Chrome Wheel Problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 22
St. Jude Donor '17
Chrome Wheel Problem
I have a 2009 Z06. I bought the car new about 6 months ago. I got back from a trip to the beach this week and went out this morning to wash the car. I am a soap only guy on wheels and have had good success with this. when I started this was what I found:
After I washed the wheel it hadn't come clean so I hit it with Tar Remover and then Goo Gone and still had this:
After inspecting all of the wheels the all have some of this on them but I started on the worst one (left front). It feels like I may have some etching here. I did not drive through any construction zone on the trip. What is my best alternative to fix this? Chrome Polish? A different chemical? Any suggestions are welcome.
Any Ideas what could have caused this?
(I also posted this in the care care section.)
After I washed the wheel it hadn't come clean so I hit it with Tar Remover and then Goo Gone and still had this:
After inspecting all of the wheels the all have some of this on them but I started on the worst one (left front). It feels like I may have some etching here. I did not drive through any construction zone on the trip. What is my best alternative to fix this? Chrome Polish? A different chemical? Any suggestions are welcome.
Any Ideas what could have caused this?
(I also posted this in the care care section.)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,967
Likes: 43
From: Bradenton Florida
2017 C4 of the Year Finalist
No-IL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Are these factory wheels, or were they chrome exchange or worse reproductions? The repros I had were so thin on the chrome, the barrels were peeling in no time. Looks like the salt attacked the chrome! If Factory I'd complain and try to get replaced.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 22
St. Jude Donor '17
I will. Just got done with the body. BTW, I always put a coat of wax on the wheels too. Generally every other time I wash the wheels and always a coat of Zanio Quick Detailer. This is another reason this is so disturbing.
And they are factory wheels.
And they are factory wheels.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 22
St. Jude Donor '17
Vinegar did nothing. So I moved to the Turtle Wax Chrome polish. Instantly I saw an improvement. I did the whole wheel. Here is the result:
However, on closer inspection I found this:
If you look closely, you can see the pinholes. I waxed the wheel and will get to the dealer later this week.
Crap.
However, on closer inspection I found this:
If you look closely, you can see the pinholes. I waxed the wheel and will get to the dealer later this week.
Crap.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 1
From: NOVA VA
I'd go the warranty route if possible RIGHT NOW.
They are starting to pit and there is NO WAY to stop that.
Chrome done right should last forever.
ANY type of blemish in the prep layers before the chrome plating is added will cause pitting like this, and once it starts, there is absolutely nothing you can do to fix it. Nothing.
You can keep doing what you have done....and keep cleaning away that residue around the pinholes with an agressive cleaner/polish/compound......but those "pinholes" will only get bigger and bigger and there is nothing at all you can do to stop that.
They are starting to pit and there is NO WAY to stop that.
Chrome done right should last forever.
ANY type of blemish in the prep layers before the chrome plating is added will cause pitting like this, and once it starts, there is absolutely nothing you can do to fix it. Nothing.
You can keep doing what you have done....and keep cleaning away that residue around the pinholes with an agressive cleaner/polish/compound......but those "pinholes" will only get bigger and bigger and there is nothing at all you can do to stop that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,259
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
St. Jude Donor '10
I'm starting to get the same thing on my wheels too. Just noticed it during the last wash a few days ago.
Wouldn't this be covered under the 6 years/100,000 miles Corrosion Protection?
http://www.chevrolet.com/owners/warranty/
Wouldn't this be covered under the 6 years/100,000 miles Corrosion Protection?
http://www.chevrolet.com/owners/warranty/
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 22
St. Jude Donor '17
Well it wasn't very windy and it rained most days. I was surprised as the lack of salt on the glass and paint during the trip.
I am traveling this week and won't be able to get to the dealer before Friday.
I am very disappointed.
I am traveling this week and won't be able to get to the dealer before Friday.
I am very disappointed.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 22
St. Jude Donor '17
As an FYI, I washed and waxed before I left. It rained the first 5 days. I had the windows tinted on the sixth day. It rained on the 7th day. Sunshine on the 8th day ( I washed it then and noticed the wheels didn't come as clean as expected). Sunshine on the 9th day home on the 10.
Oh, and we had 4 other cars down there none of which experienced any ill effects.
Oh, and we had 4 other cars down there none of which experienced any ill effects.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 1
From: NOVA VA
Nothing corrodes chrome.
What might appear to be corrosion is typically either:
- the chromium plating not being done properly during the electroplating process leaving "holes" in the plating allowing chemicals to start corroding the layers of metal that the chromium layer is on top of OR.....
- the underlying layers weren't prepared correctly and they start corroding from the inside.
You might want to try a basic google search of chromium and its properties in order to understand why the chrome itself doesn't corrode.
What might appear to be corrosion is typically either:
- the chromium plating not being done properly during the electroplating process leaving "holes" in the plating allowing chemicals to start corroding the layers of metal that the chromium layer is on top of OR.....
- the underlying layers weren't prepared correctly and they start corroding from the inside.
You might want to try a basic google search of chromium and its properties in order to understand why the chrome itself doesn't corrode.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Nothing corrodes chrome.
What might appear to be corrosion is typically either:
- the chromium plating not being done properly during the electroplating process leaving "holes" in the plating allowing chemicals to start corroding the layers of metal that the chromium layer is on top of OR.....
- the underlying layers weren't prepared correctly and they start corroding from the inside.
You might want to try a basic google search of chromium and its properties in order to understand why the chrome itself doesn't corrode.
What might appear to be corrosion is typically either:
- the chromium plating not being done properly during the electroplating process leaving "holes" in the plating allowing chemicals to start corroding the layers of metal that the chromium layer is on top of OR.....
- the underlying layers weren't prepared correctly and they start corroding from the inside.
You might want to try a basic google search of chromium and its properties in order to understand why the chrome itself doesn't corrode.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 1
From: NOVA VA