What to use to clean black chain lube off of aluminum rims easily?

[urbanXJ]

Originally Posted by ttpete

Straight xylene works just as well.

I keep small amounts of various solvents around, things like alcohol, acetone, xylene, lacquer thinner, toluene, MEK, trichlor, etc. Even some cyclohexane. It makes it easier to find out which solvent won't affect a certain plastic or paint.

Denatured alcohol is methanol/ethanol mix. Good for removing ink stains form cloths.

Xylene solavates wax and chewing gum too. Great if you need to cleanup after changeing a wax ring on your toilet or if the kids get gum in your carpet.


Colman fuel/white gas is just naptha. Makes for a cheap substitute for WD 40 if using for cleaning reasons.

Think I will try that next time.

[ezrdr55]

+2 on the WD40.

[JRNASTY]

A little generic pledge on a towel works well....

[markk53]

I'm a lazy SOB, so my rims look like crap. I did learn that Purple Power from Autozone worked great on the brake dust, road grime, and, on the rear, chain lube cleaned off incredibly well with a bit of brushing. Stuff is supposedly environmentally friendly, but not so with your skin, dries it out like crazy. But the cast wheels looked like new. I felt guilty so I cleaned them before taking the rims in to get new tires installed.

[fastdadio]

Originally Posted by markk53

I'm a lazy SOB, so my rims look like crap. I did learn that Purple Power from Autozone worked great on the brake dust, road grime, and, on the rear, chain lube cleaned off incredibly well with a bit of brushing. Stuff is supposedly environmentally friendly, but not so with your skin, dries it out like crazy. But the cast wheels looked like new. I felt guilty so I cleaned them before taking the rims in to get new tires installed.

Careful with the purple power. It's highly acidic and will etch your aluminum bits very quickly. Spray it on, scrub it and rinse. I sprayed it on my Sportster cases and got interrupted for just a few minutes and when I got back to the cleaning job, the damage was done.

[Toto]

I use kerosene...it works pretty good but leaves a bit of residue sometimes.
Naptha...white gas... be carefull...VERY flamable!
I tried to start a camp fire with that ...once...quite a suprise!
Makes gasoline look about as flamable as water!
Acetone also can be a problem health wise... and probably overkill... and certainly can be hard on paint and plastics.
Both these products need to be respected....and probably not used for day to day cleaning IMHO.

[markk53]

Originally Posted by fastdadio

Careful with the purple power. It's highly acidic and will etch your aluminum bits very quickly. Spray it on, scrub it and rinse. I sprayed it on my Sportster cases and got interrupted for just a few minutes and when I got back to the cleaning job, the damage was done.

Thanks for the tip. My wheels aren't polished or anything, so no big deal. I will keep your point in mind now.