We know how annoying it can be to discover a rust spot on any element of your car. You will always see it, regardless of how little it is or whether other people can observe it, and it may significantly detract from the car’s appearance.
Yet a common question is whether or not alloy wheels rust, which is precisely what we will look at today. We will go further than that by investigating the root causes of potential rust and ways to avoid it.
Alloy wheels may rust, but not always in the manner, you would anticipate. Instead of the dark rust, you may be more acquainted with, corrosion over time produces white scratches and rough surfaces. Washing your wheels often, using a protective coating or cleaning solution, or even storing your automobile in a garage should be sufficient to stop rust from developing.
Do Alloy Wheels Rust?
Due to the oxidation process that must take place before rust may occur, alloy wheels theoretically do not rust. Yet, they are susceptible to corrosion over time, which may appear as a white scratch rather than the familiar brown of rust.
While they involve chemical reactions, the results appear differently on the wheel’s surface. Corrosion may not even be seen since it may seem to be another scratch, but these scratches indicate that the alloy’s protective layer has been broken, making corrosion possible. Your car can sustain more damage as a result.
How Can Corrosion Cause a Problem?
The appearance of your automobile often worries people the most when it comes to rust. This may not worry you if you are not very concerned with how your car looks, but keeping your automobile looking as beautiful as possible can be your worst nightmare.
This may also make it a little more difficult to sell your automobile since buyers often choose well-kept and presentable vehicles.
If rust is endangering the safety of your tire, it is a more significant issue you should be on the lookout for. Corrosion that is not addressed may destroy the seal between the tire and the rim, which might be quite dangerous for you and other drivers. You run considerably more danger of getting a flat tire or worse if the rubber rises and the air can escape.
What Leads to Alloy Wheel Corrosion?
Now that you know the issues that corrosion might create, let us look at what is generating these issues for you.
Wear and Tear
Corrosion presumably occurs most often as a result of wear and strain. We have all attempted to park in the dark or even during the day and clipped the curb because we miscalculated the space.
Every time you hit the curb and add a little scratch to your alloys, which is entirely natural and something we all do, you create the ideal conditions for corrosion, as we previously discussed.
Brake Dust
Another thing to watch out for is brake dust. As you press the brake pedal, a lot of friction is created, which might allow little dust flecks to escape. This dust is essentially the worn-out portions of the brake shoe, but it may attach to the alloys and harm them.
Cleaning Supplies
The cleaning materials you employ while treating your vehicle will determine the ultimate cause. The fact that certain cleaning products use rather strong chemicals to cut through the filth that accumulates on automobiles may seem apparent, but are they doing more damage than good?
Certain compounds have a short half-life and may damage metals by piercing the barrier that prevents corrosion in the first place.
How Can I Clean My Alloy Wheels of Rust and Corrosion?
So, how can you remove a spot of corrosion or rust if you discover it? Let us have a look, then.
Step 1
Use a dependable rust remover to do the job as soon as possible. To use your rust remover, follow the directions on the package and apply it to your alloy wheels.
Step 2
Then, clean any rusted spots with a nylon brush. Use a metal wire brush to remove any leftover rust, but don’t scrape the metals anymore.
Step 3
If more is needed, continue rinsing with water after using the rust remover.
Step 4
After removing any corrosion and rust areas, quickly wash your wheels with soap and water to remove any dirt.
Step 5
When the wheels have dried, you may go forward.
How to Stop Corrosion
You will be glad to learn that there are several ways to stop or at least slow down the rate at which corrosion happens; we will look at some of these methods below.
Cleaning
Reduce the quantity of brake dust and iron pollution on your wheels by routinely cleaning them. Be sure you pick a cleaning that will not remove the coating that protects your metals.
Polishing
Many sometimes assume that getting their car polished requires taking it to a professional, but you can do it simply at home. This will keep your metals looking bright and polished while reducing the corrosion they experience.
Plating
This is a more sophisticated preventative measure. When your alloys are electroplated, a specialist will apply a coating of metals like chrome or zinc to prevent corrosion.
Conclusion
You are now fully informed on rust and corrosion on your alloys. While you will undoubtedly be relieved to learn that your metals will not rust, corrosion is still possible.
Yet, there is no need to panic since there are many easy methods to avoid it, and, in the end, everyone experiences it. Try our preventative strategies, and while you are parking, pay particular attention to the curves.
