Kia EV9 2024 Manual page 602

Maintenance
quality. To achieve long term corrosion
resistance, the owner must also follow
the instructions above.
Common causes of corrosion
The most common causes of corrosion
are:
僅 Road salt, dirt and moisture that is
allowed to accumulate underneath
the vehicle.
僅 Paint chips or protective coatings by
stones, gravel, abrasion or minor
scrapes and dents leave unprotected
metal exposed to corrosion.
High-corrosion areas
If you live in an area regularly exposed
to corrosive materials, corrosion protec -
tion is particularly important. Some of
the common causes of accelerated cor -
rosion are road salts, dust control chemi -
cals, ocean air and industrial pollution.
Moisture breeds corrosion
Moisture creates conditions in which
corrosion is most likely to occur. Corro -
sion is accelerated by high humidity,
particularly when temperatures are just
above freezing. 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. High tem -
peratures can also accelerate corrosion
of parts that are not properly ventilated.
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.
9 52
To help prevent corrosion
You can help prevent corrosion 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.
僅 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.
僅 When cleaning underneath the vehi -
cle, give particular attention to the
components under the fenders and
other areas that are hidden from view.
Do a thorough job; just dampening
the accumulated mud rather than
washing it away will accelerate corro -
sion rather than prevent it. Water
under high pressure and steam are
particularly effective in removing
accumulated mud and corrosive
materials.
僅 When cleaning lower door panels,
rocker panels and frame members, be
sure that drain holes are kept open so
that moisture can escape and not be
trapped inside to accelerate corrosion.
Appearance care