Can anyone recommend a safe way to remove tar from alloys,i've tried autoglym intensive tar remover but not much success.It works but it's very labour intensive and where i've had to rub so hard,unbelievably i've gone through the laquer:((well the wheel finish in places is a bit suspect!)I'm after something that is quick and won't harm the finish,i don't want to use acidic wheel cleaners.

Thanks

How about a claybar?

How about a claybar?

Forgive me for being ignorant but whats a claybar?where can i get one from?

Thanks

A professional detailing company such as swissol or meguirs (sp?) should be able to sell you one. Not sure if they're available in halfords.

It works like a big ball of blu-tac does for removing small traces of blu-tac off a wall. Someone else can probably explain better.

Can anyone recommend a safe way to remove tar from alloys' date='i've tried autoglym intensive tar remover but not much success.It works but it's very labour intensive and where i've had to rub so hard,unbelievably i've gone through the laquer:((well the wheel finish in places is a bit suspect!)I'm after something that is quick and won't harm the finish,i don't want to use acidic wheel cleaners.

Thanks[/quote']

Try WD40

Try WD40

Thanks i will give wd40 a go as i don't know where to get a claybar?Hopefully it will shift the little buggers quicker than the autoglym!!

there's tar and bug remover in halfords can't remember if it's turtle wax that makes it, good old t cut can bring the wheels up a treat too

I am sure i once read somewere that 3in1 oil will also get tar off. also what about engine degreaser it gets oil off and tar is oil based and it says on the tin dont spill on tarmac paths.

there's tar and bug remover in halfords can't remember if it's turtle wax that makes it, good old t cut can bring the wheels up a treat too

Bit worried about using t-cut as it's abrasive and i don't want to take any more laquer off:eek:

Ive always used T-cut on my alloys, works a treat. Just polish it back up afterwards

Ive always used T-cut on my alloys, works a treat. Just polish it back up afterwards

I'm worried about using t-cut as already said,surely it's going to cut the paint/laquer which on my wheels is already thin!Maybe on better quality wheels with more laquer it would be ok?

I'm worried about using t-cut as already said,surely it's going to cut the paint/laquer which on my wheels is already thin!Maybe on better quality wheels with more laquer it would be ok?

If in doubt don't use it, never had a problem with it so far. the turtle wax stuff is good too just takes a lot of elbow grease

Top tip number 6,389

Cleaning tar from cars and alloy wheels:

Use petrol

If you don't want to buy a full 5 litres of the stuff use lighter fluid.

Then apply wax...never leave the car/wheels unprotected

(once every six months my Red (!) Octy gets a "petrol wash" to remove all the tar spots and then a nice coat of wax to keep her looking pretty

Holts Tar remover, give them a good wash after followed by a polish. Takes very little elbow grease.

Is it definitly tar ?, I have noticed a lot of black dots that are impossible to remove, is it "pitting".

Sounds like baked on brake dust to me. Try rubbing it first...if it smears its tar..if not its brake dust. I have used autoglym tar remover to remove tar spots and found it to be excellent if left to work! Same goes for the wheel cleaner. I left it on my wheels for around 90 seconds rather than the advised 60 then used an old toothbrush to loosen the crap and to get into all the nooks and crannies then rinsed of and they come up like new....never had damage to the laquer tbh and I've gone through 2 bottles in 6 months! Once you have got rid of the dust make damn sure you give em a good wax

Ditto, Autoglym tar remover has always worked for me, WD40 is just a vesion of the Autoglym that requires a lot more work IMHO!

Claybars are available from Halfords.

Sounds like baked on brake dust to me. Try rubbing it first...if it smears its tar..if not its brake dust. I have used autoglym tar remover to remove tar spots and found it to be excellent if left to work! Same goes for the wheel cleaner. I left it on my wheels for around 90 seconds rather than the advised 60 then used an old toothbrush to loosen the crap and to get into all the nooks and crannies then rinsed of and they come up like new....never had damage to the laquer tbh and I've gone through 2 bottles in 6 months! Once you have got rid of the dust make damn sure you give em a good wax

