MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION
Most vehicle corrosion is caused by:● The accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt
and debris in body panel sections, cavities,
and other areas.
● Damage to paint and other protective coat-
ings caused by gravel and stone chips or
minor traffic collisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCE THE RATE OF
CORROSION
Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the ve-
hicle body underside can accelerate corrosion.
Wet floor coverings will not dry completely inside
the vehicle and should be removed for drying to
avoid floor panel corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of high
relative humidity, especially those areas where
the temperatures stay above freezing and where
atmospheric pollution exists and road salt is
used.
Temperature
High temperatures accelerate the rate of corro-
sion to those parts which are not well ventilated.
Air pollution
Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in the air
in coastal areas, or heavy road salt use acceler-
ates the corrosion process. Road salt also accel-
erates the disintegration of paint surfaces.
PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE FROM
CORROSION
● Wash and wax your vehicle often to keep the
vehicle clean.
● Always check for minor damage to the paint
and repair it as soon as possible.
● Keep drain holes at the bottom of the doors
open to avoid water accumulation.
● Check the underbody for accumulation of
sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with water
as soon as possible.
3. Allow the engine to idle for at least 30 sec-onds after starting. Do not race the engine
while warming it up. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather.
In cold weather, keep the engine running for
a minimum of 2–3 minutes before shutting it
off. Starting and stopping the engine over a
short period of time may make the vehicle
more difficult to start.
SWITCHING ENGINE OFF
Push the ignition to the off position.
To prolong the engine life (especially after ex-
tended high speed, high ambient temperature, or
during heavy load operation, such as trailering) , it
is recommended that a hot engine be idled for
3–5 minutes before shutting down. This allows
the turbocharged engine to cool down.
ENGINE BREAK-IN
RECOMMENDATIONS
● Warm up the engine before operating it un-
der load.
● Do not operate the engine at idle for ex-
tended periods. ●
Prevent engine lugging by selecting the ap-
propriate transmission gear.
● Monitor the vehicle oil pressure and tem-
perature gauges.
● Check fluid levels frequently (oil and cool-
ant) .
● Vary the throttle position at highway speeds
when carrying weight or towing.
NOTE:
Extended light or no load operation will
extend the time before the engine reaches
its full efficiency. If the engine is operated
in this manner reduced fuel economy and
power may be observed.
The aforementioned procedure should be ob-
served for the first 6,000 miles. The engine run-in
is improved by operating the vehicle under load.
REMOTE START (if so equipped)
