Protecting Your Vehicle From Corrosion - Lexus LX 470 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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