Washing The Car - Volvo S60 Owner's Manual

Washing the car

The vehicle should be washed at regular inter-
vals since dirt, dust, insects and tar spots
adhere to the paint and may cause damage. To
help prevent corrosion, it is particularly important
to wash the car frequently in the wintertime.
The following points should be kept in mind when
washing and cleaning the car:
CAUTION
Avoid using car washing detergents with a pH
value lower than 3.5 or higher than 11.5.
Doing so could result in discoloring of ano-
dized aluminum surfaces on e.g., roof rails or
the frames around the side windows.
•
Avoid washing your car in direct sunlight.
Doing so may cause detergents and wax to
dry out and become abrasive. To avoid
scratching, use lukewarm water to soften the
dirt before you wash with a soft sponge, and
plenty of sudsy water.
•
Bird droppings: Remove from paintwork as
soon as possible. Otherwise the finish may
be permanently damaged.
•
A detergent can be used to facilitate the
softening of dirt and oil.
•
Dry the car with a clean chamois and
remember to clean the drain holes in the
doors and rocker panels.
•
Tar spots can be removed with tar remover
after the car has been washed.
•
A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapy
water can be used to clean the wiper blades.
Frequent cleaning of the windshield and
wiper blades improves visibility considerably
and also helps prolong the service life of the
wiper blades.
•
Wash off the dirt from the underside (wheel
housings, fenders, etc).
•
In areas of high industrial fallout, more fre-
quent washing is recommended.
NOTE
When washing the car, remember to remove
dirt from the drain holes in the doors and sills.
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
CAUTION
•
During high pressure washing, the spray
mouthpiece must never be closer to the
vehicle than 13" (30 cm). Do not spray
into the locks.
•
Dirt, snow, etc., on the headlights can
reduce lighting capacity considerably.
Clean the headlights regularly, for exam-
ple when refueling.
Special moonroof cautions:
•
Always close the moonroof and sun
shade before washing your vehicle.
•
Never use abrasive cleaning agents on
the moonroof.
•
Never use wax on the rubber seals
around the moonroof.
Exterior components
Volvo recommends the use of special cleaning
products, available at your Volvo retailer, for
cleaning colored plastic, rubber, or ornamental
components such as chromed strips on the exte-
rior of your vehicle. The instructions for using
these products should be followed carefully. Sol-
vents or stain removers should not be used.
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