How to clean staining off chrome trim

[BladesNBarrels]

My 2016 Yukon has developed a reddish brown staining on all of the chrome.
It is all of the chromed trim - front sides, and back.
I read the warnings on chrome cleaning products that they are not to be used on chromed plastic parts.
Out of frustration, I am about to try some Turtle Wax Chrome Cleaner on some of the places not too obvious.
Has anyone found a solution to this problem?

 

[79jasper]

Try nevr dull and elbow grease. Maybe coke.

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[DWTahoe]

Hopefully you get some responses. I'm also in CO and I have the same issue. Is yours spotted so it almost looks like rust (that's the best description I could come up with for what it looks like)? Let us know if you find anything that works, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread also. Thanks

 

[BladesNBarrels]

Here are a couple of pictures of the front grill
The rest of the chrome trim on the entire vehicle is similar, but not quite as bad
A professional mobile detailer is coming Monday to detail my boat and I am going to ask him if he has a solution.

 

[Rocket Man]

I have never seen chrome do that. Following.

 

[79jasper]

If I'm seeing that right, probably not much you can do. Looks like the copper is showing through.

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[Tonyrodz]

If I'm seeing that right, probably not much you can do. Looks like the copper is showing through.

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Yeah, almost looks like the chrome process itself is failing, not staining. Have you looked online to see if anyone else has a similar issue that you're having?

 

[Rocket Man]

Yeah, almost looks like the chrome process itself is failing, not staining. Have you looked online to see if anyone else has a similar issue that you're having?

There is- another one in Colorado, just like him. See post # 3. Weird that there’s 2 with the same problem, both in Colorado.

 

[Rocket Man]

Aha, seems it’s a Colorado thing. They use magnesium chloride to clear the snow from the roads. I would be pissed. A quick search turned up lots of car owners with the same issue and it sounds like it’s permanent:

After one month of driving my 2017 Outback in Colorado I noticed a staining of the chrome on the front grill. The dealer I bought it from said they could replace it. When I brought it to a dealer much closer to home I was told that Subaru would not warranty the grill on cars driven in Colorado because the state uses calcium chloride on their roads to remove ice and snow. Any ideas on how to remove the staining? I’m going to try the original dealer again to try to get the grill replaced and hope it doesn’t happen again.

And:

I live in Colorado and I have about 3200 miles on my Ascent. All of the chrome parts are pitted and blemished, probably due to the Magnesium Chloride they use as snowmelt on the roads. It's just not practical to wash the car every day in the winter.

Has anybody else experienced this? Any suggestions on what to do? I tried to polish out the blemishes, but they are permanent. This is affecting the chrome on the front grill, at the bottom of the doors, and on the back.

I'm bummed that my new car looks so bad already.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Aha, seems it’s a Colorado thing. They use magnesium chloride to clear the snow from the roads. I would be pissed. A quick search turned up lots of car owners with the same issue and it sounds like it’s permanent:

After one month of driving my 2017 Outback in Colorado I noticed a staining of the chrome on the front grill. The dealer I bought it from said they could replace it. When I brought it to a dealer much closer to home I was told that Subaru would not warranty the grill on cars driven in Colorado because the state uses calcium chloride on their roads to remove ice and snow. Any ideas on how to remove the staining? I’m going to try the original dealer again to try to get the grill replaced and hope it doesn’t happen again.

And:

I live in Colorado and I have about 3200 miles on my Ascent. All of the chrome parts are pitted and blemished, probably due to the Magnesium Chloride they use as snowmelt on the roads. It's just not practical to wash the car every day in the winter.

Has anybody else experienced this? Any suggestions on what to do? I tried to polish out the blemishes, but they are permanent. This is affecting the chrome on the front grill, at the bottom of the doors, and on the back.

I'm bummed that my new car looks so bad already.

Good detective work Mark. Def didn't look like staining to me.

 

[BladesNBarrels]

Well, this news is not good. I will see what a local Colorado detailer says on Monday.
I am sure the Yukon is out of warranty for that sort of thing being 4 years old.
Is there an option of replacing the chrome with some other material or painting it?

