Maintenance and Protection In Corrosive Environments

DESCRIPTION
Aluminum wheels have a protective coating to resist corrosion. Care should be taken to avoid damaging the wheel or corrosion may occur. Washing them (do not use highly alkaline cleaning agents) when washing the rest of the vehicle will be enough to keep wheels looking good for many years. Certain environments, as created by some operations, can lead to corrosion. Some of these are: salt, chloride compounds used for snow removal, dust control and highly alkaline materials. When these conditions are encountered, the following practice is recommended.

CLEANING
1. Clean frequently with steam or high-pressure water from a hose. Use of a mild detergent will speed up the cleaning process.
2. When tires are removed, the entire wheel should be cleaned and inspected. The following procedure is suggested.

SURFACE PREPARATION
1. Remove all the soil and oil from the wheel surface with either high-pressure steam or solvent. A suitable solvent would be mineral spirits.
2. Remove any adherent soil or oxidation products by using a synthetic or natural bristle brush.
3. Clean the surface again with solvent, using mineral spirits to remove loose material.