# Sealing those pores aluminum rims **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 6, 2017, 5:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527 "2017-02-06T05:50:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lesabre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lesabre/32/17221_2.png) [@lesabre](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lesabre)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/1 "2017-02-06T05:50:58Z")
can I spray paint the inside of my aluminum rims ,they have become pores and leak air very slowly about 5 pounds psi per month .?sealing those pores aluminum rims ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/2 "2017-02-06T13:47:05Z")
What makes you think your aluminum rims are porous? 5 PSI per month of pressure loss could be caused by a long list of things, such as a drop in temperature or bent rims or normal attrition. If you can tell me why you think your aluminum rims are porous, I might have some suggestions for identifying the real cause of pressure loss. While 5 PSI of loss in a month is a little higher than normal, it isn’t that abnormal. If I put off checking my tire pressure a whole month (rather than weekly), I have to put air in the tires too, and my rims are steel. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/3 "2017-02-06T14:07:01Z")
Like Whitey, I wonder if you’ve ruled out all other causes first. If you spray the tires and valve with soapy water, do you see any bubbles anywhere? ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/4 "2017-02-06T14:36:24Z")
I love it (not!). OP asks a simple question. In return he gets assumption and aggressive skepticism. Yes paint should at least slow down the leak. Just do a good preparation: clean thoroughly, sand lightly and use metal primer to make sure it sticks. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/5 "2017-02-06T14:54:38Z")
> [@circuitsmith](#): > > In return he gets assumption and aggressive skepticism. I’m not sure what makes skepticism about a piece of aluminum as thick as a rim being porous “aggressive.” Do _you_ think aluminum rims are porous? Even aluminum _foil_ isn’t normally porous, so I’m not convinced these rims are porous. Are you? If so, why? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/6 "2017-02-06T14:59:50Z")
More skepticism : are you saying all four are leaking ? I think paint would be temporary at best. I would call a wheel specialty shop and see if they have a solution. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/7 "2017-02-06T17:37:04Z")
I think paint would only be temporary, but if you decide to try this I’d recommend clearcoat. It’s thicker, self-leveling, and there won’t be any overspray issues. ---
**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/8 "2017-02-06T17:38:02Z")
It’s probably corrosion where the bead meats the rim from salt. ---
**Author:** ![lesabre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lesabre/32/17221_2.png) [@lesabre](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lesabre)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/9 "2017-02-06T17:41:53Z")
good idea .thank you ---
**Author:** ![lesabre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lesabre/32/17221_2.png) [@lesabre](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lesabre)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/10 "2017-02-06T17:48:23Z")
see what happened is the chrome on these particular Lincoln zephyr rims is exceptionally thick and notorious for chipping so a tire shop sanded off the rim edge where the chrome was overlapping it into the bead area and it helped 3 out of 4 rims however the one last tire leaks to much and the tire shop said there isn’t any chrome in the bead area any more . . so I thought maybe it could be sealed the shop will spray it on if I purchase the paint however no guarantees of coarse… ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/11 "2017-02-06T19:00:23Z")
[http://www.ehow.com/how\_7632304\_seal-porous-aluminum-auto-wheels.html](http://www.ehow.com/how_7632304_seal-porous-aluminum-auto-wheels.html) Tester ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/12 "2017-02-06T19:39:20Z")
> [@Tester](#): > > [http://www.ehow.com/how\_7632304\_seal-porous-aluminum-auto-wheels.html](http://www.ehow.com/how_7632304_seal-porous-aluminum-auto-wheels.html) > > Tester wow, I learned something today. And it’s fitting, as I have an aluminum wheel leaking. Good stuff, Tester ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sealing-those-pores-aluminum-rims/99527/13 "2017-02-06T20:04:58Z")
Well that finally settles it! Nice.