Yes a mixture of both i think,if it is baked on brake dust that would explain why i had to rub so hard to get it off!So you would recommend wheel cleaner to remove the brake dust?Which one do you use?as i've already said i don't want to use an acidic one,sorry i just don't want to damage the wheels any more than they already are:(

Yes a mixture of both i think,if it is baked on brake dust that would explain why i had to rub so hard to get it off!So you would recommend wheel cleaner to remove the brake dust?Which one do you use?as i've already said i don't want to use an acidic one,sorry i just don't want to damage the wheels any more than they already are:(

I use Autoglym wheel cleaner. This has phosphoric acid in it but aslong as you don't leave the stuff to dry on your alloys you should be fine, I never had a problem with it. I ain't an expert but I would have thought that most wheel cleaners use some form of acid to dissolve the brake dust. GL in finding a non-acidic one.

I use Autoglym wheel cleaner. This has phosphoric acid in it but aslong as you don't leave the stuff to dry on your alloys you should be fine, I never had a problem with it. I ain't an expert but I would have thought that most wheel cleaners use some form of acid to dissolve the brake dust. GL in finding a non-acidic one.

I believe Meguiars hot rims wheel cleaner doesn't contain acids,don't quote me though!

I just don't want to waste money trying different products,i just want someone to say this is the magic cleaner you need:thumbup:

Thanks for all the replies though,this forum is great!!

I reckon you should use an acidic cleaner and rinse well - so long as you haven't got:

corrosion

kerb damage

wheels are split rims

chrome plating

you won't have any long term problems - honest.

I reckon you should use an acidic cleaner and rinse well - so long as you haven't got:

corrosion

kerb damage

wheels are split rims

chrome plating

you won't have any long term problems - honest.

why spend money on silly CONcoctions when you don't have to???

I've just sold a set of 16" Octy elegance alloys and they looked like they had just left the factory: petrol and wax, nothing else......or is this a case of "Brand image" chavness (not aimed at anyone honest!)

It just strikes me as being very silly to line the pockets of the wealthy with more money when there is a cheaper option.....

BTW: check out what it says on a lot of the cleaners and polishes........"contains petroleum distilates"

phosphoric acid: contained in Cola type drinks (and works, dip a coin in it and see what happens!!) also contained in things like ketchup and brown sauce, try the same trick!

petrol wins for me everytime...and cheaper than the stuff that is causing Halfrauds shelves to creak and groan......

oh well, I guess people have to live and learn

why spend money on silly CONcoctions when you don't have to???

I've just sold a set of 16" Octy elegance alloys and they looked like they had just left the factory: petrol and wax' date=' nothing else......or is this a case of "Brand image" chavness (not aimed at anyone honest!)

It just strikes me as being very silly to line the pockets of the wealthy with more money when there is a cheaper option.....

BTW: check out what it says on a lot of the cleaners and polishes........"contains petroleum distilates"

phosphoric acid: contained in Cola type drinks (and works, dip a coin in it and see what happens!!) also contained in things like ketchup and brown sauce, try the same trick!

petrol wins for me everytime...and cheaper than the stuff that is causing Halfrauds shelves to creak and groan......

oh well, I guess people have to live and learn [/quote']

So you're saying that petrol will remove everything,tar and baked on brake dust,roadgrime etc?

So you're saying that petrol will remove everything,tar and baked on brake dust,roadgrime etc?

Nat,

I've been driving for a long time now (read: in excess of 20 years) and at one stage I was acting as a driver/bodyguard so the car had to be spotless. The car had alloys (probably one of the second or third generation in the country!)

That part of the story is important because other people had found to their cost that any acidic compound simply removed or flaked the early laquers applied to alloy wheels.

Tar= byproduct of the petrol distillation process, so it doesn't take a genius to work out that by using a "higher" hydrocarbon you can dissolve a "lower" hydrocarbon.

My advice is just that.....advice

Try it, take it, leave it, you asked for an answer to how to remove tar spots etc from alloys.

One can of Swan lighter fluid from your local Spar shop will cost around

One can of Swan lighter fluid from your local Spar shop will cost around

Thanks to everyone who have given their invaluable advice,i now have to try and find time to do it and purchase all the protective gear:eek::DIf nothing else Shell/BP/Etc share prices will hit the roof,which petrol brand whould everyone recommend?