Car protection against corrosion
Using the most advanced technologies and methods of corrosion protection, Hyundai produces high quality cars. However, to ensure long-term protection against corrosion of a Hyundai car, your help and assistance is also required.
Common Causes of Corrosion
The most common causes of corrosion on your vehicle are:
- road salt, dirt and moisture accumulating under the bottom of the car;
- chipping of paint or protective coatings by stones, gravel, minor chips and dents that leave exposed metal exposed to corrosion.
Moisture breeds corrosion
Moisture creates conditions for the most intense occurrence of corrosion. For example, the occurrence of corrosion is greatly accelerated by high humidity, especially at the freezing point of water. Under such conditions, corrosive materials come into contact with vehicle surfaces through poorly evaporating moisture. Dirt is a typical cause of corrosion because it dries slowly and allows moisture to come into contact with the car. Even if the dirt appears dry, it can still contain moisture and contribute to corrosion. High temperatures can also contribute to corrosion of poorly ventilated parts of the vehicle where moisture can settle. For these reasons, it is very important to keep the car clean from dirt and buildup of other materials. This applies not only to visible areas, but also to the bottom of the car.
In winter, spray water on the underside of the vehicle at least once a month and rinse it thoroughly after the end of the winter period.
When washing the bottom of the car, pay special attention to the parts under the fenders and other parts hidden from view. Do your work carefully. Simply washing rather than thoroughly cleaning accumulated dirt can accelerate corrosion rather than prevent it. Pressurized water and steam are quite effective in removing accumulated dirt and corrosive materials.
When cleaning the door bottom panels, reinforcements and frame parts, make sure that the drain holes are open so that moisture can evaporate and not accumulate inside, accelerating the appearance of corrosion.
Scratched or chipped paintwork should be repaired with repair paint as soon as possible to reduce the risk of possible corrosion.
Moisture can collect under floor mats and carpeting and cause corrosion. Periodically check that there is no moisture under floor mats and carpeting.
Washing and waxing
Washing a car when its surface is heated by the sun's rays is unacceptable. Always wash your car in the shade.
Wash your car as often as possible. Dirt is abrasive and can scratch your car if left unwashed. Polluted air or acid rain can damage the paintwork through a chemical reaction if left in contact with the car's surface. In winter or after driving on muddy wet roads, wash the underside of the vehicle thoroughly. Use a strong water jet to remove deposits of dirt and corrosive materials. Use a high quality car wash solution and follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging. Do not use strong household cleaners, benzine, thinners or abrasive cleaners as this may damage the vehicle's paintwork.
Use a clean sponge or cloth, wetting it frequently, and do not damage the paintwork by rubbing too hard. If the dirt has dried on, dampen thoroughly and gently remove it.
To wash the wheels, use a soft brush or a coarse wool cloth soaked in a neutral detergent solution.
To clean plastic wheel covers, use a clean sponge or soft cloth and water.
Wash aluminum rims with mild neutral detergent or neutral detergent. Do not use abrasive cleaners. Protect bare metal surfaces by washing, polishing and waxing. Since aluminum is prone to corrosion, pay special attention to aluminum rims in winter. Wash these wheels thoroughly after driving on salt covered roads.
After washing the car, dry it thoroughly. After drying, soapy water leaves stains on the paint.
In warm weather and low humidity, it may be necessary to wipe every part of the car immediately after washing to avoid leaving streaks on the paint.
If you find dents or scratches in the paintwork, cover them with repair paint to prevent corrosion.
Stain cleaning
Do not use gasoline, strong solvents, or corrosive cleaners. This may damage the paintwork. To remove road tar, use a clean, soft cloth dampened with turpentine.
To remove insect residue or tree sap, use warm water and a weak neutral or car wash solution. Dampen the sponge and rub gently. If the finish has lost its shine, use a commercially available car polish.
Polishing and waxing
Always wash and dry the car before applying the polish and wax paste.
Use only high quality commercially available products and follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging. Polish and wax on both paintwork and high gloss veneer.
Reapplying wax paste
Re-polishing and waxing should be done when the water no longer forms drops and rolls on a clean surface, but spreads over a large area.
Bumper Care
To care for the bumpers of your Hyundai car, you must follow some precautions:
Be careful not to get battery electrolyte or brake fluid on the bumpers. If this occurs, immediately wash the vehicle with clean water.
Be careful when cleaning bumper surfaces. They are made of soft plastic and their surface can be damaged by improper handling. Do not use abrasive cleaners.
Use warm water and a mild neutral or car wash solution.
Do not expose bumpers to high temperatures. For example, when painting a car in a high temperature oven, be sure to remove the bumpers from the car.
Cleaning vinyl upholstery
To clean vinyl upholstery, first remove crumbs and dust with a vacuum cleaner. Then use a solution of neutral detergent in warm water using a clean sponge or soft cloth. If there are still stains on the upholstery, repeat the operations until they are cleared. Do not use gasoline, paint thinner or other strong cleaners.
Genuine leather upholstery cleaning
During normal use, genuine leather upholstery, like other materials, will collect dust and dirt. They must be cleaned as they can eat into the skin and cause damage.
Thin skin needs to be looked after and cleaned if necessary. Washing the leather thoroughly with soap and water will make the leather shiny and last a very long time. Treat the leather with a chamois cloth using a neutral detergent and warm water. Wash the skin thoroughly, dry it with a damp cloth and then dry it with a dry cloth. Do this as often as possible so that the skin does not become oily.
When dressing leather, a sufficient amount of oils is added to the leather, and there is no need to add oil to the leather during its operation. Adding oil to the surface of the skin will not bring any benefit and may even harm. Do not use carpet cleaners or furniture polishes.
Carpet cleaning
Use foaming carpet cleaners. These types of cleaners can be produced in aerosol, liquid or powder form. Read the instructions on the package and follow them.
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove as much dirt as possible. Apply the foaming cleaner following the manufacturer's directions, then wipe off in a circular motion. Don't add water. These cleaners are most effective when applied to dry carpet.
Seat belt cleaning
To clean the seat belts, use a cloth or sponge dampened with a neutral detergent and warm water. Do not use strong cleaners, bleach or abrasive cleaners as this may weaken the material of the seat belt webbing.
When cleaning the belts, inspect them for excessive wear, fraying or other signs of damage and replace them if necessary.
Glass washing
You can use any household glass cleaner to clean the glass. However, when washing the inside of the rear window, be careful not to damage the heating wires of the rear window defroster.