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EXTERIOR
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E
The exterior of your Airstream Interstate Motorhome, except for the optional
body kit, has been painted by Sprinter. The care of the paint is detailed in the
Sprinter manual.
The following additional information is provided by Airstream to help you un-
derstand the finish and its care. Following these instructions will provide a long
lasting, high-gloss finish for your recreational vehicle. These same procedures
can also be applied to your everyday automobile, producing the same long-
lasting results.
nOTiCE: Information on finish care may provide addition information and
tips on the use of the Van as a motorhome, however, no information about
the exterior finish of your motorhome in this manual should be interpreted
as advice or directions to disregard or void the warnings, cautions, or
other information contained in the Sprinter’s manuals.
Waxes and Polishes
Over 90 percent of all automotive finishes are clear coat. The finish on your
RV is a state-of-the-art Acrylic Urethane Basecoat/ClearCoat. This means that
what you will wash and polish is a clear urethane coating designed to protect
the basecoat: the pigmented coating that provides color. As its main func-
tion of protecting the basecoat, clearcoats need to be maintained especially
in harsh environments. Clearcoats do not fade themselves, but appear to fade
or lose gloss as the surface becomes contaminated by the environment. If
this contamination is not removed frequently, results will be a dull or low gloss
finish. Occasional washing alone will not adequately remove some forms of
contamination and will require polishing.
Polishes and waxes primarily served the following purposes:
1. To remove minor surface imperfections caused by water spots and acid
rain.
2. To remove minor scratches by filling them and leveling the surface.
3. To beautify the paint finish appearances with more depth and high-gloss.
4. To protect the paint finish from the elements.
Do not use products that contain harsh abrasives such as rubbing or polishing
compounds. These products should be used by experienced technicians with
the proper training and equipment. Most polishes and waxes are designed to
clean and polish in one application.
A hand applied polish or wax will offer outstanding performance and protect
the Interstate’s finish. When applying polish or wax, do so in a shaded area
making sure the surface is at the specified temperature according to the polish
manufacturers recommendations. Due to the variations of polishes and waxes,
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