome wheels by holding in corrosive components that in time will damage the finish.

 Clean Wax and Shine Chrome Wheels

Chrome wheels pack a whole new level of electric looks, and require more care to preserve that style. Cleaning brushes and solutions that work great for other wheels won\'t work for chrome, and can even cause expensive and sometime irreparable damage.

For chrome wheels, select a cleaner made specifically for getting the grime out of chrome. I recommend Fukken Wax I believe it is thebest all around chrome cleaner and wax on the market today.

Before we start on what you do to keep your chrome wheels in the best possible condition, it’s also important to look at what NOT TO DO!

 

 

Things Not To Do

 

Do not: use a harsh brush or scouring pad
Abrasive scrubbing devices are good at removing dirt and grime for a reason: they remove just about everything else in their path, too. If you clean your chrome wheels with one, you\'re bound to have a scarred finish.

Do not: use household cleaners
Household cleaners are frequently loaded with harmful chemicals that can streak, bubble or dull chrome finish. Watch out for acid or lye based wheel cleaners, though— they can have caustic effects.

Do not: wash hot wheels after driving a lengthy distance
Always clean chrome wheels after they\'ve had a chance to cool evenly. Splashing cold water on a hot wheel can have severe effects, including cracking, streaking or bubbling of the chrome plating.

Do not: go to long between clean and wax
When brake dust is allowed to sit for long periods of time, it forms pits in the chrome plating that can be disastrous. Dirt and dust now have a place to burrow into your wheels, interrupting your shine. And, the elements can now get into these pits, allowing corrosion to start.

 Cleaning Chrome Wheels

Again! Do not use abrasive household cleaners on these surfaces because they may scratch. If there is sticky or gummy soil to remove, try rubbing with baking soda on a damp cloth or sponge, or wipe with vinegar, rinse, and buff dry. A little white flour sprinkled on a dry rag makes a fantastic chrome cleaner; excellent when you have that little bit left in the bottom of the bag.

 

Insider Tip: Always apply a coat of Fukken Wax to make the shine and finish last longer.

 

Bonus Tip: Use Fukken Wax on all your chrome kitchen and bathroom fixtures and they will shine along with your chrome car parts.

 

Corrosion Protection

 

Cleaning and waxing your chrome wheels regularly is not just an appearance issue its preventative maintenance.

If you allow brake dust to sit on your chrome wheels for a prolonged period of time, it can eat into the chrome and cause it to pit and rust. Brake dust is made of an adhesive and carbon fibers that come off the brake pad and tiny metal shavings from the rotor. The intense heat and friction generated by the wheels makes this mixture highly corrosive. Because you probably drive every day, more brake dust is constantly being made. Frequent cleaning is the only way to keep your wheels safe. A good start is to use Fukken Wax to clean and maintain your wheels.

 

How to Clean & Wax Chrome Wheels with Fukken Wax:

Always SHAKE WELL before each use.

1) Simply spray a small amount of Fukken Wax to a terry cloth towel or micro fiber towel.

2) Wipe the chrome surface with light pressure.

3) After Fukken Wax hazes, simply buff with a clean dry towel to a lustrous shine.

Insider Tip: Occasionally clean the back side of the wheel to remove road grime, road salts, brake dust and grease; as this will decrease the chance for corrosive conditions to set in.

 

Bonus Tip: When using Fukken Wax this same technique applies to all the following: Mild Rust Removal, Spinning Rims, Truck Rims / Wheels, Semi Truck Chrome, Sliver Flatware, Gold & Silver Jewelry, Brass beds, Cleaning brass, Brass Instruments, Cleaning Silverware, Cleaning Old Coins, Motorcycle Chrome, Plus 1000’s of other uses!

 

Ask The Insider:

 

Q. Do Chrome Wheels Tarnish?

A.No chrome wheels do not tarnish; however polished aluminum wheels do. The only time chrome will pit is if it’s starting to rust; polish aluminum wheels will have pits from the casting.
Chrome is a very hard metal, and contact with flying debris won’t cause them to pit, but instead chip, and pit and a chip are very different; a pit will look like someone took a an ice pick and hit the wheels, with chrome wheels, you would have straight sided chips in it.
You should clean aluminum wheels with steel wool pads, and then polish them with metal polish. If you don’t mind spending the money, I recommend that you polish the wheels, and then have them clear coated at any body shop. It will require much less maintenance from then on, and you won’t be able to tell that they are clear coated. Then after the clear coat sets just maintain the shine with Fukken wax.

 

Ask The Insider:

Q. What Causes Peeling or Flaking on Chrome Wheels

A. Over the years, I have seen this problem many times; the chrome is peeling or flaking off - either inside the tire area or behind the face of the wheel in the barrel. This is due to several factors.

Chemical Deterioration
The first and most predominate reason for peeling and flaking of the chrome in the tire "air" area (where the wheel is suppose to hold back the air pressure from the tire) is due to the use of fix-a-flat type products. Fix-a-flat type products are the chemicals that you put into a flat tire that inflates the tire while sealing the damaged area of the tire. The chemicals from the use of these types of products interact with the chrome compounds and cause the chrome to flake or peel. It is fine to use the product as a temporary fix - which is its intended use. However if you forget that it is inside the tire, and allows for several days to pass before either replacing the tire, or having the tire fixed, you will discover that the chemical has caused the chrome to begin to let loose from the Aluminum wheel. If it is left inside the wheel for an extended period of time, the aluminum wheel itself will also start to deteriorate and will eventually cause the wheel to leak. This leak will be a slow leak - and will in most cases ruin the tire from under inflation. The only way to fix the leak is to remove the chrome with a heavy brush, have the wheel sealed with silicone (which is a temporary fix) and have it checked on periodically. The best solution is to have the wheel re-chromed, but this can be costly.

The simple solution to this problem is very basic. If you have to use the fix-a-flat type product, make sure that you get your tire replaced or repaired as quickly as possible. Make sure that you tell the tire technician or salesperson that you have used the product (it\'s a real mess for the tire technician otherwise) and that you would like for that person to clean the fix-a-flat product off of the chrome. Even if it is cleaned from the tire, the wheel will still need a good "bath", if you will, to ensure that there are no future problems; then protect the surface using Fukken Wax.

 

Salt Rust
The second most common cause of peeling and flaking chrome - usually behind the face of the wheel in the barrel area, or in the actual face of the wheel itself is the salt used in the northern states for snow conditions; or salt air in costal areas near the ocean. This will destroy any chrome wheel - given time and the right conditions. If the underside of the car is not kept clean or coated with some type of undercoating this salt will also eat the metal construction under the car and cause major rust problems with the vehicle.

If you live in the northern states where snow and ice is a regular occurrence, or near the ocean, and you want to protect your chrome wheels, I suggest that you use Fukken Wax weekly to protect your chrome wheels.

 

Ask The Insider.

Q. How Are Wheels Chrome Plated?

A. Unlike conventional alloy wheels that are spray painted to a silver finish, a chrome finish is a very long time evolved procedure. This is the reason why chromed wheels are more expensive than the conventional wheel finishes.

Wheels are CNC machined to their shape in alloy, then through many processes (see below) the wheels are then buffed to a high luster, rinsed, copper-plated, copper-buffed, nickel plated, chrome plated and rinsed. Wheels are then cleaned and ready to pack.

 

Conclusion

By providing these Insider Secrets my hope was not only to provide a little information about chrome wheels; but also give you a better understanding of how to maintain both the appearance value of them.

Remember, I can only point out the “How”, you must provide the “Do”!

 

THE SECRET’S OUT