 

[Tonyrodz]

Well, this news is not good. I will see what a local Colorado detailer says on Monday.
I am sure the Yukon is out of warranty for that sort of thing being 4 years old.
Is there an option of replacing the chrome with some other material or painting it?

How about dipping? Or even have a body shop color match it for you.

 

[Rocket Man]

Well, this news is not good. I will see what a local Colorado detailer says on Monday.
I am sure the Yukon is out of warranty for that sort of thing being 4 years old.
Is there an option of replacing the chrome with some other material or painting it?

They wouldn’t warranty that anyway, that’s out of their control. Yes there’s other things you can do to black out all the chrome. You should look into all the other problems that magnesium chloride causes. Here’s a link to one article. That stuff sounds terrible.
https://www.prestigeimports.net/avoid-problems-magnesium-chloride-deicer/

 

[Fless]

I have light chrome discoloration on my DD. The dealer would likely label it an environmental cause and that would probably not be a warranty repair. They might do it once for a new vehicle, but probably never again.

It seems that the mag chloride use is to reduce particulates in the air. When I first moved out here ('85) they were using sand and small bits of rock, which eventually broke down and polluted the air, causing our "brown cloud," which got us in trouble with the EPA's air quality standards. They don't use it as much anymore, and have a regular street sweeping program to minimize the sandy dust.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

 

[CMoore711]

Due to where you live and local conditions you have one or two options.

1. If you want to keep all trim grill etc chrome then buy new/lightly used OEM stuff and have a local paint ship clear clear coat it as much as they can for protection and ride that out until the local elements take the toll and repeat...

2. Have all of the chrome trim grill etc blacked out and clear coat it as much as you can for protection and ride that out until the local elements take the toll and repeat...

I feel option 2 would last longer, but either one would require some sort of continuous maintenance.

 

[79jasper]

Due to where you live and local conditions you have one or two options.

1. If you want to keep all trim grill etc chrome then buy new/lightly used OEM stuff and have a local paint ship clear clear coat it as much as they can for protection and ride that out until the local elements take the toll and repeat...

2. Have all of the chrome trim grill etc blacked out and clear coat it as much as you can for protection and ride that out until the local elements take the toll and repeat...

I feel option 2 would last longer, but either one would require some sort of continuous maintenance.

I agree.
Here's another alternative along the lines of option 2. Plasti dip. When it chips or whatever, you can just touch it up.
Actually, there's a new one made by "dip your car," that is stronger. It's called "dip armor."

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[Cbncanada]

Try using Aluminum foil to clean it. Just the foil, no cleansers.

 

[Costal_Cat]

Use some 0000 steelwool. Use it lightly but I use it a lot in my 2012. I live on the coast in NC and the Salt air is a killer. I have been using quad 4 on any chrome for the last 20 yrs. Sometimes I use a little chrome cleaner with the quad4

 

[mountie]

From my experience.... REAL chrome plating can be cleaned without surface damage by using soft brass brushes..... ( I don't know if there is such a thing as 'brass wool"?? ).... THEN polish. ( You know "science".... use a material that is weaker than the surface to be cleaned)

As for a plastic "chrome" finish..... That is a tough one..... But a non-abrasive polish ( like for silver cleaning?)...... Like 'SemiChrome' cleaners you can fine at a Harley Davidson shop??
Or find a tube of "MAAS Fine polish". The best stuff to clean without scratches.
The alternative if the chrome coating is just bad, you can actually get spray can-kit of actual Chrome finish....Similar to the chrome coating on the plastic.
( I saw Chip Foose use it )

(( There is always Ebay to buy a new grill..... Something I didn't have to mention )

 

[2591tdj]

Once you get it clean or replace it, I wonder if a ceramic coating like Armor Shield would offer any protection. Armor Shield tech support may know the answer. They are great about responding to inquiries. I coated everything on my vehicle except the windshield glass with it year ago and it still looks great.