Car body care (Escort 5)

The condition of the body must be checked regularly. Otherwise, corrosion of individual sections of the body can lead to severe damage and expensive repairs in the future. It is also important to pay attention to parts of the car that are not visible from the outside, such as the bottom, wheel arches and the lower part of the engine compartment, as well as parts of the body hidden under the upholstery. The main element in caring for the body is washing it. Before washing the car, soak the insects and remove them from the surface of the body. Use plenty of water. Use a soft sponge or a soft brush. The varnish coating cannot be washed with a jet of strong water. Hose the car and wash off the dirt from top to bottom. Rinse the sponge frequently. Wipe the car with a clean rag. Use only good degreasing detergents. For protection, add detergent preservatives to the washing water. Do not wash and dry the car in the sun, otherwise stains will remain on the varnish surface. The salt that is sprinkled on roads has a harmful effect on the car body.

Attention. After washing the car, the effectiveness of the brakes decreases due to humidity. It is recommended to dry the brake discs by briefly pressing the brake pedal at the start of movement.

Conservation

The clean, dry varnish coating must be treated every 3 months with preservatives to protect the car surface from atmospheric influences by creating a non-porous, water-repellent wax layer.



Any leaked fuel, oil or grease, as well as brake fluid, must be removed immediately, otherwise the colour of the varnish coating will change.

The surface treatment must be repeated if the water does not form drops but spreads over the surface. Regular treatment with preservatives helps to maintain the shine of the varnish coating for a long time.

There is another way to protect varnish coatings - using washing preservatives. However, washing preservatives provide reliable protection of varnish coatings only if they are used at every car wash and not less than every 2-3 weeks.

After using detergents (foaming agents), additional surface treatment with preservatives is especially recommended.

Attention: Preservation should not be done in direct sunlight.

Polishing

Polishing of the varnish surface is necessary only if it has faded due to insufficient care, exposure to dust, harmful gases, weather conditions, and preservatives cannot restore its shine. Rough polishing pastes and chemically active polishing agents should not be used, despite previously good results.

Before polishing, the car must be washed and thoroughly dried. Then follow the instructions for using polishing agents. Polish in small areas to avoid premature drying of the polish. After treating the surface with some polishing agents, additional conservation must be carried out. Polishing in the open sun is prohibited. Matte varnish surfaces cannot be treated with preservatives and polishing agents.

Removing resin stains

Resin quickly diffuses into varnish coatings and it is no longer possible to remove it completely. Fresh resin stains can be removed with a soft cloth soaked in washing gasoline. In emergency cases, you can use regular gasoline, kerosene or turpentine. Resin stains are easily removed with varnish preservatives. In this case, washing the car is not required.

Insect Removal

Insects contain substances that can damage the varnish film if not removed quickly. Insects can only be washed off with a weak, slightly warm soap or detergent solution or with a special insect remover.

Removal of building solutions

Splashes of building materials are washed off with a slightly warm solution of neutral detergents. Do not rub hard, otherwise you can scratch the varnish coating. Then rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Care of parts made of artificial materials

Plastic parts, artificial leather seats, headlights, as well as parts painted matte black, can be washed with water with the addition of special detergents. Wetting is not recommended. Plastic parts can be treated with special cleaners if necessary. Never use nitro solvent or gasoline.

Glass washing

Wipe the glass with a clean soft cloth from the inside and outside. In case of heavy dirt, you can use alcohol or ammonia and warm water, as well as special glass cleaners. When washing the windshield, lift the wipers up.

Attention. When using silicone-containing products to clean varnish coatings, do not wipe the glass with them. When spraying silicone-containing aerosols, the glass must be covered with cardboard or other materials.

Caring for rubber seals

Periodically sprinkle sealing or sliding surfaces with talc or spray with silicone aerosol. This will maintain their elasticity and eliminate creaking when closing the doors. You can eliminate unpleasant sounds by wiping the contact surfaces with liquid soap.



Wheel rims made of light metals require maintenance, especially in the cold season. For this purpose, you can use a special rim cleaning agent. Do not use active acid-containing, highly alkaline and coarse cleaning agents or water with a temperature above +60°C.

The seat belts should be washed with a weak alkaline solution without removing them. Do not dry clean them, which can cause the destruction of the fibers. Belts with automatic winding should be rolled up in a dry state, if necessary, use a special aerosol for better sliding. It is not recommended to dry the belts at temperatures above 80°C and in the open sun.

(The material was copied from an information website: Fordbook.ru)