Bodycare; Washing - Lotus Evora Service Notes

Lotus Service Notes
- The front and rear bumpers are produced by a Reinforced Reaction Injection Moulding (RRIM) process,
whereby a mixture of polyurethane resin and milled glass is injected into a closed mould to result in panels
with good surface finish and high flexibility.
Whichever production process applies, if repairs can be determined as being more economic than panel
replacement, repair methods using either conventional composite techniques, or proprietary plastic component
repair systems, can be used to rectify surface or structural damage.
ICS components
Front clamshell outer
Rear clamshell outer
Bodysides
Tailgate inner
Roof
Door inners
Windscreen frame
RTM components
Rear bulkhead
Battery and boot boxes
Clamshell reinforcement panels
SMC components
Tailgate outer
Door outers
'A' post panels
Reservoir access hatch
RRIM components
Front and rear bumpers
BU.3 - BODYCARE
The acrylic enamel paint finish of the Evora is extremely resistant to all normal forms of atmospheric attack.
Following the simple maintenance procedure summarised below will help retain the gloss, colour and protective
properties of the paint throughout the life of the vehicle. However, car finishes are not immune to damage, and
amongst the more common causes of deterioration are:
- Atmospheric contaminants; dust, soot, ash, and acidic or alkaline aerosol mist can chemically attack
paint.
- Abrasion; blowing sand and dust, or a dirty washing cloth.
- Tree sap and insect fluids; can form a water-insoluble polymer that adheres to the paint.
- Bird excrement; highly acidic or alkaline, they can chemically etch the paint. Wash off immediately.
- Leaves; contain tannic acid which can stain light finishes.
- Impact damage; granite chippings thrown up from poor or recently dressed road surfaces can subject
the body to severe localised impact, and result in paint chips, especially around the vulnerable frontal
panels.
- Moisture entrapment; Long term use of a non-breathable car cover can trap moisture and/or induce con-
densation and promote water penetration of the paint film.

Washing

Lotus recommends hand washing of the painted bodywork. The car is a speciality sports vehicle not
intended to be subjected to an automatic car wash. Automatic car washing machines may have a detrimental
effect on the paint film and their use will invalidate the terms of the Vehicle Warranty.
Many contaminants are water soluble and can be removed before any harm occurs by thorough washing
with plenty of lukewarm water, together with a proprietary car wash additive (household detergent and washing
Page 4
Section BU