Kia EV6 2024 Owner's Manual page 535

Maintenance
owner's cooperation and assistance is
also required.
Common causes of corrosion
The most common causes of corrosion
on your vehicle are:
僅 Road salt, dirt and moisture that is
allowed to accumulate underneath
the vehicle.
僅 Removal of paint or protective coat-
ings by stones, gravel, abrasion or
minor scrapes and dents which leave
unprotected metal exposed to corro-
sion.
High-corrosion areas
If you live in an area where your vehicle
is regularly exposed to corrosive materi-
als, 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 tem-
peratures are just above freezing. In
such conditions, the corrosive material is
kept in contact with the vehicle's surface
by moisture that evaporates slowly.
Mud is particularly corrosive because it
dries slowly and holds moisture in con-
tact with the vehicle. Although the mud
appears to be dry, it can still retain the
moisture and promote corrosion.
High temperatures can also accelerate
corrosion of parts that are not properly
ventilated so the moisture can be dis-
persed. For all these reasons, it is partic-
ularly 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
You can help prevent corrosion from
beginning by observing the following:
Keep your vehicle clean
The best way to prevent corrosion is to
keep your vehicle clean and free of cor-
rosive materials. Attention to the under-
side of the vehicle is particularly
important.
If you live in a high-corrosion area —
where road salts are used, near the
ocean, areas with industrial pollution,
acid rain, etc.—, you should take extra
care to prevent corrosion. In winter, hose
off the underside of your vehicle at least
once a month and be sure to clean the
underside thoroughly when winter is
over.
When cleaning underneath the vehicle,
give particular attention to the compo-
nents under the fenders and other areas
that are hidden from view. Do a thor-
ough job; just dampening the accumu-
lated mud rather than washing it away
will accelerate corrosion rather than pre-
vent it. Water under high pressure and
steam are particularly effective in
removing accumulated mud and corro-
sive materials.
When cleaning lower door panels, rocker
panels and frame members, be sure that
drain holes are kept open so that mois-
ture can escape and not be trapped
inside to accelerate corrosion.
Appearance care
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