Corrosion Prevention And Appearance Care; Moisture Breeds Corrosion; Keep Your Car Clean - Hyundai 2001 Sonata Owner's Manual

CORROSION PREVENTION AND APPEARANCE CARE

4. CORROSION
PREVENTION AND
APPEARANCE
CARE
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CORROSION PROTECTION
Protecting Your Hyundai from Corro-
sion
By using the most advanced design and con-
struction practices to combat corrosion, Hyundai
produces cars of the highest quality. However,
this is only part of the job. To achieve the long-
term corrosion resistance your Hyundai can
deliver, the owner's cooperation and assistance
is also required.
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Common Causes of Corrosion
The most common causes of corrosion on your
car are:
o Road salt, dirt and moisture that is allowed
to accumulate underneath the car.
o Removal of paint or protective coatings by
stones, gravel, abrasion or minor scrapes
and dents which leave unprotected metal
exposed to corrosion.
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High-Corrosion Areas
If you live in an area where your car is regularly
exposed to corrosive materials, corrosion pro-
tection is particularly important. Some of the
common causes of accelerated corrosion are
road salts, dust control chemicals, ocean air
and industrial pollution.
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Moisture Breeds Corrosion

Moisture creates the conditions in which corro-
sion is most likely to occur. For example, cor-
rosion is accelerated by high humidity, particu-
larly when temperatures are just above freez-
ing. In such conditions, the corrosive material is
kept in contact with the car surfaces by mois-
ture 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 the moisture and promote corro-
sion.
High temperatures can also accelerate corro-
sion of parts that are not properly ventilated so
the moisture can be dispersed. For all these
reasons, it is particularly important to keep your
car 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 car.
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TO HELP PREVENT CORROSION
You can help prevent corrosion from getting
started by observing the following:
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Keep Your Car Clean

The best way to prevent corrosion is to keep
your car clean and free of corrosive materials.
Attention to the underside of the car is particu-
larly important.
o 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 corro-
sion. In winter, hose off the underside of
your car at least once a month and be sure
to clean the underside thoroughly when win-
ter is over.
o When cleaning underneath the car, give
particular attention to the components under
the fenders and other areas that are hidden
from view. Do a thorough job; just dampen-
ing the accumulated mud rather than wash-
ing it away will accelerate corrosion rather
than prevent it. Water under high pressure
and steam are particularly effective in re-
moving accumulated mud and corrosive
materials.
o 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 ac-
celerate corrosion.
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