BILT HAMBER AUTO-WHEEL pH Reactive wheel cleaner for alloy, aluminium and steel wheels

Auto-Wheel is a non-acid, non-alkaline alloy wheel cleaner. In most cases, no agitation is required.

"One of our friends in Canada [Alexis Car Detailing] has been nice enough, and keen enough, to make a demonstration video on auto-wheel. auto-wheel is a non-acid, on-alkaline alloy wheel cleaner. It is completely safe to use and very easy to apply. It has won the Best Buy Wheel Cleaner Award from English car magazine giant Auto Express 4 times in as many years, most recently in April 2015!" - Bilt Hamber

Some steel and alloy wheels are either lacquered or painted. These coatings protect the metallic surface from corrosion and provide attractive finishes to automotive road wheels.

As vehicles brake, the dust generated from pads, discs and drums is at elevated temperatures.

Amongst this hot cloud are thousands of hot metallic particles. These bombard the wheel’s finish and effectively embed themselves there. Once lodged these particles are extremely difficult to remove.

Acid-based alloy wheel cleaners attack the metal particles effectively, reducing their size and allowing the particles and clinging dirt to escape. Caustic alloy cleaners are less effective than acid ones on brake dust but can attack organic coatings such as lacquers and paints on short exposure. They attack any organic matter accumulated around the embedded particles and produce a seemingly clean surface; however, with continued use they will dull and diminish the coating, leaving a wheel surface that needs refinishing.

The more effective and safe-to-use Auto-Wheel works in an entirely different way, and has proved itself by winning yearly independent tests conducted by the UK’s biggest selling automotive magazine!

Most recently in 2017, when we were up against both powerful acid and alkaline cleaners.

Auto-Wheel’s formulation reacts with the oxidising surface of the metallic particles, rendering it water-soluble. The rapid removal of this microscopically rusted surface reduces the embedded particle size and releases the particles from the surface.

Unlike acid based alloy wheel cleaners, this method is harmless to the wheel’s finish. The reaction can be observed by a rapid colour change from clear to deep red. After a simple hose, rinse down or jetwash, it leaves the wheel spotless. In severe cases, a wheel brush can be used to assist the process.

Quick Guide

Auto-Wheel is available in 1-litre and 5-litre bottles.
1-litre auto-wheel is supplied with a trigger spray.

How To Use

Always test on small scale before use in a discrete area (rear face of the wheel). Use on cool surfaces.

Spray liberally over the entire wheel surface ensuring good coverage of edges etc. Reaction time is temperature dependent usually between 1 to 5 minutes is sufficient. The chelating process is indicated by a change in colour from clear to deep purple.

Once no further colour deepening has occurred the wheel must be power-washed or rinsed off; extremely dirty wheels will benefit from agitation with a soft brush before rinsing.

Auto-wheel is safe to use on a wide range of surfaces including paints, lacquer alloys and steel, however, a small-scale trial should be carried out before use.

Due to the use of conductive films used to make chrome-look plastic surfaces or plate plastic wheel centres and films, these may be chelated by the active material and dulled - please keep away from these surfaces.

Spray auto-wheel liberally onto your wheels.
Avoid directly spraying the centre caps of the wheels.
Wait for the colour-changing reaction, normally 3-5 minutes depending on the level of contamination.
Now simply wash the wheel down with a hose or jetwash.

BILT HAMBER AUTO-WHEEL Non Acid Reactive wheel cleaner