Body and Underbody Maintenance

The overall condition of the vehicle body is one of the factors that determines its value. Body maintenance is simple, but it must be carried out regularly. Neglecting this, especially after minor damage, can quickly lead to further deterioration of the body and costly repairs. Keep this in mind and pay attention to areas that are difficult to inspect, such as the underbody, the inside of the wheel arches and the lower part of the engine compartment.

The basic body maintenance is regular washing with plenty of water (from a hose). This helps remove all solid particles that may have stuck to the vehicle. During washing, it is important to remove all these particles to prevent scratches later. Be sure to rinse the wheel arches and the underbody to remove all dirt that holds moisture and accelerates rusting. It may seem strange, but the best time to clean the underbody and wheel arches is in wet weather, when the dirt remains damp and soft. In very wet weather the underbody is usually cleaned automatically of large buildups of dirt, and this is the best time for inspection.

Except for vehicles with a wax-based underbody protective coating, it is recommended to periodically steam clean the underbody and engine compartment. This allows a thorough inspection to determine whether minor repairs and replacements are required. Steam cleaning is available at many garages and is necessary to remove oil-based dirt. If steam cleaning is not available, oil solvents applied with a brush can be used. In this case the dirt can simply be dissolved.

Note that these methods should not be used on vehicles with a wax-based body protective coating, as the coating will be removed. Such vehicles should be inspected annually, preferably before winter, and the underbody should be washed and damaged areas of the protective coating restored. Complete recoating is ideal. It is also advisable to use wax-based rust protection for injection into the door panels, etc., as this provides additional protection against rust in areas where it is not provided by the manufacturer.

After washing the paintwork, wipe it dry with a chamois so that the finish has no streaks. Applying a layer of polish will provide additional protection of the paint from harmful airborne contaminants. If the paint has lost its shine, use a combination of cleaner and polish. This requires some effort, but loss of shine is usually the result of irregular washing. Take special care when maintaining metallic paint: use non-abrasive cleaning and polishing compounds for finishing such coatings. Always check that the drain and ventilation holes and tubes are fully open so that water can drain freely. A dirty film may periodically appear on the windshield and windows; remove it with a suitable glass cleaner. Never use wax or body or chrome polishing compounds to clean glass.