Joined
·
224 Posts
Anybody know the best way to protect a "polished aluminum" rim? From my reading on the web it appears if you use the wrong product you can mess them up. Surely there's a good polish or protectant for these type rims?
Polished Aluminum Rims - care of
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
Joined
·
1,501 Posts
The big question is are they clear coated?
If they are clear coated, you treat them like you would treat the paint on the car.
If they are bare, expect to have to polish them regularly. Power tools are helpful. They sell the ones that are cloth balls that go on the end of a drill.
***, are they clear coated?
If they are clear coated, you treat them like you would treat the paint on the car.
If they are bare, expect to have to polish them regularly. Power tools are helpful. They sell the ones that are cloth balls that go on the end of a drill.
***, are they clear coated?
Joined
·
211 Posts
Here is what I have used over the years on my show cars.
Hollywood's Metal Polish - This stuff works great on polished aluminum!! It also works on Stainless, Silver, Brass, Magnesium & Copper well. This stuff will also help keep oxidation off you wheels.
Here is the web site if your interested http://www.hollywoods1.com/
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Allen
Hollywood's Metal Polish - This stuff works great on polished aluminum!! It also works on Stainless, Silver, Brass, Magnesium & Copper well. This stuff will also help keep oxidation off you wheels.
Here is the web site if your interested http://www.hollywoods1.com/
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Allen
Joined
·
1,501 Posts
Are you confirming that the Volt polished wheels do not have a clear coat?
They don't look like it to me, but I wouldn't want to use a metal polish on a clear coat in case they are...
They don't look like it to me, but I wouldn't want to use a metal polish on a clear coat in case they are...
Joined
·
2,632 Posts
The owner's manual has this to say:
I don't know if the wheels qualify as "trim". This is from the section on "Exterior Care".
Joined
·
211 Posts
No I am not. I am just stating what I have used on aluminum. How about I call GM and ask them????
Joined
·
1,501 Posts
Joined
·
211 Posts
I just spoke to GM PartTech and they have confirmed that the wheels have a clear coat finish.
Regards,
Allen
Regards,
Allen
Joined
·
1,501 Posts
Thanks! That's very helpful info.
So it's back to good old paint care techniques for the wheels when they start looking bad (wash, clay bar, polish, wax).
So it's back to good old paint care techniques for the wheels when they start looking bad (wash, clay bar, polish, wax).
Joined
·
1,818 Posts
On ordinary cars the big deal in cleaning rims is getting the brake dust off. Since the Volt has regen braking in addition to the normal friction brakes, I would expect the amout of brake dust to be much reduced, so the cleaning should be much easier.
I always wash the rims when I wash my car, I do this after washing the car, but use the same suds but a different sponge. Once a or twice year I use a mild polish such as Meguires Deep Crystal Polish to clean off the accumulate brake dust.
Here's an amusing story. I've been told the base allow wheels GM used on the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice are actually the chrome chrome wheels that have been painted over to look like polished alloy. I've been wondering if they did that on the Volt but I'm not interested in scratching the paint to see.
I always wash the rims when I wash my car, I do this after washing the car, but use the same suds but a different sponge. Once a or twice year I use a mild polish such as Meguires Deep Crystal Polish to clean off the accumulate brake dust.
Here's an amusing story. I've been told the base allow wheels GM used on the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice are actually the chrome chrome wheels that have been painted over to look like polished alloy. I've been wondering if they did that on the Volt but I'm not interested in scratching the paint to see.
Joined
·
1,929 Posts
Thanks, Allen. I had been wondering the same thing.
Also, was a pleasure talking to you on Monday. Looking forward to my floor and cargo mats!
Joined
·
227 Posts
What is the heavy duty hatch mat made of? Is it water and stain resistant? When we go to the NC mountains in the summer, we have to take our garbage to the dump. I'd hate to have anything leak out of the plastic bags on to the carpet.
Oops! Wrong thread.
Oops! Wrong thread.
Joined
·
221 Posts
I can confirm this. I have not washed my Volt yet (I use a California Car Duster and wipe down with detail spray and micro-fiber towels). 2000 miles and I have only wiped the wheels down twice. Virtually no brake dust. The rotors are not even bedded in; they still have the machine tool marks on them.
Joined
·
6,305 Posts
A point I make when I do demos and talk about (L)ow. I show them the brakes after we are done.
Joined
·
211 Posts
Your welcome - and thanks or your purchase with us. You will love the all weather mats! They are really nice, I wish they offered them for my Camaro.
Joined
·
2,004 Posts
This procedure is GREAT. I never knew about the California Car Duster, so I bought one. What a great investment. Half the price of a hand-wash, and even saves me the time and money of getting hand-washes!
I can confirm that the early cars at least are not polished under the paint. One of the Volt's I have seen "in the wild" had painted wheels. The front left wheel had a huge scrape, enough to see that the aluminum was just the rough casting under the paint.
Joined
·
506 Posts
I used Clay Bar to clean/oxidation on the polished wheels, then waxed (used ICE) ::::: Premo!
Zero brake dust, rotors still looked machined (circles/swirls) at 4K miles.
Zero brake dust, rotors still looked machined (circles/swirls) at 4K miles.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
