Wax streaks on Aluminum Roof Rails - HELP!

[tpirtle]

I took my car (FX45) through a no-touch car wash last night (I usually hand wash, but it was late and the car was dusty) After the wash/wax and dry was complete, I noticed that my Polished aluminum roof rails had what appears to be white milky splotches all over them. Thinking it was just dried wax (car wash had colored foam wax), I have attempted to remove. I have reduced the appearance of the splotches a little, but they are still quite noticeable. Does any one have a good Idea of how to get them off my aluminum once an for all? I have tried water, wax, window cleaner, 409, and even.. gulp (carb and choke cleaner) Still looks like crap.

[Markgase2000]

Try using metal polish and elbow grease.

[4ss4s1n]

If the metal polish didnt work,the cleaners they used could have stripped your shiny chrome finish.

[Igovert500]

Yeah, they might have have been a bit acidic or something and stripped the finish. We have a brown wax/medium compound from Xtreme Solutions that works pretty good on stuff like that. I did the same thing on some rims. It took quite awhile and a bunch of rubbing, but it did help tremendously.

[Markgase2000]

Originally Posted by 4ss4s1n

If the metal polish didnt work,the cleaners they used could have stripped your shiny chrome finish.

If the finish is gone (chrome) a decent metal polish will shine any metal surface up , like he said if the finish dont shine after you use the polish heres what you gotta do. Use some hydrophoric/sulphuric acid and rub it in with a rag till the metal turns dulled grey. Nuetralize it with car soap(ph balanced) then dry it. Apply the metal polish and work it in , the metal should make a thick black residue of the polish then buff it off with dry clean rag and the finish will be as shiny as chrome. This works on stainless, aluminum and almost every other metal compound out there.