JWerner2
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The wheel cleaner he was using was of acidic nature for cleaning power, and he neutralized the pH of the solution on the wheels with baking soda. If you aren't familiar with this, think of it like a see-saw. Acidic on one end, Basic(alkaline) on the other. Ideally the see-saw would like to be balanced. Baking soda is generally about a pH of 8, I'm not sure what the wheel cleaner was. It was just an extra precaution as to not damage the finish of the wheels. Generally water and anything you don't want to damage, you want to keep between a 6.5-7.5, which is basically what you'll find the range of the pH of water to be(ranging from distilled to mineral water respectively). One would think that with dilution of the acid with water would neutralize the pH(to 7) but this is not always the case. Some acids can break apart H2O molecules using the hydrogen molecules to create more acid compounds, therefore resulting in a lower acidic pH. I've seen a writeup or two about a pH of 5 on some wheel cleaners being brought down to about a 4.5 with the introduction of water. Anything too acidic or basic can potentially damage the finish of the wheel. They do have pH neutral wheel cleaners, such as P21S, that are very wheel finish safe.
Ok, I got that. Yeah I make my own buffers for my Cichlid tanks. Being rift lake Cichlids from Tanganyika they need high PH and my tap water is very very low. I use a mix of epsom salt for keeping the Alkalinity straight and the Bi carb which is in the form of Baking Soda for the PH.
I did not know that that could play a factor in harming the finish. Good to know thanks!!!