Savana 3500 V8-4.8L (2009)
Wheels: All Technical Service Bulletins
Wheels - Chrome Wheel Staining/Pitting/Corrosion
INFORMATION
Bulletin No.: 00-03-10-002F
Date: April 21, 2011
Subject: Chemical Staining, Pitting, Corrosion and/or Spotted Appearance of Chromed Aluminum Wheels
Models:
2012 and Prior GM Cars and Trucks
Supercede:
This bulletin is being revised to update model years, suggest additional restorative products and add additional corrosion information. Please discard
Corporate Bulletin Number 00-03-10-002E (Section 03 - Suspension).
Important
You may give a copy of this bulletin to the customer.
What is Chemical Staining of Chrome Wheels?
Figure 1
Chemical staining in most cases results from acid based cleaners (refer to Figure 1 for an example). These stains are frequently milky, black, or greenish
in appearance. They result from using cleaning solutions that contain acids on chrome wheels. Soap and water is usually sufficient to clean wheels.
If the customer insists on using a wheel cleaner they should only use one that specifically states that it is safe for chromed wheels and does not contain
anything in the following list. (Dealers should also survey any products they use during prep or normal cleaning of stock units for these chemicals.)
-
Ammonium Bifluoride (fluoride source for dissolution of chrome)
-
Hydrofluoric Acid (directly dissolves chrome)
-
Hydrochloric Acid (directly dissolves chrome)
-
Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonic Acid
-
Sulfamic Acid
-
Phosphoric Acid
-
Hydroxyacetic Acid
Notice
Many wheel cleaner instructions advise to take care to avoid contact with painted surfaces. Most customers think of painted surfaces as the fenders,
quarter panels and other exterior sheet metal. Many vehicles have painted brake calipers. Acidic wheel cleaners may craze, crack, or discolor the paint on
the brake calipers. Damage from wheel cleaners is not covered under the vehicle new car warranty. Soap and water applied with a soft brush is usually
all that is required to clean the calipers.
Whenever any wheel cleaner is used, it must be THOROUGHLY rinsed off of the wheel with clean, clear water. Special care must be taken to rinse
under the hub cap, balance weights, wheel nuts, lug nut caps, between the wheel cladding and off the back side of the wheel. Wheels returned to the
Warranty Parts Center (WPC) that exhibit damage from wheel cleaners most often have the damage around and under the wheel weight where the
cleaner was incompletely flushed away.
Notice
