Appearance Care; Industrial Fallout; Environmental Paint - Page 272

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Maintenance and Care

Form No. 8R21-EA-02G

Appearance Care

The paintwork on your Mazda represents 
the latest technical developments in 
composition and methods of application.

Environmental hazards, however, can 
harm the paint’s protective properties, if 
proper care is not taken.

Here are some examples of possible 
damage, with tips on how to prevent them.

▼

Etching Caused by Acid Rain or 
Industrial Fallout

Occurrence

Industrial pollutants and vehicle 
emissions drift into the air and mix with 
rain or dew to form acids. These acids can 
settle on a vehicle’s finish. As the water 
evaporates, the acid becomes concentrated 
and can damage the finish.
And the longer the acid remains on the 
surface, the greater the chance is for 
damage.

Prevention

It is necessary to wash and wax your 
vehicle to preserve its finish according to 
the instructions in this section. These 
steps should be taken immediately after 
you suspect that acid rain has settled on 
your vehicle’s finish.

▼

Damage Caused by Bird 
Dropping, Insects, or Tree Sap

Occurrence

Bird droppings contain acids. If these 
aren’t removed they can eat away the clear 
and color base coat of the vehicle’s 
paintwork.

When insects stick to the paint surface 
and decompose, corrosive compounds 
form. These can erode the clear and color 
base coat of the vehicle’s paintwork if 
they are not removed.

Tree sap will harden and adhere 
permanently to the paint finish. If you 
scratch the sap off while it is hard, some 
vehicle paint could come off with it.

Prevention

It is necessary to have your Mazda 
washed and waxed to preserve its finish 
according to the instructions in this 
section. This should be done as soon as 
possible.

Bird droppings can be removed with a soft 
sponge and water. If you are traveling and 
these are not available, a moistened tissue 
may also take care of the problem. The 
cleaned area should be waxed according 
to the instructions in this section.
Insects and tree sap are best removed with 
a soft sponge and water or a commercially 
available chemical cleaner.

Another method is to cover the affected 
area with dampened newspaper for one to 
two hours. After removing the newspaper, 
rinse off the loosened debris with water.

How to Minimize 
Environmental Paint 
Damage

J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book  Page 38  Saturday, June 8, 2002  11:16 AM