10-4
Chapter 10
CLEANING
Caring for paint
To help preserve that shiny new vehicle nish, pay special attention to correctly treating
those conditions that can damage the paint.
•
Road bloom: If, over a long period of time, oils, dirt, exhaust and other pollutants
are allowed to build up, they may combine to affect the paint nish.
•
Etching: Tree sap, bird droppings, salt water and other natural deposits can, if
allowed to stay on the paint, leave an etching or scarring.
•
Pitting: Tar spots and some industrial fallout can react chemically and may cause
pitting to the surface of the paint.
Paint inspection
Inspect the vehicle regularly for scratch marks, cracks or damaged areas, all of which
could develop rust. Any deep scratches, cracks or breakdown in the nish should be
repaired without delay. Take care to ensure that any rusting is counteracted immediately,
otherwise rust ‘creep’ will extend beyond the damaged area, particularly in tropical or
coastal areas, where the moist, or salt-laden air accelerates rusting. The paint nish of
the vehicle gives a very high degree of protection against the weather, but wear and
deterioration occur when the vehicle is exposed to elements for prolonged periods.
The vehicle therefore should be garaged whenever possible.
To prevent damage of the paint surface, remove foreign matter as soon as possible.
Note Due to the acidity, remove foreign matter such as bird droppings within
24 hours.
Washing the vehicle
The easiest way to keep the paint looking as new is to keep it clean. A wash once a
week will keep the vehicle in good condition. However, it must be washed correctly.
Note
•
Never use an automatic wash that requires anything touching the paint (other
than water).
•
Wash the vehicle once a week to remove build up of any grime on the paint.
• Never wash the vehicle in direct sunlight; nd a shady spot to wash the vehicle.
1. Hose the vehicle down from top to bottom with plenty of cold water (in accordance
with current water restrictions, if any). This removes any grit or other loose particles
and substances. Do not use a sponge or cloth at this point.
2.
Fill a bucket with lukewarm water and add no more than two capfuls of gentle
detergent, such as Holden Hi Suds Car Wash. Do not use hot water, strong soap
or chemical detergents.
3.
To remove bird droppings, soak with a wet sponge for several minutes before
washing off. If still persistent, use a solution of one litre of water and 110 grams of
dissolved baking soda (bicarbonate of soda). Rinse the area with clean water.
4.
Starting with the roof, use a clean sponge to clean a small section at a time. Do not
allow liquid to dry before rinsing off that section with clean water. When all sections
are completed, rinse the whole vehicle again with clean water.
5.
Dry the vehicle thoroughly with a good quality chamois.
EXTERIOR CLEANING
CAPTIVA BOOK.indb 4 30/05/2007 12:50:08 PM
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