Any hope for cleaning these wheels?

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I understand why Malco Brake Off will cause harm to uncoated aluminum (sodium hydroxide will eat aluminum up!); but, in your opinion, why will it not also cause harm to painted or coated aluminum (I'm assuming coated means clearcoated)? Or for that matter, any other type of wheel that's painted or coated (clearcoat)?

Also, won't bare aluminum naturally oxidize? That is, when bare aluminum is exposed to oxygen, passivation naturally occurs, forming a "skin" of aluminum oxide. It may seem unsightly but the action of the "skin" forming a layer (filling in the voids), over time, until no bare aluminum is available to passivate, actually protects the aluminum from further dedragation.

Most people are unhappy with the look of this "skin" of oxidation, as it were, and wants it to be polished away. Don't blame 'em at all. During the polishing process this oxidized layer is removed. And further polishing with finer and then still finer abrasives takes place until one is satisfied with the results. Then the freshly polished aluminum wheel must be sealed off from the elements with a wax or sealant that's compatible with aluminum. If not, the passivation process begins anew. Therein, is where brake dust and other contaminates start to accumulate, causing threads such as this to arise.

Malco Brake Off MSDS (Excerpts from PPG's website)
Hazardous Ingredients:
Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether 1-10%
Sodiumhydroxide 5-15%
ph: >12.5

Any information, or corrections to the above, you or others may have will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Bob

I am by no means an expert. However I have been using Brake Off on a daily basis for over a year now. I have never seen any damage to any kind of clearcoated or painted wheel. I have also used it as a rail dust and tar remover on the entire exterior of the vehicle. Using one of the plastic paint safe sponges to scrub produces excellent results.