Treatment of car body with protective compounds (Mitsubishi Colt 2)

Contents: Polishing ⤓ Damaged paint ⤓ Cleaning plastic elements ⤓ Chrome elements ⤓ Cast aluminum alloy wheels (if…⤓ Glasses ⤓ Cleaning the top hatch ⤓

Treat your car body with a protective compound once or twice a year, or when the car surface no longer repels moisture. Apply a small amount of the protective agent to the painted surface using a soft cloth. After the protective agent dries, polish it with a dry soft cloth.

Do not treat the car body with a protective compound under direct sunlight. The protective compound must be applied to cold metal. It is not recommended to use protective compounds containing highly abrasive substances.

Such protective compounds effectively remove rust and stains, but can remove gloss from the painted surface, since they remove the polishing coating along with rust and stains. Such compounds also have a negative effect on shiny surfaces, such as the radiator grille or trim elements.

Do not use gasoline or solvents to remove road tar or other contaminants from the painted surface.

On vehicles with a sunroof, be careful not to apply body protectant to the sunroof seal (black rubber). If such a protectant gets on the seal, it will no longer be able to keep moisture out of the sunroof.

Polishing

If polished surfaces have been damaged and have lost their former shine and shade, polish these surfaces with a weak polishing agent. Try to polish not only the damaged area, but also the surface around it, moving the polishing cloth in one direction. After polishing, wash off the polishing agent from the surface of the body and apply a layer of protective compound to give the surface a gloss.

Damaged paint

Small cracks and scratches in the paint should be repaired as quickly as possible using a special film or paint to prevent corrosion.

Check the thresholds and underbody of the vehicle, as well as the areas behind the wheels, for damage to the paintwork from flying stones, etc. The color code number of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle information panel, located in the engine compartment.

Cleaning plastic elements

When cleaning plastic parts, remember that:

1. When using a hard brush or a protective agent containing abrasive substances, plastic elements may be damaged. Clean them with a sponge or chamois cloth. Use protective agents that do not contain abrasive substances.

2. If oil, grease or brake fluid gets on the plastic parts, use a soft cloth soaked in alcohol to remove it as soon as possible. Otherwise, the area may be stained or discolored.

Chrome elements

To prevent stains and corrosion on your car's chrome, wash it with water, then dry it thoroughly and apply a protective compound. If the chrome coating is heavily damaged or has been pitted, use a chrome polish.

Cast aluminum alloy wheels (if fitted)

Clean aluminum alloy wheels with soap and water, and protect the surface by applying a protective compound. Do not use chrome polish or abrasive cleaners, as this will damage the protective coating

Precautions for cast aluminum wheels

During the first 1,600 km, check the tightness of the wheel nuts.
After rotating or replacing a wheel, check the tightness of the wheel nuts for 1,600 km after removing the wheel.
When using chains, be careful not to damage the rims.
The nuts for fastening the disks must be original; tighten the nuts only with a wrench intended for aluminum disks.
When balancing a wheel, use only branded weights (or equivalent) that are applied with a rubber or plastic hammer.
Check the condition of the disks periodically. If damage is detected, replace the disk immediately.

Glasses

Glass can usually be cleaned using only a sponge and water. Glass cleaner should be used to remove wax, oil, grease, insect debris, etc. After the glass has been washed, dry it thoroughly with a clean, dry, soft cloth.

Cleaning the top hatch

Wipe the sunroof from the inside of the car with a soft cloth. Hard deposits should be removed with a cloth soaked in a warm solution of neutral detergent. Remove the remaining dirt with a sponge soaked in clean water.

The article is based on data from the website MitsubishiMan.ru