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VEHICLE CARE
Exterior Cleaning
Regular inspection of the vehicle paint
finish and frequent washing are the
best preventions against paint deterio-
ration caused by contaminants such as:
– Dust, soot, ash and acidic or alkaline
aerosol.
– Tree sap and insect fluids.
– Bird droppings which can chemically
etch the paint.
– Leaves which contain chemicals
which can stain light finishes.
– Blowing sand and dust which can
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cause abrasion damage.
NOTE: To prevent damage to
the paint, immediately remove
contaminants as described above
as soon as you see them. Do not
wait until the vehicle is due for a
complete wash.
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Handwashing
Lotus recommends that your vehicle is
only washed by hand.
CAUTION: Automatic car washers
and jet washers may damage the
paint finish. Damage caused by us-
ing them will not be covered under
the terms of the vehicle warranty.
– Rinse the entire car until any dirt
has been removed, this will reduce
the risk of scratching the paintwork
whilst washing. Ensure not to spray
water directly into any air intake/
ventilation grilles or locks.
– Thoroughly wash using plenty of
lukewarm water and a proprietary car
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shampoo, never use household de-
tergent or washing up liquid.
NOTE: The car shampoo must be
non-abrasive, without strong sol-
vents, and have a pH value be-
tween 3 and 11 (neither strongly
acidic nor strongly alkaline).
– Wash in the shade and use a cotton
chenille wash mitt or a sponge rinsed
frequently to minimise the retention
of dirt particles.
– Use a straight back and forth
washing motion to avoid swirled
micro scratches and rinse the body
thoroughly.
– Dry the paintwork after washing
using a suitable microfibre towel or
chamois leather.
Under Vehicle Cleaning
To minimise degradation from road
salt, the underside of the chassis
should be rinsed with clean water on a
regular basis. Many fuel filling stations
offer pressure washing facilities ideal
for this purpose, but do not use on
the bodywork, headlights or around
protective gaiters used on suspension,
brake or powertrain components.
Tar Spots
If necessary, use white spirit to remove
tar spots and stubborn grease stains
(but do not apply to the windscreen
wiper blades or rubber trims), then im-
mediately wash the area with water and
car shampoo.
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