Tesla 2010 Roadster - Cleaning and Vehicle Care; Environmental Precautions; Cleaning the Vehicle Exterior

Cleaning and vehicle care
8-7Maintenance and care
Cleaning and vehicle care
Environmental precautions
Some cleaning products contain
chemicals that are hazardous to the
environment. Always take precautions to
prevent fluids from spilling.
It is illegal to pollute drains, rivers and
waterways. Used toxic chemicals must be
disposed of at authorized waste disposal
sites only.
Cleaning the vehicle exterior
Hand washing
Caution: Substances that are
corrosive, such as bird droppings,
tree resin, dead insects, tar spots, road salt
and industrial fall-out can damage the
vehicle's paint. Remove such deposits as
soon as possible to prevent damage.
To preserve the paint finish, observe the
following:
• Before washing, use a hose to remove
heavy deposits of mud and dirt from
the body.
• Never wash a vehicle that is “hot to the
touch” or during exposure to strong,
direct sunlight.
• Wash the body using cold or lukewarm
water containing a good quality wash
and wax shampoo.
• Never use strong household
detergents or soap. These products
can discolour and spot painted
surfaces.
• For best results, always use a clean
sponge or car wash mitt with plenty of
water.
• After washing, rinse with clean water
and thoroughly wipe dry with a
chamois. Do not allow cleaning agents
to dry on the finish.
Automatic car washers and pressure
washers
Caution: Tesla Motors recommends
that you hand wash your vehicle.
Do not use an automatic car washer or
pressure washer as these may damage
your vehicle’s paint finish, soft top, or
other components.
Caution: Never use a pressure
washer to clean components in the
Battery compartment as it may damage
critical seals on the Battery and other
electrical components.
Note: Vehicle or paint damage caused by
using an automatic car washer or pressure
washer will not be covered under the
vehicle warranty.
Underbody maintenance
From time to time, but particularly during
winter months if salt has been used on the
highways, use a hose to wash the
underside of the vehicle.
Flush away accumulations of mud in areas
where debris easily collects (for example,
wheel arches and panel seams).
Removing tar spots
Use denatured alcohol to remove tar spots
and stubborn grease stains from paint.
After cleaning, immediately wash the area
with soapy water to remove all traces of
alcohol.
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