Description: Over the past
decade, car manufacturers have developed different paint systems to
improve durability. In the 1980's domestic cars had conventional
finishes, that is, a pigmented enamel coat on top of the primer.
Today, 96% of all new cars have a base coat/clear coat finish, which
is comprised of a thin color coat covered by a clear acrylic or
enamel urethane coat. This clear coat finish is only 2 mils
thick—about the thickness of an ordinary plastic trash bag. Daily
wear and tear on a car's clear coat finish may leave it with swirl
marks or signs of oxidation. To the eye, it means a dull and hazy
looking appearance. This is sometimes referred to as "clear coat
haze."
Purpose: Your car's finish provides more than beauty. Over
time, a car's paint erodes due to the effects of sunlight, UV
radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt, and air pollution. Wax your car
every six months with a quality wax or polish. More frequent waxes
are needed if your car is red, black or white because these colors
are more susceptible to acid rain and UV rays.
Maintenance: Frequent
washing (once a week) and vehicle polishing (once every 6 months) go
a long ways towards protecting your investment. Keeping your vehicle
consistently clean clears away the buildup of damaging chemicals and
dirt that may attack your car's finish. In areas of the country that
experience the use of road salt in winter months, frequent washing
can also reduce the corrosive effects of salt that cause body
rust-through.
If your car is involved in an accident, no matter how minor, have
the damage immediately inspected and evaluated by a collision
professional. Neglecting body damage could jeopardize your safety
and eventually contribute to even more expensive repairs.
One of the most critical times to wash your vehicle is
immediately after a rainfall because of the ill effects of acid
rain. Even though the water evaporates, the acid stays behind and
can eat into your vehicle's finish. While you may not be able to
prevent acid rain, you can prevent it from ruining your vehicle's
finish by frequent washing and polishing.
If you drive on muddy roads, consider an undercarriage treatment
every time you wash your car. Undercarriage treatments, offered by
most car washes, remove caked-on mud that holds moisture to metal
and causes rust and body rot around wheel wells and door sills.
Driving in snow and sleet can compound the effects of acid rain
because of the corrosive nature of road salt. To prevent this
damage, washing your car during the winter is highly recommended,
provided the temperature is above freezing.
Foreign materials like tar, tree sap, and acid rain can stain newer paint finishes. The longer these sit on the car's surface, the more difficult they become to remove and the more likely they are to cause damage.
Waxes and polishes (these two terms are used interchangeably) serve three primary purposes: cleaning a car's finish, improving the shine, and protecting the surface against the offensive effects of foreign materials. Most waxes/polishes contain very mild cleaning agents, along with shine ingredients, lubricants and waxes. All of the ingredients work together to renew that showroom-new look. And, since regular waxing and polishing also sets up a protective barrier against hostile attacks from the environment, your vehicle's appearance will be protected for years to come.
Find companies and
products that can help you protect your car's
finish. |
