Kia Stinger 2023 Owner's Manual page 481

Maintenance
CAUTION
Wet engine
僅 Water washing in the engine compart-
ment including high pressure water
washing may cause the failure of elec-
trical circuits located in the engine
compartment.
僅 Never allow water or other liquids to
come in contact with electrical/elec-
tronic components inside the vehicle
as this may damage them.
Waxing
Wax the vehicle when water will no lon-
ger bead on the paint.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing. Use a good quality liquid or
paste wax, and follow the manufac-
turer's instructions. Wax all metal trim to
protect it and to maintain its luster.
Removing oil, tar, and similar materials
with a spot remover will usually strip the
wax from the finish. Be sure to re-wax
these areas even if the rest of the vehicle
does not yet need waxing.
Do not apply wax on embossed
unpainted unit, as it may tarnish the unit.
CAUTION
Drying vehicle
僅 Wiping dust or dirt off the body with a
dry cloth will scratch the finish.
僅 Do not use steel wool, abrasive clean-
ers, acid detergents or strong deter-
gents containing high alkaline or
caustic agents on chrome-plated or
anodized aluminum parts. This may
result in damage to the protective
coating and cause discoloration or
paint deterioration.
7 70
Finish damage repair
Deep scratches or stone chips in the
painted surface must be repaired
promptly. Exposed metal will quickly rust
and may develop into a major repair
expense.
If your vehicle is damaged and requires
any metal repair or replacement, be sure
the body shop applies anti-corrosion
materials to the parts repaired or
replaced.
Bright-metal maintenance
僅 To remove road tar and insects, use a
tar remover, not a scraper or other
sharp object.
僅 To protect the surfaces of bright
metal parts from corrosion, apply a
coating of wax or chrome preserva-
tive and rub to a high luster.
僅 During winter weather or in coastal
areas, cover the bright metal parts
with a heavier coating of wax or pre-
servative. If necessary, coat the parts
with non-corrosive petroleum jelly or
other protective compound.
Underbody maintenance
Road salt and other corrosive chemicals
are used in cold weather states to melt
snow and prevent ice accumulation. If
these chemicals are not regularly
removed, they will corrode the vehicle
underbody and over time damage fuel
lines, the fuel tank retention system, the
vehicle suspension, the exhaust system,
and even the body frame. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
has warned all vehicle owners of all
brands of the need to take the following
steps:
僅 Wash the undercarriage of your vehi-
cle regularly during the winter and
Appearance care