Caring for the body does not present any great difficulties and does not require precise adherence to maintenance schedules. However, carelessness in handling it, in particular minor damage, can cause a lot of trouble for the car owner over time, causing serious damage to the metal, requiring expensive repairs. It is especially important to carefully inspect hidden, and therefore not always accessible, areas of the body, such as the bottom, wheel arches and the lower part of the engine compartment.
The main operation of car body maintenance is its washing, preferably done with a stream of water and allowing to avoid damage to the paintwork by dirt particles, etc. It is also recommended to wash the wheel arches with a stream of water to better remove stuck dirt, which in conditions of limited ventilation contributes to the formation of corrosion, especially in winter, when the roads are sprinkled with salt. Paradoxically, but the wheel arches and the bottom of the body are best washed in damp weather, when the stuck and dried dirt softens better and falls off under the action of a stream of water. On wet roads, the body cleans itself from dirt, and this is a favorable moment for inspecting the bottom.
The body can also be washed with a jet of steam (including engine compartment), except for cases when the bottom is preserved with a protective wax-based mastic. This method is widely used in garages and service stations and is good because it allows you to remove oil stains in certain hard-to-reach places. If this method is not available, then we remind you that there are a number of high-quality car cleaning products, sold both in aerosol packaging and suitable for use with a brush, after which it remains only to wash off the dirt with a stream of water. It should also be noted that these products are not suitable for cars whose bottom is preserved with the above-mentioned mastic, because in this case the wax coating will be destroyed by the washing product. In general, the body of cars with such a coating should usually be checked only once a year, usually in the fall, after rain, when there is no dirt stuck to the bottom. At the same time, you can check the condition of the bottom and hidden areas of the body. It is also recommended to treat the hidden cavities of the body with a wax composition; door sills, inner part of wings, etc., thereby increasing its protection against corrosion.
After washing the body, wipe it with a chamois to give the body a shine, as the coating may become dull due to dried water stains. The applied layer of wax coating will give the paintwork more shine and, in addition, protect it from harmful chemicals contained in the air. If the body is not completely clean, use special cleaning products that simultaneously give the body a shine and have a polishing effect. Working with such products will take additional time, but the effect obtained will justify the costs.
It is recommended to periodically inspect and, if necessary, clean the drainage holes of the thresholds and doors, as well as the drainage parts of the heating and ventilation system, to ensure rapid drainage. Chromed bodywork requires the same care as the paintwork. Car windows should be washed with a special composition. It is prohibited to use for this purpose preparations intended for washing the body and containing wax or polishing compounds.