Car body wash and treatment (Sierra)

Car body wash

In most populated areas it is prohibited to wash a car in open areas, except in specially designated areas where dirty water is drained.

• wash a dirty car as soon as possible;
• before washing the car, soak the insects and remove them from the surface of the car body;
• use water generously;
• use a soft sponge or a very soft brush with water supplied to the brush;
• varnish coatings should not be washed with a strong jet of water, but should be hosed down and the dirt washed off from top to bottom with plenty of water;
• rinse the sponge frequently;
• wipe with a clean cloth;
• use only good degreasing detergents. Rinse well with clean water to completely remove detergents;
• for protection purposes, you can add detergent preservatives to the washing water;
• when using detergents regularly, preservatives should be used more often;
• it is forbidden to wash and dry the car in the sun. Otherwise, stains will remain on the varnish surface;
• the salt that is sprinkled on the roads has a harmful effect on the car body, so it is necessary to wash the car more often and thoroughly.

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 brakes at the beginning of the movement.

Care of varnish coating

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 option for protecting varnish coatings – using washing preservatives. However, washing preservatives provide reliable protection for varnish coatings only if they are used at every car wash and at least every 2–3 weeks.

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

Attention! Preservation must not be done in direct sunlight.

Polishing

Polishing the varnish surface is only necessary if it has faded due to insufficient care, exposure to dust, harmful gases, weather conditions, and preservatives cannot restore its shine.

Do not use coarse polishing pastes or chemically active polishing agents, 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 sections to avoid premature drying of the polish. After treating the surface with some polishing agents, additional conservation is required. Polishing in direct sunlight is prohibited. Matte varnish surfaces cannot be treated with preservatives and polishing agents.

Removal resin stains

The resin quickly diffuses into the 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, regular gasoline, kerosene or turpentine can be used. 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.

Removing 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, and 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

Wheel rims made of light metals require care 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 rough cleaning agents or water with a temperature above +60°C.

Seat belts

Seat belts should be washed with a weak alkaline solution without removing them. Do not dry clean them, which can cause 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 belts at temperatures above 80°C and in the open sun.

Bottom protection and preservation of internal cavities

The entire surface of the bottom is covered with a special protective layer. All hollow cavities are covered with a special mastic. With the onset of cold weather and after washing the bottom, the protective coating should be checked and additionally treated with protective wax. Dust, clay and sand can settle in the area of action of the centrifugal forces of the wheels. It is extremely necessary to remove accumulated slag, including salt, otherwise, due to non-drying of contaminated areas, corrosion may occur, which the protective coating of the body is unable to prevent for a long time. To prevent corrosion of the front part of the car and drive mechanisms, the engine compartment and the parts of the brake system and steering elements located in it must be covered with high-quality preservative wax (of course, after washing the engine).

Attention! Before washing the engine, cover the generator and brake fluid reservoir with polyethylene film. Although the generator bearings are sealed, there is a risk of leaching with fat-dissolving additives during processing. This may result in noise in the bearings or their failure. During operation of the car, a smell from the combustion of preservative wax on parts operating under high thermal loads may appear for a short time. After applying wax, wipe all joints and lubricate with MoS paste.

Seat upholstery care

Fabric coverings

Clean soft seats with a vacuum cleaner or a stiff brush. Clean heavily soiled seats with dry foam. Treat greasy and oily stains with clean gasoline or stain remover. Do not pour the cleaning agent directly onto the fabric. Remove the stain by wiping it along the contour from the edge of the stain to the center. Other stains can be removed using slightly warm soapy water.

Leather seats

When parking for a long time in the sun, the seats and headrests must be protected from fading. Lightly wet a knitted or woolen rag and wipe the leather surfaces so as not to wet the leather and seams. Then wipe the dried surface with a soft rag. Heavy dirt can be removed with refined detergents without bleaches (2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water). Grease and oil stains can be removed with light strokes using pure gasoline.

Washed leather seats should be treated with an antistatic agent. Shake before use and apply a thin layer with a soft cloth. After drying, rub with a clean and soft cloth. It is recommended to perform such treatment every 6 months.

The article was taken in its entirety from the specified website Fordbook.ru