Protecting Your Vehicle From Corrosion - Lexus GS300 1998 Owner's Manual

PROTECTING YOUR VEHICLE
FROM CORROSION
Proper care of your Lexus can help ensure long–term
corrosion prevention.
The most common causes of corrosion to your vehicle are:
D The accumulation of road salt, dirt and moisture in
hard–to–reach areas under the vehicle.
D Chipping of paint or undercoating caused by minor
accidents or by stones and gravel.
The following conditions will cause or accelerate
corrosion of your vehicle, so it is important to keep your
vehicle, particularly the underside, as clean as possible
and to repair any damage to paint or protective coatings
as soon as possible.
D The presence of road salt or dust control chemicals, salt in
the air near the sea coast, industrial air pollution.
D High humidity, especially at temperatures just above
freezing point.
D Certain parts of your vehicle are wet or damp for an
extended period of time, even though other parts of the
vehicle are dry.
D Components of the vehicle which are prevented from
quick–drying due to lack of proper ventilation are exposed
to high temperature.
To help prevent corrosion on your Lexus, follow these
guidelines:
Keep your vehicle clean by regular washing. In addition,
observe the following points.
D If you drive on salted roads in the winter or if you live near
the ocean, you should hose off the undercarriage at least
once a month to minimize corrosion.
D High pressure water or steam is effective for cleaning the
vehicle's underside and wheel housings. Pay particular
attention to these areas as it is difficult to see all the mud
and dirt. It will do more harm than good to simply wet the
mud and debris without removing them. The lower edge
of doors, rocker panels and frame members have drain
holes which should not be allowed to clog with dirt as
trapped water in these areas can cause corrosion.
D Wash the underside of the vehicle thoroughly when winter
is over.
See "Washing and waxing" for more tips.
Check the condition of your vehicle's paint and trim. If
you find any chips or scratches in the paint, touch them up
immediately to prevent corrosion from starting. If the chips
or scratches have gone through the bare metal, have a
qualified body shop make the repair.
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