Cleaning of external parts of the car body (Mitsubishi Pajero 4)

If the following substances are left on the body for a long time, they may cause corrosion, discoloration and staining. If they are found, the car should be washed as soon as possible.

• Sea water, road anti-icing reagents.
• Soot and dust, including metal dust from industrial enterprises, chemicals (acids, alkalis, resin, etc.).
• Bird droppings, insect traces, tree resin.

Car body wash

If chemicals contained in dirt and road dust remain on the car body for a long time and settle on the surface of the body, they can damage the paintwork and metal surface of the car body. The best protection against such damage is frequent washing of the body and its treatment with protective wax-containing compounds. These measures will also help protect the car body from the effects of atmospheric precipitation, such as rain, snow, salts contained in the air, etc.

Avoid washing your car in direct sunlight. Stop the car in the shade and spray it with water to remove dust. Then, using plenty of water and a car wash brush or sponge, wash the car body, starting from the roof and moving down to the lower parts.

If necessary, use a weak solution of car shampoo. Thoroughly remove any remaining detergent with clean water and wipe the body with a soft cloth. After washing, thoroughly clean the hinges and edges of doors, hood, etc., where dirt usually accumulates.

Attention:

• When washing the underbody of your car or wheels, wear rubber gloves.
• Try to avoid using automatic car washes, as the brushes can scratch the paintwork and cause it to lose its shine. Scratches are especially noticeable on cars painted in dark colors.
• Avoid getting water on electrical components in the engine compartment, as this may make it difficult to start the engine. You should also wash the underbody with caution; do not allow water to flow into the engine compartment.
• Some types of hot water wash equipment expose your vehicle to high pressure water jets and heat. This may lead to thermal deformation and damage to the rubber parts of the vehicle. It is also possible for water to enter the car's interior. Therefore, please pay attention to the following:
• The distance between the washing nozzle and the car body must be at least 40 cm.
• When washing door glass, hold the nozzle at least 50 cm away and at a right angle to the glass surface.
• At an automatic car wash, refer to the operating manual or consult with the car wash operator and pay attention to the following requirements, failure to comply with which may result in damage to the vehicle:
• The outside rearview mirrors must be folded.
• The rear window wiper blade should be lowered or removed.
• If your vehicle has a rear spoiler or roof rack, check with the car wash operator before entering the car wash.

In cold weather

Salt and other reagents that are sprinkled on roads in some regions in winter can have a destructive effect on the car body. Therefore, the car should be washed as often as possible, following the requirements of the car care instructions. Before and after the winter season, it is recommended to apply a protective coating to the body and check the anti-corrosion coating of the underbody.



After washing your car, remove any water droplets from the rubber seals around the doors to prevent the doors from freezing.

Note: To prevent the seals on the doors, hood, etc. from freezing, the seals should be treated with silicone spray.

Waxing

Applying wax helps prevent dirt and road treatment chemicals from sticking to the paintwork of the car body. Wax should be applied after washing the vehicle or at least once every three months to ensure water protection. Do not apply wax coating in direct sunlight. Wax coating should be applied after the body surfaces have cooled.

Attention:

• Do not use abrasive compounds containing wax. Such pastes are good at removing traces of corrosion and stains from paintwork, but they have an adverse effect on the gloss of the paintwork. In addition, they are harmful to polished surfaces such as the radiator grille, various trims, moldings, etc.
• It is prohibited to use gasoline and paint thinners to remove tar and other contaminants from paintwork.
• Do not apply wax to areas with a black matte finish as this may cause discoloration, staining, etc. If wax gets on such surfaces, remove it immediately with a soft cloth dampened with warm water.
• If your vehicle has a sunroof, be careful not to get wax on the sunroof seal when applying wax (black rubber band). If wax gets on the seal, the hatch will lose its tightness.

Body polishing

You should only polish your car if the paintwork has become stained or has lost its shine. Do not polish matte finish parts or plastic bumpers as this may cause staining and damage to the finish.

