Body — service

1. The condition of your car's roof is very important as it will greatly affect its resale value. It is much more difficult to repair a damaged body than mechanical parts. Hidden areas of the bodywork such as the inner surfaces of the fenders, frame and engine bay are equally important, although they obviously don't require as much attention as the rest of the bodywork.

2. Once a year or every 20,000 km. it is desirable to clean the bottom of the body and frame with hot steam. This will remove all traces of dirt and oil, after which you can carefully inspect the underbody for rust, damage to brake pipes, broken electrical wires, damaged cables and other problems.

3. At the same time, clean the engine and engine compartment using either a steam cleaner or a water-soluble degreaser such as Holts Engine Cleaner or Holts hoambritc, which can be applied with a brush.

4. The inner surfaces of the wheel arches should be given special attention as rocks and mud thrown by the tires can chip the paint and allow rust to form. If surface damage and/or rust is found, clean the area to bare metal and apply an anti-corrosion paint such as Holts Lndershield.

5. Body must be washed at least once a week (or when dirty). Moisten the car completely. to soften the dirt, then wash it with a soft sponge and plenty of clean, soapy water. If the dirt is not washed off very carefully, then over time it will lead to wear and tarnishing of the paint.

6. Stains of tar or asphalt thrown off the road should be removed with a cloth soaked in solvent.

7. Once every six months, fully wax the bodywork and chrome trim using one of the many Turtle Wax polishes. If a chrome cleaner is used to remove rust, remember that it also removes some of the chrome surface, so use it sparingly.