Aluminum wheel question.

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Jan 1, 2022 | 12:51 AM

zeeman

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From: West Virginia

Aluminum wheel question.

Just bought a 8300 miler Commemorative Z06. Removed the wheels for detailing and noticed on the inside of each aluminum wheel are these dark spots. Cleaners I have & tried to remove them just didn’t get the job done. Attached couple pictures. If knowing how to get these removed I’d welcome all comments. Thanks

Jan 1, 2022 | 01:18 AM

vette4fl

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Hard to tell from the pic, but it looks corrosion building under/breaking through a clear coat. Have you tried aluminum polish on a test area?

Jan 1, 2022 | 06:00 AM

zeeman

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From: West Virginia

Yes I tried aluminum polish without success. Not sure, but wouldn’t think they would clear the inside of these polished aluminum wheels? Trying on using 3x’s strength vinegar with 00 steel wool this weekend on them. ( saw that successfully done on YouTube. Will advise if that works. Been told hydrochloric acid could work also…..

Jan 1, 2022 | 09:06 AM

3sACROWD

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Try ammonia or WD-40 first. If it is road tar, it will come off

Jan 1, 2022 | 12:30 PM

Fcar 98

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 3sACROWD

Try ammonia or WD-40 first. If it is road tar, it will come off

My first impression was it looked like road tar. But after blowing up the pictures. It does look like something is going on with the clear. Hard to say for sure.

Jan 1, 2022 | 01:01 PM

Mike98SilVert

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From: Bonita Springs, Florida

Looks like road tar to me. I would try WD40, Bug and Tar Remover or Go Gone, anything non-abrasive to remove the crud.

Jan 1, 2022 | 03:13 PM

c5arlen

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I'd do the ... Bug and Tar Remover by Turtle Wax. Green squirter bottle, and drop back 5 and punt!

Jan 1, 2022 | 03:44 PM

Vetteman Jack

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Those spots do look like tar - some Bug and Tar remover may help get rid of them. I have been successful in using some paste car wax for tar removal.

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Jan 1, 2022 | 06:08 PM

I’m Z one

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it looks like corrosion and/or pitting to me. Use your fingernail to determine if it is on top of the surface or below? If below it won’t polish out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeeman

Jan 1, 2022 | 07:42 PM

#10

zeeman

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From: West Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3sACROWD

Try ammonia or WD-40 first. If it is road tar, it will come off

This isn’t road tar..you can’t really feel any high spots with these dark spots, simply just dark spotting on the aluminum.

Jan 2, 2022 | 02:59 AM

#11

TCFS

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It definitely looks like corrosion snicking under the clear and it looks like it is in paint also. I guess you can only expose the aluminum with gentle blasting and then paint + clear them back. If you soak them in some corrosive product, it will just make it worse IMHO.
good luck.
TCFS

Jan 2, 2022 | 05:37 AM

#12

zeeman

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From: West Virginia

[QUOTE=TCFS;1604530398]It definitely looks like corrosion snicking under the clear and it looks like it is in paint also. I guess you can only expose the aluminum with gentle blasting and then paint + clear them back. If you soak them in some corrosive product, it will just make it worse IMHO.
good luck.
TCFS[/QUOTE
Just ordered a gallon of “Iron remover” from Adams Polish to see if does anything plus for me. The 3x Vinegar /00 steel wool didn’t do anything.

Thanks for all the replies! 👍