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08 Car care
Washing and cleaning the vehicle
Washing
The following points should be kept in mind
when washing and cleaning the car:
• The car should be washed at regular inter-
vals since dirt, dust, insects and tar spots
adhere to the paint and may cause dam-
age. To help prevent corrosion, it is partic-
ularly important to wash the car frequently
in the wintertime when salt has been used
on the roads.
• 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.
• A water-soluble grease solvent may be
used in cases of sticky dirt. However, use
a wash place equipped with a drainage
separator.
• Dry the car with a clean chamois and
remember to clean the drain holes in the
08
doors and rocker panels.
178
• Tar spots can be removed with kerosene
or 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 improves visi-
bility considerably.
• Wash off the dirt from the underside
(wheel housings, fenders, etc).
• In areas of high industrial fallout, more
frequent washing is recommended.
• After cleaning the engine, the spark plug
wells should be inspected for water and
blown dry if necessary.
Exterior plastic components
Cleaning exterior plastic components should
be done with a cleaning agent specially
designed for this purpose. Solvents or stain
removers should not be used. Consult your
Volvo retailer.
NOTE
When washing the car, remember to
remove dirt from the drain holes in the
doors and sills.
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.
•When washing or steam cleaning the
engine, avoid spraying water or steam
directly on the electrical components or
toward the rear side of the engine.
•Chromed wheels: Clean chrome-plated
wheels using the same detergents used for
the body of the vehicle. Aggressive wheel-
cleaning agents can permanently stain
chrome-plated wheels.
Automatic washing - simple and quick
We do NOT recommend washing your car in
an automatic wash during the first six months
(because the paint will not have hardened
sufficiently).
An automatic wash is a simple and quick way
to clean your car, but it is worth remembering
that it may not be as thorough as when you
yourself go over the car with sponge and
water.
Keeping the underbody clean is most impor-
tant, especially in the winter. Some auto-
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