*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

Guys (and Gals) I have a problem with my Raceline Aluminum wheels. I had a mobile detailer come detail my truck and his wheel cleaner left stains on all 4 of my wheels.
Please cut me some slack on letting someone else touch my truck as I had reasons this time for being lazy. But in the 5 years I have had this truck no one til now has touched it but me and it's been washed and spray waxed at least twice a month as well as detailing the tires and wheels.
I have noticed this staining with multiple wheel cleaner brands myself in the past and all products said they were clear coat safe. But I removed the stains withing a few minutes and just stopped using wheel cleaners all together so issue solved. Well I din't think to tell not to use wheel cleaner and I didn't notice the stains for about an hour when I went to pull my truck into the garage. I immediately called the Detailer (about 6:00 pm by then)and he said he would come over the next day and polish the wheels out. They next day he did come over and he tried everything he could think of to remove the stains. Nothing worked.

• Mother's Aluminum polish cotton
• Bug and tar remover
• 3M Finesse
• A drill with a polishing cone and a light polishing compound.

Now the stains are about 80% gone but still visible and they guy said he would come and try again after some research (Google). The also guy detailed my wife's Lexus while there and no issues using the same product. Both vehicles look great except for my wheels. I really don't blame the guy as I have had the same issue with multiple product myself. Also the stains only effect the polished part of my wheels the Black parts are still perfect.
I guess my questions are.

1. Does anyone have an idea what could be used to safely remove the stains?
2. And any ideas why this is happening to good quality clear coated wheels using supposedly safe high quality products from Maquires, Eagle One and Black magic?

 

What light polish compound was used? Also, do you know the wheel cleaning product the detailer used? What did the detailer rinse the wheels with?

Not to be that guy but Eagle One and Black Magic are from too quality in detailing list.

Maybe @LTDSC has a suggestion.

 

The light polishing compound was a Maquire's product.
The Eagle One and Black Magic are product I have tried in the past as well as the Maquire's that stained the wheels also.
What the detailer used I'm unsure. He did say that in his 9 years of detailing he had never had any issues like this. He seems like an honest guy.

 

Im sadly going to say those have been burned/etched by the wheel cleaner being left on too long, or being applied while hot still. I'm not sure what would fix that. I believe the surface is damaged.

You can try to use an all purpose cleaner when the wheels cool and scrub with a soft brush. If that doesnt work i think the finish is toast.

to be clear, its the clear coat over the metallic finish thats etched.

 

Yes I am afraid they have been etched. The wheels were cool when cleaned. The pic is before the 80% was removed so they do look better but I'm afraid they'll never be 100% again. I'm waiting for Raceline in California to open to ask for their advice.

 

do you know what wheel cleaner he used by chance? I can tap into some of my resources and see what they recommend.

 

What I don't understand is why there has never been a problem with where the wheels are Black. Always with the machined parts, you would think the entire wheel would be finish coated the same.

 

that is definitely an odd one. Im sure there is some scientific reason why but off my head i couldnt answer that.

Whatever he used, is pretty strong.

 

I agree. I don't have a clue either.

 

do you have any polishes or a clear cleaner style compound? If not go grab some ScratchX from your local parts store and get a FOAM applicator and use that to try to hand polish the stained areas. then wipe off.

 

I completely forgot about foam applicators, thanks for reminding me about them!

Btw, the 4runner looks familiar, are you in the Obsessed Garage group?

 

sho' am!

 

I use to paint custom bikes on the side for a little extra cash. I tried a fine cut Maguire's product and some 3M Finesse which is what I use to use to remove the marks left by 2000 grit from wet sanding and then then the Medium cut compound.
I may try a little Medium cut Maquire's on a soft cloth and see what that does. If it hazes or scratches I can polish it out with the fine cut and Finesse.

 

OK. Just Got off the phone with Raceline. They said the machined part of these wheels is exactly that. Machined, no clear coat. And that the cleaner had Oxidized the surface of the wheels. Now just need to figure out something to remove oxidation from a raw Aluminium machined surface.

 

May try this. But on a rag so as not to touch the Black painted parts.
Hey even fount it on a Tacoma !!

https://youtu.be/uQMLVAkgdEk

 

Hey, guys. I have a 2004 DC in Impulse Red Pearl. I promised myself this would be the first vehicle that I take really good care of, including doing my own preventative maintenance and actually doing hight quality washes and waxes. I have been looking into buying some form of touch up paint to fix a few chips and scratches, but I can't find a good thread describing the process and validity of touch up pens. Any input or redirects would be great! Thanks!

$17 Toyota Touch Up Paint 3P1 Impulse Red Pearl Genuine Scion/Lexus

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Toyota-00258-003P1-21-Pearl-Touch-Up/dp/B009D3JQYG

 

Detailers, if you know a vehicle has had body work done with bondo and a repaint, does it change how you detail or even if you are willing to detail the vehicle in terms of using cutting compounds and polishes?

Also does clay bar remove sealers or coatings?

 

Detailers
I have a 2012 Taco and the black plastic piece in tge center of the bumper has faded. I tried back to black but it did not help. Any ideas?

 

Can you post a picture to see how bad it is?

 

Its bad. Especially under the licence plate. It has some light grey funk going on. Its not dry or flaking but it does not look good at all.