Damage to paintwork

To prevent corrosion, treat small cracks and chips in the paintwork with Mitsubishi paint for eliminating defects as soon as possible. Make sure there is no damage to the paintwork in areas of the body closest to the road or tires. The paint color number for your vehicle is located on the vehicle identification plate in the engine compartment.

Cleaning plastic parts

Use a sponge or chamois.

If the wax paste sticks to the gray or black rough surface of the bumper, moldings or lights, the surface will turn white. In this case, wipe off the paste with a soft cloth or chamois soaked in warm water.

Attention:

• Do not use hard brushes or other hard tools as they may damage the surface of the plastic parts.
• It is prohibited to use paste containing compounds (polishing powder), which may damage the surface of plastic parts.
• Avoid contact with plastic parts such as gasoline, diesel fuel, brake fluid, motor oil, lubricants, paint thinners and sulfuric acid (battery electrolyte), as this may cause cracking, discoloration and staining of plastic parts. If these substances come into contact with plastic parts, wipe them off with a soft cloth, chamois or similar material soaked in a solution of water and neutral detergent, then immediately rinse the parts with water.

Chrome parts

To prevent stains and corrosion on chrome parts, wash the parts with water, dry thoroughly and apply a special protective coating. In winter, this procedure should be performed more often.

Alloy wheels (optional)

1. After pouring water on the wheel rim, remove dirt with a sponge.



2. If the stain cannot be removed with water, use a neutral detergent. After washing the wheel rim, rinse off any remaining neutral detergent.

3. Wipe the wheel thoroughly with a chamois or soft cloth.

Note:

• Do not use a brush or other hard tool to wash the wheels. This may result in scratches on the wheel rims.
• Do not use cleaning agents containing abrasives, alkalis or acids. This may result in the coating on the wheels peeling off, becoming discolored or stained.
• Do not direct a jet of hot water from a washing machine or other source onto the wheel rims.
• Exposure to sea water or anti-icing agent used to treat roads can lead to corrosion of the wheels. Wash off such substances as soon as possible.

Window panes

Typically, window glass is cleaned with just a sponge and water. For removing oil, grease, insect stains, etc. you can use a glass cleaning compound. After washing the glass, wipe it with a clean, dry, soft cloth. Do not wash glass with a cloth that has been used to wash paintwork. Wax paste from painted surfaces may get onto the glass, which will reduce its transparency and impair visibility.

Note: Use only a soft cloth to clean the inside surface of the rear window. Wipe the glass along the rear window defroster wires to avoid damaging them.

Windscreen wiper blades

To remove grease, insect marks, etc. from windshield wiper blades. use a soft cloth and glass cleaner. If the brushes do not provide high-quality cleaning of the glass, the brush rubbers should be replaced.

Cleaning the sunroof (optional)

To clean the inside surface of the hatch, use only a soft cloth. Sand and other solid particles should be removed with a cloth soaked in warm water and neutral detergent. Any remaining detergent should be removed with a sponge soaked in clean water.

Note: Wiping the hatch with a hard cloth or organic solvents (gasoline, paint thinner, etc.), the protective coating applied to the inner surface of the hatch may be damaged.

Protection of the chassis and underbody of the car

The underbody of the car is treated at the factory to protect against corrosion. Some areas have been treated with anti-corrosion compounds and wax paste.

However, as the vehicle is used, these protective coatings are destroyed by impacts from stones flying out from under the wheels and the effects of reagents used to treat the roads. It is recommended to check the metal parts of the body once a year. In addition, it is recommended to regularly (in autumn and spring) check the underbody and, if necessary, take additional measures to protect it. Since not all protective compounds available on the market are suitable for car care, it is recommended to contact specialists to perform this work.

When washing your car, especially in winter, rinse the underside with water to remove dirt and dust, which may contain salt, reagents used to treat roads, etc.