Hyundai Kona Hybrid 2023 Owner's Manual page 626

Maintenance
Aluminum wheel maintenance
The aluminum wheels are coated with a
clear protective finish.
NOTICE
• Do not use abrasive cleaner, polishing
compound, solvent, or wire brushes on
aluminum wheels.
• Clean the wheel when it has cooled.
• Use only a mild soap or neutral
detergent, and rinse thoroughly with
water. Also, clean the wheels after
driving on salted roads.
• Do not wash the wheels with
high-speed car wash brushes.
• Do not use any cleaners containing acid
or alkaline detergents.
Corrosion protection
Protecting your vehicle from corrosion
By using the most advanced design and
construction practices to combat
corrosion, HYUNDAI produces vehicles of
the highest quality. However, this is only
part of the job. To achieve the long-term
corrosion resistance your vehicle can
deliver, the owner's cooperation and
assistance are also required.
Common causes of corrosion
The most common causes of corrosion on
your vehicle are:
• Road salt, dirt, and moisture that is
allowed to accumulate underneath the
vehicle.
• Removal of paint or protective coatings
by stones, gravel, abrasion, minor
scrapes, and dents that leave
unprotected metal exposed to
corrosion.
9-70
High-corrosion areas
If you live in an area where your vehicle is
regularly exposed to corrosive materials,
corrosion protection is particularly
important. Some of the common causes
of accelerated corrosion are road salts,
dust control chemicals, ocean air, and
industrial pollution.
Moisture breeds corrosion
Moisture creates the conditions in which
corrosion is most likely to occur. For
example, corrosion is accelerated by high
humidity, particularly when temperatures
are just above freezing. In such
conditions, the corrosive material is kept
in contact with the vehicle surfaces by
moisture that is slow to evaporate.
Mud is particularly corrosive because it is
slow to dry and holds moisture in contact
with the vehicle. Although the mud
appears to be dry, it can still retain
moisture and promote corrosion.
High temperatures may also accelerate
corrosion of parts that are not properly
ventilated so the moisture can be
dispersed. For all these reasons, it is
particularly important to keep your
vehicle clean and free of mud or
accumulations of other materials. This
applies not only to the visible surfaces but
particularly to the underside of the
vehicle.
To help prevent corrosion
Keep your vehicle clean
The best way to prevent corrosion is to
keep your vehicle clean and free of
corrosive materials. Attention to the
underside of the vehicle is particularly
important.