Bulletin No.: 00-03-10-002M

Service Bulletin

Date: July, 2024

INFORMATION
Subject:

Chemical Staining, Pitting, Corrosion and/or Spotted Appearance of
Chromed Aluminum Wheels

Models:

2025 and Prior GM Passenger Cars and Light/Medium Duty Trucks

Attention:

This bulletin also applies to any of the above models that may be Export
from North America vehicles.

This bulletin has been revised to add the 2022-2025 Model Years, first two Important
statements, and change GM of Canada DM-CCSP to DSM. Please discard Corporate
Bulletin Number 00-03-10-002L.
Important: This technical service bulletin (TSB) can
only be completed by certified repair facilities who have
met all specific training, tool and equipment requirements pertaining to the vehicle Brand and Model
serviced. Repairs must be performed by a technician
who has successfully completed the required training.
Important: Service agents must comply with all
International, Federal, State, Provincial, and/or
Local laws applicable to the activities it performs
under this bulletin, including but not limited to
handling, deploying, preparing, classifying,
packaging, marking, labeling, and shipping
dangerous goods. In the event of a conflict
between the procedures set forth in this bulletin
and the laws that apply to your dealership, you
must follow those applicable laws.
Important: You may give a copy of this bulletin to the
customer.

What is Chemical Staining of Chrome Wheels
Figure 1

1792400

Copyright 2024 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

Page 2

July, 2024

Bulletin No.: 00-03-10-002M

• Hydrochloric Acid (directly dissolves chrome)
• Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonic Acid
• Sulfamic Acid
• Phosphoric Acid
• Hydroxyacetic Acid

4064987

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 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: Do not use cleaning solutions that contain
hydrofluoric, oxalic, and most other acids on chrome
wheels (or any wheels).
If the customer is unsure of the chemical make-up of a
particular wheel cleaner, it should be avoided.
For wheels showing signs of milky staining from acidic
cleaners, refer to Customer Assistance and Instructions
below.

4064989

Chemical staining in most cases results from acidbased 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
are 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)

Warranty of Stained Chrome Wheels
Stained wheels are not warrantable. Most acid-based
cleaners will permanently stain chrome wheels. Followup with dealers has confirmed that such cleaners were
used on wheels that were returned to the Warranty
Parts Center (WPC). Any stained wheels received by
the WPC will be charged back to the dealership. To
assist the customer, refer to Customer Assistance and
Instructions below.

Bulletin No.: 00-03-10-002M

July, 2024

Pitting or Spotted Appearance of Chrome
Wheels

Page 3

“Stardust” Corrosion of Chrome Wheels
Figure 3

Figure 2

2597901
1792402

A second type or staining or finish disturbance may
result from road chemicals, such as calcium chloride
used for dust control of unpaved roads. The staining
will look like small pitting (refer to Figure 2). This
staining will usually be on the leading edges of each
wheel spoke but may be uniformly distributed. If a
vehicle must be operated under such conditions, the
chrome wheels should be washed with mild soap and
water and thoroughly rinsed as soon as conveniently
possible.
Warranty of Pitted or Spotted Chrome Wheels
Wheels with pitting or spotting as a result of road
chemicals is not a warrantable item. Damage resulting
from contact with these applied road chemicals is
corrosive to the wheels finish and may cause damage if
the wheels are not kept clean.
Important: If it is determined that assistance is
necessary for customer satisfaction and retention,
inform the customer that this is a one-time
adjustment. Cost sharing of the wheel replacement
expense is encouraged. The Customer Enthusiasm
indicated MUST be checked on the transaction. Transactions submitted for these conditions without the
Customer Enthusiasm indicator checked are subject to
charge back. Please stress to the customer the vital
importance of keeping the wheels clean if they are
operating the vehicle in an area that applies calcium
chloride or other dust controlling chemicals. “GM of
Canada” dealers require prior approval by the District
Service manager (DSM).

