maintenance of magnesium wheels

[peterpjb]

how do you guys care about your magnesium wheels and prevent them from oxidation?
I don't want to powder coat them and I don't want to inject them with WD40 after each time the wheels got hot.

Has anyone experience with matte clear lacquer?

[1985 CCX]

I learned from the Best in California specific to these cars, Lynn Park

Once a year soak each side in WD 40 (the cleaner)
After the soaking rag dry then prepare for the final coat of gun oil
Gun oil does not sling and will penetrate and protect for at least one year (protection)
Wipe off excess and you’re ready to go

Are usually do this over a trash can to catch grime and drips
Works well on this coast of the US where the environment eats everything.
My wheels are naked except for the oil.... 6 years now

PS I do not polish the lips. If you do just use metal polish and oil to protect.

[Alan Vanhollebeke]

I've been using Gibbs oil on wheels.
I also use it on magnesium parts on german cars. (think porsche 911 engine & trans cases-etc)

A little on a rag goes a long way, but I get the stuff by the case-cause I hate running out of stuff.

Gibbs Brand penetrant

[1985 CCX]

Alan

Great points. I use Lucas gun oil.
Small bottle was $4 buck and it’s lasted since I started the process.
Little goes a way long way.

[razerwire]

Question for 1985 ccx. Are your wheels getting darker or were they that dark after first application? I can and do polish the lip but it's a real pain, I have to polish after 3 months or so. Rims are gold in center and they turn light gray on lips but not an even gray, that's why I go to the trouble to re polish them. Kind of expensive to experiment on. If I could get nice light even gray that would be great. Thanks for posting picture and information.

[CompClassics]

There is only one accepted way to protect magnesium wheels and that requires a pickling process using DOW products, there are two processes one provides a gold finish and the other a black finish. The gold finish was typically used on Halibrand magnesium wheels and the black finish was used by American Racing, both finishes are considered a primer for whatever you are going to apply to the wheels afterword (painting). Something to remember, even though you are protecting all the exterior surfaces there are surfaces that you can not get to to reapply whatever external oils etc you are applying. A good example is the area between the wheel beads that are covered by the tire, unless you remove the tires.
That being said there is nobody that is more versed in magnesium wheels than hot rodders, here is an article written by them.....

Gibbs Brand penetrant

[ACHiPo]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

There is only one accepted way to protect magnesium wheels and that requires a pickling process using DOW products, there are two processes one provides a gold finish and the other a black finish. The gold finish was typically used on Halibrand magnesium wheels and the black finish was used by American Racing, both finishes are considered a primer for whatever you are going to apply to the wheels afterword (painting). Something to remember, even though you are protecting all the exterior surfaces there are surfaces that you can not get to to reapply whatever external oils etc you are applying. A good example is the area between the wheel beads that are covered by the tire, unless you remove the tires.
That being said there is nobody that is more versed in magnesium wheels than hot rodders, here is an article written by them.....

Gibbs Brand penetrant

I'd never heard of Gibbs before. The advertisement is pretty compelling (almost too-good-to-be true infomercial good). I don't have a lot of magnesium parts, but it seems this could be pretty good for aluminum too? Makes the chemist in me curious what's in it!

[1985 CCX]

Each application darkens them a bit. Keep in mind brake dust and lighting.
They are gray, less dark in the light.
Also they stopped leaking air with treatment.
Gibbs also works however so does gun oil. (All made to last and protect metal surfaces.)
Either way you will be good.
PS I never polish the lip. Like patina look and it really has the cast I like.
Best to you

BTW after reading a bit Gibbs is a gun oil.

[razerwire]

Have been using Gibbs for long time on lathe and mill and all other equipment in my home shop, it does keep metal looking new and stop rust from forming from sticky hands. Have a La Blound lathe from 70des and ways look brand new after applying Gibbs. Have not tried on Halibrand mag wheels. Guess I will try on backside and see what happens, thanks for replies.