Alloy Wheel protector/sealant

[crash]

[quote="Smeeagain"]
Sorry but thats just not true - brake dust, road film tar etc - none of these will be removed by regular car shampoo alone.
[/quote]

So what is the point in sealing a wheel then?

The sealant acts as a barrier between the wheels paint and the road grim therefor preventing it biting into the paint and making it easier to remove.

If you didn't clean your wheels for 6 months then i agree that your normal shampoo would struggle, but a once a week wash to keep on top of things means that a wipe over with your normal shampoo should be more than adequate to remove any dirt build up.

If your having to use more aggressive products to remove a weeks worth of dirt on freshly sealed wheels then you are using an in superior product or its not being applied correctly!

I never have to use anything other than shampoo or a well diluted mix of bilburry wheel cleaner on mine with 1-2 weeks between washes after sealing them with Gtechniq.

Any tar deposits i do get that stick to the sealant are removed when i clean and prep ready for a second application of a sealant when the protection offered by the first application has diminished.

These videos show how easy it should be to clean after a sealant application..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8F1pnj8mHk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8fuVQ_Vb-8

[Smeeagain]

ah but you're just saying what I had already said in the post- using Gtechniq

But what you actually said was all anyone had to use was a regular shampoo.

But in fact what you are now you're saying is all they have to do is use a regular shampoo If they have used other products such as Bilberry and GTechniq - both of which are great, but if you tell folks just to use a shampoo then that is all they will do and then they wonder why they didn't get the results.

The original poster said he wanted to know what to use to keep his new wheels looking shiny. Your answer was use shampoo, but that's what you use to clean them, its the other products that ensure by sealing the surface that the cleaner will work and they will remain shiny. He didn't ask for advice on how to clean them

So the answer is seal them first (having got them meticulously clean prior to that). Use Gtechniq and a sealant, if you can afford to. Then use wheel wax or high temperature wax.

Then use a regular wash (or slip in some Bilberry too). Or Iron X, its good as well.

Smee

[crash]

[quote="redz"]
right so i did two coats of poor boys  sealant..

to clean do i just give a blast with jet wash (water only) or wipe down with micro fibre?
[/quote]

Smee, i assume you have missed out the post i have quoted above, as he asked what to use to clean them now he has applied two coats of sealant!

Not really sure what your are trying to explain or get across, or even the point of your post?

[quote="Smeeagain"]

So the answer is seal them first (having got them meticulously clean prior to that). Use Gtechniq and a sealant, if you can afford to. Then use wheel wax or high temperature wax.
[/quote]

Just for you own information, Gtechniq is a sealant, Gtechniq C5 is the correct one for wheels as well. You will also find adding a wax over the top of a sealant to be pointless due to the sealant repelling water/ grime more effectively than a wax. It will also mean when it comes to reapplying another coat of sealant the wax will affect the way it bonds reducing how effective the sealant will work. Hence why it is usually avoided.

[quote="Smeeagain"]
Then use a regular wash (or slip in some Bilberry too). Or Iron X, its good as well.
Smee
[/quote]

heavily diluted bilberry is suitable but not necessary, as you already will have a bucket of soapy water next to when cleaning a car, so pointless using another cleaner unless you are addicted to bilberrys smell! Also, Iron X is an iron and ferrous particulate removing cleaner and while its ph neutral, it would be pointless using it on a weekly cleaning routine. Iron x does have a place in my car care routine but it would be for contamination removal before claying to make it easier to obtain an ultra clean surface before moving on to the polishing stage. Plus the fact its expensive and stinks!

Either way, Redz give your wheels a wipe over with your regular car shampoo mate and they will stay sparkling. Once you notice the water beading starting to reduce it will be time to reapply another coat of the sealant. 

[JimmySpeed]

[quote="Smeeagain"]
ah but you're just saying what I had already said in the post- using Gtechniq

But what you actually said was all anyone had to use was a regular shampoo.

But in fact what you are now you're saying is all they have to do is use a regular shampoo If they have used other products such as Bilberry and GTechniq - both of which are great, but if you tell folks just to use a shampoo then that is all they will do and then they wonder why they didn't get the results.
[/quote]

I think you totally missed the flow of the posts there.

The OP said he had used sealant and asked what to wash with from now on. Crash replied to just wash with shampoo. It's pretty clear that it was in direct response to the OP saying he has just sealed his wheels, not general advice to all.

I would add though, my wheels were refurbished weeks ago in gloss black and at the moment (whilst the paint is still super smooth) normal wash shampoo is the only thing i'm needing to use to keep them spotless. However they have not been more than 3 days without a clean since being done. Today is the first day that I have applied sealant as I know that the easy cleaning will not last for ever.