ducnine

I am working slowly on getting my car the way I would like it. Doing some maintanence and some small mods as I go.
When I removed the wheels a while back to replace some oil lines, I noticed that the wheel wells (that are supposed to be white) are all crusted with junk. I tried using a wet brush to clean it but its taking a long time and doesn't seem like it would get very clean.

I was wondering, what would be the best way to clean this junk off?
Is it ok to use a steam cleaner or Pressure washer in this area?
Anyone else experianced this and have any advice.

I guess you can say that the previous owner did not take care of this area as much as I would have liked him to.


Attached are some pics so you can see what I mean.

Sal 965

Spray those hubs, please!!!! (Silver preferably)

Duck

I used simple green and pressure washer at a car wash. It worked pretty well.

AOW162435

Ceby,
My wheel wells looked about the same when I purchased my 993 back in '05. I found Simple Green to be a good cleaner, but I've also cleaned my wheel wells intensively on at least four occasions. I used a soft bristle brush, an old wash mit, too many rags to count and tons of elbow grease. WD-40 is great to remove the waxy coating from suspension members, etc. Here is a recent shot of one of my front wheel wells. They all look like this:




Andreas

Marc Shaw

I used a soft BBQ grill brush and gallons of Gunk engine cleaner to clean and degrease my wheel wells.

Marc

springer3

I leave the gunk alone on the theory that it protects the wheel wells from stuff the wheels throw up from the road.

ducnine

Those hubs are pretty bad aren't they. Those are one of the things on my list of to-do items. (Silver would be nice huh?)

Its just too gross to look at to keep it on there. Sounds like Elbow grease is the key to cleaning that crap off. I will try some Simply green too.

wsybert

Try Super Clean by Castrol. One of the best degreasers, and much stronger than Simple Green.
There are others out ther too, Purple Power is one. About $6 for a gallon of concentrate. Mix it about 50/50 with water or straight. Just don't leave it on bare aluminum in the concentrated form too long. It is a little caustic. Ask me how I know.
I cleaned the inside of my wheels with it, and it takes off brake dust, tar, grease and oil.
If it is really thick, then do like Marc says with the gunk. Follow up with the degreaser then.

AOW162435

Purple Power does work great. I think I used that in the beginning, and then Simple Green for each cleaning thereafter.

I think it would be far easier if you could locate a steam cleaner or heated power washer. At least it would help to clean away some of the heavy duty grime.

Andreas

doug751

IF you want to risk future cancer and blindness, do what I did my last 2 911's but not my current one:

Put the car on an overhead lift. Use a hot water power washer, 20 cans of gunk and 10 bottles of simple green. You could eat off of them.

Please wear eye protection!

Megatron-UK

Jeez... some people have too much time!

MisterRisky

About the time that wsbert was posting his comment about purple power I was out in the driveway using it on my car. He's right about the dilution thing. I was not thinking and filled up my spray bottle directly from the undiluted gallon jug. I then proceeded to spray my D90 wheels with it. Ugh. They now have drip lines and a nice ashy coating. Looks like I'll be spending some elbow grease on the wheels this week. Really DO DILUTE! and DO wear eye protection! That stuff sprays everywhere and it is pretty harsh. DON'T get it on your paint.

ducnine

I wish I had a Lift

hawk911

I wish I had time. Mine will stay caked with crap!

cobalt

I found Wurt Citrus degreaser works great. Diluted for most areas and straight from the can for the really heavy stuff and cosmaline.