Body maintenance
The condition of a car's body has a major impact on its value. Maintenance is simple, but should be done regularly. Neglecting to repair minor damage will quickly lead to its worsening, which will require costly repairs in the future. Therefore, it is important to monitor the condition of not only those parts of the car that are visible from above, but also the underbody, wheel arches and the bottom of the engine compartment. If your vehicle is not equipped with front mud flaps, it is highly recommended to install them. This will protect the door sills from dirt and moisture in inclement weather.
Car wash
- The most common body maintenance job is washing, which is best done with a hose. This removes particles stuck to the car. It is preferable to rinse them off with a stream of water, which prevents scratches that may occur when washing with a cloth. Wheel arches and the underbody should be washed in the same way to prevent corrosion from accumulating dirt. Oddly enough, the best time to wash the underbody and wheel arches is inclement weather, when the mud is still damp and soft. In very wet weather, the bottom will usually clear itself of very large accumulations of dirt, so this is a good time to check its condition.
- If a car is washed very frequently at an automatic car wash, the rotating brushes leave marks and, over time, damage the paintwork. This can be avoided by washing your car by hand.
- Insect stains, tree sap, road debris and other aggressive materials must be washed off immediately, as they corrode the paintwork.
- When washing, it is necessary to use a large amount of water. Using a damp sponge, a special washing mitt or a soft brush, wash the car, starting from the roof and moving from top to bottom, without applying much force. Rinse off the foam frequently.
Caution: When using a pressure washer, it is important to follow the instructions, especially those regarding operating pressure and distance from the sprayer.
- The detergent should only be used for heavy soiling. Any remaining detergent must be washed off with clean water.
- If you use detergents regularly, you need to treat the paintwork with preservatives more often than usual. The preservatives will be washed away with water and detergent,
- Only a weak stream of water should be directed into the ventilation system inlets. Do not direct a high-pressure jet of water at the radiator.
- It is advisable to periodically use steam to completely clean the underbody of the car, including the engine compartment, to thoroughly check and eliminate minor defects. Steam cleaning removes traces of oil that may occur in certain areas near the engine, gearbox and rear axle. If steam cleaning is not available, it is advisable to use high-quality dirt removers applied with a brush. After this, the dirt is washed off.
- After washing, wipe the body to avoid stains.
- Use only a clean chamois to dry your car. For paintwork and glass, different pieces of chamois should be used, as residues of preservatives may be transferred to the glass.
- A layer of protective agent will protect your car from the effects of harmful substances contained in the air. If your paintwork appears dull or oxidized, use a cleaner/polish combination to restore its original shine. Always make sure the drain holes and pipes are clean so that water can drain freely. The glasses should be kept clean and an aqueous ammonia solution should be applied to them from time to time. Never use chrome-based glass polishes.
- The salts used to combat ice are particularly damaging to bends, flanges and welds on doors and hoods. For this reason, it is necessary to thoroughly clean these areas with a sponge each time you wash (even when using an automatic car wash), then rinse thoroughly and dry.
- Never wash or dry your car in the sun. Water marks will dry immediately and remain on the car body.
Note: After washing the vehicle, it is necessary to brake several times to remove traces of moisture from the brake parts.
Car body care
Conservation
As needed, coat the clean, dry paintwork with a preservative to create a thin layer of wax on the surface that will seal the pores in the paint and repel water. When a wax-based preservative is used regularly, the paintwork should be protected with hard wax at least twice a year.
Any leaking fuel, oil or grease, as well as brake fluid, must be removed from the paintwork immediately, as these materials will change the colour of the paint.
Over time, when water does not roll off the paintwork in beads, it is necessary to apply a layer of preservative wax. If this is not done, the paint will fade.
Another option to protect the paintwork is to use detergents with preservatives. Preservative-based car care products effectively protect paintwork only when used every time you wash your car, with the interval between washes no longer than 2-3 weeks. Only preservatives containing carnauba or synthetic wax are permitted.
Polishing
Car polishing is only necessary when the paintwork has lost its shine due to insufficient care or exposure to adverse weather conditions, and the application of preservatives no longer provides shine. Avoid using polishes that are too abrasive or chemically strong.
Before each polishing, it is necessary to wash the car thoroughly and dry it thoroughly. It is necessary to follow the recommendations given in the instructions for use of the polishing compound.
Polishing should not be carried out on too large a surface to avoid premature drying of the polishing compound. After using some compounds, it is necessary to additionally apply a preservative compound. Polishing cannot be done in the sun!
Plastic parts and parts with a matte finish should not be coated with preservatives and polishes, as they will stain.
Removal resin stains
Fresh resin stains can be removed with a cloth soaked in purified gasoline. Never use regular gasoline or turpentine. A good way to remove resin stains is to use paint preservatives. By using these products you can avoid subsequent washing.
Removal insect stains
Insect residue contains aggressive substances that can damage the paint layer. For this reason, their traces should be removed as quickly as possible with a warm soapy solution or detergent solution. There are also special products for removing insects.
Lighting fixtures
The lighting fixture covers are made of plastic. Do not use aggressive, caustic or abrasive products and do not dry clean.
Care of plastic parts
Plastic parts, artificial leather seats, headliner, light glass, and matte black parts should be cleaned with water and shampoo. The headlining should not be completely wet. If necessary, treat plastic parts with a special plastic cleaner.
Glass cleaning
Snow and ice can only be removed from glass and mirrors using a plastic scraper. To prevent the scraper from being damaged by dirt, it should not be moved back and forth, but only in one direction. Wipe the side windows inside and outside with a dry soft cloth. For heavy soiling, alcohol or a solution of ammonia in warm water will help. You can use a special glass cleaner. When cleaning the front window, fold the wiper blades forward.
When cleaning the windshield, you must also clean the rubber blades of the windshield wipers.
Caution: When using silicone-containing products for polishing the car body, do not use the same brushes, sponges, chamois, rags and cloths for cleaning the glass that were used for treating the paintwork. When spraying a product containing silicone onto paintwork, the glass must be covered with paper or similar material.
Cleaning rubber seals
Rubber seals are kept elastic by applying talc or silicone spray to them. In the same way, you can eliminate creaking and crunching sounds that occur when doors are closed. To eliminate noise, you can apply a special lubricating soap to the relevant surfaces. Tire cleaning
Do not clean tires with a jet of hot steam. If the jet of hot steam is too close to the tire, the rubber layer will be destroyed within a few seconds. For safety reasons, a tire cleaned in this way must be replaced.
Light alloy wheel rims
It is necessary to clean with a special cleaner and brush and not to use aggressive products containing acid, alcohol in high concentrations, or abrasives. Do not use steam or water hotter than 60°C for cleaning.
Seat belts
When installed, you can clean them only with a warm water solution of toilet soap and do not use chemical cleaners, as this may destroy the fabric of the belts. Roll up belts with automatic tensioner only when dry.