I have a 95 XLT with stock chrome wheels. I washed the truck today and was going to use some Turtle Wax Chrome Polish on them. I have never used it before and have had the same jar of it for 3 years. Does this stuff go bad and do you think I need to use it?

 

Using depends on how bad your wheels are.

Most chrome polishes are slightly abrasive. Your wheels may or may not be clearcoated so that's probably the first thing to determine.
If there is no clear on them, polish away gently aand see how it goes.
You might want to try it on the back of the wheel first as a test just to be sure nothing weird is happening.
I have to say though that the wheel in the pic looks pretty good anyway.
I normally just clean my chrome wheels with glass cleaner (works great) and then wax them.

 

I have never waxed chrome before. Does that help keep the brake dust and road grime off?

 

Absolutely... like anything else that has a 'slick' coating on it, the overall outcome is that it'll be less likely to adhere to the surface. It will, in no way, damage your chrome if done correctly -- treat it like paint.

RP

 

RP - what kind of wax would you use on chorme?

 

Just use the same wax you are using on your paint.
Once the wheels are clean, one of the many "cleaner" waxes will give excellent results as they are not too abrasive but have excellent cleaning properties.
For winter use, as I have no winter 20" wheels, I give them a heavy coat of Carnuba but don't buff it off.
It looks like crap but keeps the corrosion away.

Here's how mine look (on the back) after cleaning off the winter wax and giving them a spiff up with cleaner wax.

Not too shabby IMO

 

What Adam said...


I prefer a synthetic on my wheels though... something like Zaino or NXT would be my preference for that area due to high heat and such...

 

Aha, See the bottle of NXT next to the wheels in my picture?

That's what I used as topcoat after cleaning the dried carnuba off.

 

I have some Turtle wax Express spray wax. Will that work ok or is it junk?

 

Ehh... probably more on the 'junk' side of the scale... I haven't personally utilized it though... just a hunch.

 

experience guides you well .. lol

I have been less than impressed with the Turtle Wax spray on paint .. I doubt it would hold up well on wheels at all ..