Hi All,

First post on Briskoda so hello!!

I've had two Octavias so far, a 2006 2.0 petrol 'sport', then a 2011 2.0 TDI Elegance (with sports suspension). They're company cars but I get the choice of car. This is the only time in 20 years I've had the same model of car twice in a row, but alas, I love them!!!

Just ordered my new one, and this time lucky enough to be able to get a VRS so I absolutely can't wait to drive it!! (Although I will have to wait until October! haha!).

Anyway, both the Octys I've had have been in black magic paint, I've always avoided 'machine' car washes as the brush marks start to show real quick on a black car, so I take it to the local hand car wash who do an fantastic job.

I've noticed that they seem to use some kind of acid based wheel cleaner (you can smell it when the do the wheels) which gets the alloys looking ace, but on both cars discoloured the skoda badge in the wheel centre cap. 

I was wondering, has anyone had experience of this kind of wheel cleaner, (which seems to be common at 'hand' car washes), on the red painted brake calipers and has it done any damage to the paint?

Thanks,

Dave

Hi All,

First post on Briskoda so hello!!

I've had two Octavias so far, a 2006 2.0 petrol 'sport', then a 2011 2.0 TDI Elegance (with sports suspension). They're company cars but I get the choice of car. This is the only time in 20 years I've had the same model of car twice in a row, but alas, I love them!!!

Just ordered my new one, and this time lucky enough to be able to get a VRS so I absolutely can't wait to drive it!! (Although I will have to wait until October! haha!).

Anyway, both the Octys I've had have been in black magic paint, I've always avoided 'machine' car washes as the brush marks start to show real quick on a black car, so I take it to the local hand car wash who do an fantastic job.

I've noticed that they seem to use some kind of acid based wheel cleaner (you can smell it when the do the wheels) which gets the alloys looking ace, but on both cars discoloured the skoda badge in the wheel centre cap. 

I was wondering, has anyone had experience of this kind of wheel cleaner, (which seems to be common at 'hand' car washes), on the red painted brake calipers and has it done any damage to the paint?

Thanks,

Dave

 

 

It's most likely an acidic cleaner like this:

 

http://www.autoglym.com/products/products/clean-wheels

 

...which should not be applied to hot wheels or left on for more than 1 minute... and should absolutely not touch any part of the brakes. Personally, I avoid it all together now as it has stripped the lacquer off one of my alloys. I now use "Muc-Off" which is perfectly safe (non acidic) and works a treat.

 

Essentially, if you trust other people to clean your car you run the risk of them completely f****** it up, because let's be honest, they don't care - it's not their car.

 

Anyway, both the Octys I've had have been in black magic paint, I've always avoided 'machine' car washes as the brush marks start to show real quick on a black car, so I take it to the local hand car wash who do an fantastic job.

 

Taking a car to a handwash is just as bad as a machine wash, just don't do it.  You'll be doing your car more good by not cleaning it at all.

Please don't use a hand car wash.....ask yourself how many car washes the sponge has done today?....how many times have they dropped it?...once you have done this...drive away and wash it yourself with a hose pipe and two buckets some car shampoo, with a MF mitt or pad and dry it with a MF towel....you will be amazed at how quick it is and how swirl free your paint is

The standard 18" VRS wheels are the easiest alloys to clean that I have owned. There are no awkward ridges or hard to reach places, and so far simple water has been sufficient to make them shine like new. If you go anthracite they also hide the brake dust well, delaying the frequency they require a wash.

 

I would only ever use chemicals if e alloys were badly stained or dust was heavily embedded. My old BMW alloys were a b***h to clean, but time and effort did a good job without using chemicals. The VRS alloys are as easy to clean as the rest of the Octy's bodywork.

 

I wouldn't trust my own family to clean my car, let alone hand car washes. Do it yourself, save money, and rest assured that things were done correctly.

Edited 30 May, 201412 yr by Orville

Specific alloy wheel cleaners are normally only necessary on neglected wheels. If you seal the wheels with wax or sealant you will find they clean up fine with just normal car shampoo. Non acidic cleaners can be just as bad as acidic ones as they are often strong alkaline instead.

Muc off is alkaline and can do damage

Taking a car to a handwash is just as bad as a machine wash, just don't do it.  You'll be doing your car more good by not cleaning it at all.

 

Ok, I get that some people are pretty keen on keeping their cars nice and sparkly - but what would you suggest for someone who doesn't fancy washing their car every Sunday, or ever for that matter. What are the alternatives, and which is best?

