it may do I cant say for sure but it's the only stripper I know that works nowadays, if you do get some you should wear goggles and gloves as it stings like the old notromors used to do
edited for accuracy, try starchem synstrip, comes in a 5l container and will work best if the rim is submersed for 1/2 hour before jet washing but this would remove the paint from the inside of the rim too!
Check your engine oil level Laura, it sounds to me like it may be 'clutch drag' especially as it improves with a warm engine...an over full oil level will make it worse