A third type of finish disturbance results from prolonged
exposure to brake dust and resultant penetration of
brake dust through the chrome. As brakes are applied,
hot particles of brake material are thrown off and tend
to be forced through the leading edge of the wheel
spoke windows by airflow. These hot particles embed
themselves in the chrome layer and create a small pit.
If the material is allowed to sit on the wheel while it is
exposed to moisture or salt, it will corrode the wheel
beneath the chrome leaving a pit or small blister in the
chrome.
Heavy brake dust build-up should be removed from
wheels by using ACDelco Stainless Steel and Chrome
Cleaner and Polish, P/N 88864067 (in Canada use
2675215). Use also for moderate cleaning, light brake
dust build-up or water spots. After cleaning, the wheel
should be waxed using ACDelco Cleaner Wax, P/N
88865218 (in Canada, use 2675208), which will help
protect the wheel from brake dust and reduce adhesion
of any brake dust that gets on the wheel surface.
Warranty of Stardust Corroded Chrome Wheels
Wheels with pitting or spotting as a result of neglect
and brake dust build-up is not a warrantable item.
Important: If it is determined that assistance is
necessary for customer satisfaction and retention,
inform the customer that this is a one-time
adjustment. Cost sharing of the wheel replacement
expense is encouraged. Transactions submitted for
these conditions without the Customer Enthusiasm
indicator checked are subject to charge back. Please
stress to the customer the vital importance of keeping
the wheels clean and free of prolonged exposure to
brake dust build-up. “GM of Canada” dealers require
prior approval by the District Service manager (DSM).

Page 4

July, 2024

Customer Assistance and Instructions
GM has looked for ways customers may improve the
appearance of wheels damaged by acidic cleaners.
The following product and procedure has been found to
dramatically improve the appearance of stained
wheels. For wheels that have milky stains caused by
acidic cleaners, try the following:
Notice: THE 3M CHROME AND METAL POLISH
REQUIRED FOR THIS PROCEDURE IS AN
EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE POLISH/CLEANER. THE
WHEELS MUST BE CLEANED BEFORE APPLICATION TO AVOID SCRATCHING THE WHEEL
SURFACE. THIS PRODUCT WILL REDUCE THE
THICKNESS OF THE CHROME PLATING ON THE
WHEEL AND IF USED INCORRECTLY OR EXCESSIVELY MAY REMOVE THE CHROME PLATING ALL
TOGETHER, EXPOSING A LESS BRIGHT AND
BRASSY COLORED SUB-LAYER. FOLLOW
INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY.
1. Wash the wheels vigorously with soap and water.
This step will clean and may reduce wheel
staining. Flood all areas of the wheel with water to
rinse.

Bulletin No.: 00-03-10-002M

Parts Information
Part Number

Description

88865218
(In Canada, use
2675208)

ACDelco Cleaner Wax

88864067
(In Canada, use
2675215)

ACDelco Stainless Steel and Chrome
Cleaner and Polish

39527

3M Chrome and Metal Polish* (10 oz)

33002

PEEK Polish† 100 ml Tube (www.tripeek.com)

*This product is currently available from 3M. To obtain
information for your local retail location, please call 3M
at 1-888-364-3577.
†This product is currently available from Tri-Peek International. To obtain information for your local retail
location, please call Tri-Peek at 1-877-615-4272 or at
www.tripeek.com.

2. Dry the wheels completely.
3. Apply 3M Chrome and Metal Polish #39527* with a
clean terry cloth towel. As you apply the polish, the
staining will be diminished.
4. Apply 3M Chrome and Metal Polish #39527* with a
clean terry cloth towel. As you apply the polish, the
staining will be diminished.
5. When dry, buff off the polish with a clean portion of
the towel.
6. Repeat application of the 3M Chrome and Metal
Polish until satisfied with the results. If continued
applications fail to improve the appearance further,
discontinue use.
This procedure will improve the appearance of the
wheels and may, with repeated applications, restore the
finish dramatically. For wheels that exhibit spotting from
road chemicals, the above procedure may marginally
improve the condition but will not restore the finish or
remove the pitting. In this type of staining, the wheel
finish has been removed in spots and no manner of
cleaning will restore the finish.
†*We believe this source and their products to be
reliable. There may be additional manufacturers of
such products/materials. General Motors does not
endorse, indicate any preference for or assume any
responsibility for the products or material from this firm
or for any such items that may be available from other
sources.

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these
technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper
service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job
properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your
vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the
information.

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