SERVICING
Body
36
Washing
When the vehicle is new it should be washed often to harden the surface
finish. If dust and dirt are allowed to remain in contact with the surface
finish for any length of time, damage can result. Washing and polishing
are also important from the viewpoint of rust protection. Special care
should be taken particularly during the wintertime that all residues of
road-salt arewashed off as soon as possible otherwise corrosion can
easily occur.
Another point, if the paintwork of a car is well looked
after, the car will have a higher trade-in value, should the owner decide
to sell it.
While the vehicle is being washed it should stand where it is not in direct
sunshine since this can cause drying patches. First rinse off the underside
of the body with a jet of water and use a soft brush if necessary. Then
rinse
down the entire body with a fairly
light
jet
until the dirt has
loosened up. Then wash off the dirt with a sponge using
plenty
of water.
If
washing with water alone is not sufficient, washing agents can be
used. Be very careful when choosing a washing agent since some of them
are detrimental to the surface finish.
Spots of tar, etc. can be removed by using paraffin before washing with
water. If the vehicle has white side-wall tyres, these can be cleaned by
scrubbing them with washing agents, scouring powder or, in the worst
cases, fine sandpaper. After washing, clean the vehicle carefully with a
soft,
clean
chamois leather.
Use a different leather for the windows, otherwise greasy smears can be
caused.
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Polishing (waxing)
The vehicle does not need polishing until the surface finish begins to lose
its lustre and normal washing is not sufficient to make it shine again.
Polishing
will also remove any deposits on the surface finish. Under
normal conditions it is sufficient to polish the vehicle a couple of times
a year on condition that it is carefully looked after and thoroughly
washed as soon as it has become dirty or dusty. During the wintertime,
in coastal regions or industrial areas, it may however
be necessary to
polish the vehicle more often to avoid attacks from rust.
The vehicle should be carefully washed and dried before being polished.
If polishing is carried out on a dirty or dusty surface, the surface finish
can easily be scratched. Do not polish in direct sunshine since this can
result in a smeary surface.
Polishing a couple of times a year is generally sufficient to give the sur-
face finish the maintenance it needs. I f you want to wax the vehicle, be
very careful to ensure that the surface is absolutely clean before a layer
of
wax is applied. Be very careful when using solvents since in many
cases these can damage the surface finish.
Waxing may not be carried out
until at least six months after the vehicle has been delivered.
Use a good quality polish intended for synthetic finish. Never
polish or wash the vehicle in direct sunshine since the result can
be a smeary surface. Be careful when choosing washing agents.
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