Acid Wash/Opti-Coat Help
 

Hey you guys, I posted awhile back about how to take care of unfinished aluminum rims and got some responses on some coating ideas. Well, I did some research and came across this Opti-Coat product which had some good reviews. But, the key, before putting the product on, is getting the wheel perfect because once it's on...it's on.

So, my rims came with a couple random spots that have made their home on the rims already. I have no idea how they got there or why those specific ones stayed, but has anyone done anything with acid washing? I've read it can make an aluminum rim look like new but I'm scared of acid + expensive rim so I figured I'd come here first before doing anything.

Any input would be appreciated (better methods to remove such thing)


Thanks!

I would look into Sonax FE or Auto Finesse Imperial before using any kind of acid.

https://detailersdomain.com/Sonax-Fu...ner_p_324.html

Imperial – Wheel Cleaner | Auto Finesse USA

Do you have any pictures of the wheels?

Thing is, it's not a road "grime" or brake dust or anything of that nature. It's a stain of some sort (the rims are as sensitive as I was told), that's why acid washing before applying this protectant was my seemingly only option. The first link was an impressive cleaner, but it seems like it takes off physical stuff that you can feel. You can't feel the 2-3 stains I'm speaking of.

Here's a picture of the rims, but nothing up close of the actual stain. I guess I could get that?
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...37941264_n.jpg

Any acid wash of an aluminum surface is going to severely oxidize the surface, almost turning them white, requiring you to then polish them out again.

Its not that acid washes aren't useful for certain situations, but they should be reserved for wheels where heavy restoration is needed. Based on your picture that seems like overkill to address a few spots. You'd be making a lot more work for yourself.

Have you tried polishing out the problem areas with a quality metal polish?

Metal Polishing Detailing Video

Well, from what I was reading, it needs to be diluted. About 1/10 acid, the rest water. I have polished each time I've washed the car, so I have no idea where these specific "drips" came from, but they run the full width of the lip in those spots. I'm thinking maybe start with lemon juice or vinegar, maybe give Alumibrite a try? Everything I've read seems to be pointing to household products if regular car products won't work.

Are you sure those wheels aren't clear anodized? What wheel is that?

100% positive. Varrstoen's (avoid the rep wheel discussion).:wtf2:

Wierd they would leave the aluminun unprotected and when it is it's usually easy to polish.. Can you post some pictures?

I'll try to snap one tomorrow if it doesn't rain. I don't know why they would, but it wasn't a surprise. I knew it going into it, I just didn't know how easily it stained. I'm thinking it came like this or something because everytime I've cleaned it, water would sit on it while I dried the car off in the heat, but polish took everything off. I must've just never noticed or I would've sent it back.

It's probably sounding like some horrifying stain. It isn't. It's just something I want off.