Whats the Best Way to Fix This?

[rwright]

Those oxalic acid ones are fine (not that you want to play around with any acid; I once said something to someone about sulphuric acid being "safe" and he pulled up his sleeve and showed me a huge acid burn scar...but we're talking about industrial concentrations, not diluted like in your wheel cleaner). The thing about the HF and ABF cleaners is they are difficult to neutralize and require something with calcium in them to bond to the fluorine (calcium gluconate paste is the recommended thing to apply to an HF acid burn) otherwise the acid will go "hunting" in your body for some calcium, i.e., your bones.

Disclaimer: I may not have that exactly right since I'm not a ChemE, I only play one on TV.

Nice answer, I like the depth to it. :xyxthumbs: In my opinion, I thought it to be a little safer even though it does contain acid. It's not a wheel cleaner that I use often but sometimes you need a little acid for tough situations. I reach for Optimum Power Clean first.

Duragloss All Wheel Cleaner (AWC) #821

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Here's the kicker with the HF/ABF wheel cleaners (and I always think about this when someone says "ha, I got WB on my hands and it didn't hurt or nothing"), quoted from Wikipedia: "Water solutions (hydrofluoric acid) are a contact-poison with the potential for deep, initially painless burns, with later tissue death. By interfering with body calcium metabolism, the concentrated acid may also cause systemic toxicity and eventual cardiac arrest and fatality, after contact with as little as 160 cm2 (5 square inches) of skin."

That fatality is from concentrated acid, but they key is that you don't initially feel the burn, only later when it's to late to simply neutralize it.

EDIT: Just to beat this to death about how HF/ABF aren't just another acid, here's a longer quote from Wikipedia: "Hydrofluoric acid is a highly corrosive liquid and is a contact poison. It should be handled with extreme care, beyond that accorded to other mineral acids. Owing to its low dissociation constant, HF as a neutral lipid-soluble molecule penetrates tissue more rapidly than typical mineral acids. Because of the ability of hydrofluoric acid to penetrate tissue, poisoning can occur readily through exposure of skin or eyes, or when inhaled or swallowed. Symptoms of exposure to hydrofluoric acid may not be immediately evident. HF interferes with nerve function, meaning that burns may not initially be painful. Accidental exposures can go unnoticed, delaying treatment and increasing the extent and seriousness of the injury."

 

[Kristopher1129]

Little wheel acid and a stiffer vinyl brush. It will take a bit of elbow grease...but it should work. The gel type wheel acid is probably your best bet here. :dblthumb2:

 

[Josh@BR]

I had an 05 STi and the wheels were constantly getting covered like that if I didn't clean them weekly and keep them waxed or some sort of protectant on them(303). I found that whatever clay and wheel cleaner would not remove a red/maroon 3M Scotchbrite would get the brake dust and rotor metal off and out of the clear coat. Just make sure you use a lubricant when you get down to the small specs of contaminant, as not to scratch the wheel. Compounding afterwards should take away any marring. I never used any acids on mine, but did use a little brake cleaner and the Scotchbrite, and it seemed to work OK. Was the brake dust and metal particles from the stock brake and rotors settles in on those wheels it hard to get it all off. An aggressive clay does a good job but does take more elbow grease; but it is the safest method with no chemicals needed, just lubrication. What have you used to clean your Subie wheels? Looks like that car needs new pads by the way the caliper and wheels are coated. jmo

The picture I took in this thread is of a Saab wheel. My 05 STi had the brake dust embedded into the surface of the silver wheels when I bought the car with 30k on it. I had them sanded down and painted black with a good bit of clear coat. There so much easier to clean and maintain now.

 

[BillE]

Here's the kicker with the HF/ABF wheel cleaners (and I always think about this when someone says "ha, I got WB on my hands and it didn't hurt or nothing"), quoted from Wikipedia: "Water solutions (hydrofluoric acid) are a contact-poison with the potential for deep, initially painless burns, with later tissue death. By interfering with body calcium metabolism, the concentrated acid may also cause systemic toxicity and eventual cardiac arrest and fatality, after contact with as little as 160 cm2 (5 square inches) of skin."

That fatality is from concentrated acid, but they key is that you don't initially feel the burn, only later when it's to late to simply neutralize it.

EDIT: Just to beat this to death about how HF/ABF aren't just another acid, here's a longer quote from Wikipedia: "Hydrofluoric acid is a highly corrosive liquid and is a contact poison. It should be handled with extreme care, beyond that accorded to other mineral acids. Owing to its low dissociation constant, HF as a neutral lipid-soluble molecule penetrates tissue more rapidly than typical mineral acids. Because of the ability of hydrofluoric acid to penetrate tissue, poisoning can occur readily through exposure of skin or eyes, or when inhaled or swallowed. Symptoms of exposure to hydrofluoric acid may not be immediately evident. HF interferes with nerve function, meaning that burns may not initially be painful. Accidental exposures can go unnoticed, delaying treatment and increasing the extent and seriousness of the injury."

Wasn't fluorine gas the main ingredient of 'mustard gas'?

Bill

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Wasn't fluorine gas the main ingredient of 'mustard gas'?

No. Fluorine and chlorine and other halogens are important elements and industrial materials, resulting in things like fluoride for your toothpaste and chlorine to sanitize your drinking water and bleach for your clothes. And HF/ABF make good wheel cleaners, it's just that you need to exercise a level of caution with them above and beyond other types of acid wheel cleaners.