Kia EV9 2023 Owner's Manual page 647

Maintenance
Underbody maintenance
Corrosive materials used for ice and snow removal and dust control may collect on the
underbody. If these materials are not removed, accelerated rusting can occur on under-
body parts such as the frame, floor pan, even though they have been treated with rust
protection.
Thoroughly flush the vehicle underbody and wheel openings with lukewarm or cold water
once a month, after off-road driving and at the end of each winter. Pay special attention to
these areas because it is difficult to see all the mud and dirt. It will do more harm than
good to wet down the road grime without removing it. The lower edges of the doors,
rocker panels, and frame members have drain holes that should not clog with dirt;
trapped water in these areas can cause rusting.
Aluminum wheel maintenance
The aluminum wheels are coated with a clear protective finish.
僅 Do not use any abrasive cleaner, polishing compound, solvent, or wire brushes on alumi-
num wheels. They may scratch or damage the finish.
僅 Clean the wheel when it has cooled.
僅 Use only a mild soap or neutral detergent, and rinse thoroughly with water. Also, be sure
to clean the wheels after driving on salted roads. This helps prevent corrosion.
僅 Avoid washing the wheels with high-speed car wash brushes.
僅 Do not use any alkaline or acid detergent. It may damage and corrode the aluminum
wheels coated with a clear protective finish.
Corrosion protection
Protecting your vehicle from corrosion
By using the most advanced design and construction practices to combat corrosion, we
produce vehicles of the highest quality. However, this is only part of the job. To achieve
the longterm corrosion resistance your vehicle can deliver, the 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 coatings by stones, gravel, abrasion or minor scrapes and
dents which leave unprotected metal exposed to corrosion.
High-corrosion areas
If you live in an area where your vehicle is regularly exposed to corrosive materials, corro-
sion protection is particularly important. Some of the common causes of accelerated cor-
rosion 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's sur-
face by moisture that evaporate slowly. Mud is particularly corrosive because it dries
slowly and holds moisture in contact with the vehicle. Although the mud appears to be
Vehicle care
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