Car Bodywork, Auto Bodywork - Protecting
Car Bodywork - Car Body Maintenance
Protecting
bodywork
If you’re taking care to make sure your motor
runs at its maximum potential, it’s well worth
devoting a bit of time to keeping the bodywork in
tip-top shape. Regular cleaning, polishing and rust
maintenance can help you protect your motor from the
elements and keep it looking smart and shiny for years
to come
.
The elements are out to get you, and all kinds of
nasty things start to rot away your motor. Short of
keeping your car garaged, bathing it regularly in
oil, and only driving it when it is sunny (a viable
option if you have an expensive classic), the best
way to keep your car from deteriorating is to keep
it clean.
As you drive around, it’s inevitable that noxious
substances will start to attach themselves to your
motor. Exhaust fumes deposit sooty black particles
on the bodywork, whilst rotting leaves and bird droppings
will eat away at the paint. The air itself will eventually
cause the paint on your car to dull, as the outer
surface oxidises and starts to lose its sheen. Damage
to the paint can expose bare metal to the rain and
wind.
The simplest solution to a dull finish is to wash
the car every week or so. Warm water, applied evenly
over the body of the car, will rinse away specks and
light dirt, but special car shampoos are usually denser
and less acidic. If the paint on your car is dull,
apply polish and elbow-grease in some shine.
For mild cleaning, use a sponge
or soft cloth, making sure it’s not abrasive.
Ensure you have no particles of dirt trapped in the
sponge, as this can scratch the paint. Don't forget
to wash the windows, too - it's traditional to polish
them off with newspaper. A general clean like this
once a week or so will be enough to wash off debris
and corrosive substances.
Every three or four months your
motor will benefit from waxing. This works as an invisible
barrier between the surface and the elements, and
has the added benefit of making your motor shine like
new. You can pick up the correct wax for your motor
from any garage or motoring store.
Apart from this regular clean
make sure that if you spill petrol, engine oil, brake
fluid or antifreeze over the paint, you wash it off
immediately with plenty of water as soon as you can.
courtesy of http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/
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