Aluminum wheels- eliminating the fog

[Bryan917]

92 touring sedan with, I believe, aluminum wheels and centers. The wheels are not smooth; small etched grooves in concentric circles (the word escapes me at the moment) make polishing more difficult. It looks like the caps have or had some laminate but no grooves.

I've got plenty of time and love and elbow grease bot no real idea how to lessen or polish out the oxidization or fog that's creeping over the wheels at different rates. Been through this? Any warnings or happy stories about it?

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

I don't believe these are "plain" aluminum but are clear-coated.

Clear-coating wheels is a process much like painting the body of the
car and like a two stage paint on a car body part, it eventually fails.
I'm assuming that because the "foggy" appearance you describe is
a classic symptom of a failing clear-coat (called delamination). 

This is caused by exposure to the elements, especially sunlight.  There
is nothing you can really do about it.  Polishing it will not help, it just
removes the remaining clear-coat down to the bare aluminum.  That insures
problems with corrosion from water, salt, etc. will occur.  That's why they started
clear-coating aluminum wheels in the first place -- to avoid the corrosion issue.

The only solution is to have your wheels stripped, polished and re-clear-coated. 
There are firms that specialize in doing this.

I have to say that since your wheels are 1992 vintage, I'm not surprised you're
having this issue.

Mike

[D.Yaros]

I second Mike's diagnosis.

[Bryan917]

Thanks guys. It's a great car overall and worth looking into a redo. There's a few groups around between D.C. and Baltimore who offer the service.

[936CD69]

I used Trans Wheel Corp to refinish the lace aluminums on my 93 deVille. Perfect, and quick turn around.