Pay a detailer?

Pay a detailer?

 

For a wash?

For a wash?

Get it washed

De contaminated polished and waxed with a durable sealer and then the muck will come off a lot easier reducing the need for harsh chemicals and less work when washing! I don't mean send it to a detailer for every wash I just meant every 6 months or 12!

Thanks very much for the advice so far. I live in a flat so washing it myself is a major hassle and would just be impractical. that's why I go to the hand wash. I've tried a few places and the guys where I go do take very good care (although I appreciate what people have said about how many other cars they've washed that day etc). 

The only thing that's not great is the acid wheel wash (and as Tactical 87 said I think it is the autoglym one).

Has anyone ever noticed their caliper paint be damaged or discoloured by these products (either using them themselves or from a paid for car wash)?

I guess I could just ask them not to use the wheel cleaner (I just need to learn the Polish words for it...) 

Thanks,

Dave

Get it washed

De contaminated polished and waxed with a durable sealer and then the muck will come off a lot easier reducing the need for harsh chemicals and less work when washing! I don't mean send it to a detailer for every wash I just meant every 6 months or 12!

 

Yes, but who to take it to for a wash? According to folks here machine washes are out, hand washes are out. so who/where/what if doing it yourself is not an option?

Ask them not to use the acid? I'd also be avoiding the hand washes altogether but I appreciate that's not an option for you so asking them just not to use it seems the best option.

Find a mate who is willing to let use their water/electricity in return for washing their car along with yours?

 

Or if you car about the car's bodywork a lot and are going to keep the car a long while then find someone on detailing world near you:

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=40246

Thanks everyone! Much appreciated!

I think Bilberry is well thought of for cleaning wheels.  I've used it before and it's non-acidic.

I'm about to order some more of this and some Iron-x for paint prep before I clay, polish and wax mine for the first time.

 

I've ordered from here in the past:

 

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/valet-pro-bilberry-wheel-cleaner/prod_499.html

 

BTW. I've no affiliation  to the company.

Edited 31 May, 201412 yr by Zzap

I would never ever use an acid based wheel cleaner - they eat through the protective lacquer and then the aluminium will start to anodise and deteriorate. I would use car wash shampoo, maybe double strength and nothing else. Wax your wheels regularly with car wax as additional protection to help stop brake dust sticking to the surface

I've got GTechniq C5 wheel armour on the alloys. No chemicals required to clean the wheels and no effort. Surprisingly easy. And come up gleaming everytime.

Bilberry is alkaline from what I've read although I have no idea how strong it is or its actual pH. It is however very popular but so was wonder wheels. I'm sure if used correctly they are not that bad but you can beat sealing them and regular washing with normal car shampoo

The aluminium will oxidise not anodise surely? Anodising is all about creating a thicker more durable controlled oxide layer not your normal corroded flakey powdery deatructive oxidisation?

When the colour fades on my brake caliper paint; best method i have found it to polish them up with AG-SRP.

Revives the colour well in most cases, then apply some sealant to keep them looking good for longer! Job done!

I've got GTechniq C5 wheel armour on the alloys. No chemicals required to clean the wheels and no effort. Surprisingly easy. And come up gleaming everytime.

I have Carbon Collective platinum ceramic sealer on my alloys. Nothing stronger than some car shampoo is needed to keep them clean and it promises two years protection, but I'll be applying some more when the winter alloys go on in November. I will be coating my calipers as well with it...but they must be cleaned with IPA not polish so that ceramic sealer properly adheres to the surface

Polish then IPA, is a good call to get the best surface possible for a ceramic sealant.

Sealant referred to previously was fk1000p high temp, just to be explicit.

The aluminium will oxidise not anodise surely? Anodising is all about creating a thicker more durable controlled oxide layer not your normal corroded flakey powdery deatructive oxidisation?

I stand corrected - you are right. :clap:

If you are not able to wash the car yourself as above avoid machine washes at all costs. I would also avoid the supermarket car park bucket and scratch brigade.

You could try the hand washes that work from a permenant site so have some sort of reputation to maintain plus have access to sufficient clean water. Go along and have a look to see how they clean the cars. If they use a sponge go elsewhere, but if they are using jetwashes mf or lanbswool mits and dry off with clean mf towels rather than chamois's then those would be good signs. If you wanted to be even more sure you could buy a mit and towels yoirself for them to use!

Personally I would never use either option, but recognise some don't have the choice or the time and if its a company car spending hours looking after their asset doesn't make much sense. Good look.