quilabegesine said:
Remember :-
1. Regular car wash
2. Keep it well polished
3. Protect the front
4. Care for plastics
5. Seal the holes and cavities
All is good but "5", there is a really good reason that "drain" holes are in a vehicle, it's when they get "plugged" that bad things start to happen.
Want the baby to be around in a few years, don't drill holes that will break the paint film (once the e-coat is violated, rust will start), don't over clean any "tan wax based product "from the inner panel, door hinges, hem flanges, etc that may be there when you buy the vehicle (that is the anti-rust inhibitor the factory put there for a reason)-you may think you are doing something that is good, (but it is very, very bad to remove it), keep the bottom of the inside of the doors , under hood seams, trunk seams/flanges(hem flanges) clean of all dirt, corrosives that get there, but do NOT overclean them.
If you live in a part of the country or world where the govement agency applies a "salt/mag cloride" to the roads to remove or melt the ice and snow, when you clean the vehicle, blow with your soap and water, the heck out of under the fender flare area, the under the rocker panel areas, any where that these corrosive compounds may have an opportunity to collect and start the "rusting" process.
The paint you see, that you polish and apply your favorite wax or sealant is one thing, and it can be repaired much cheaper than having sheet metal replaced, which then requires refinishing, which in rare instances is going to match the rest of the vehicle's paint finish.
Know what products you use or buy, to protect the vehicle from corroding-IE, there are SAE and ASTM specs for products that will work, advertising is one thing, but proven performance comes from those non-profit companies that test and certify products after their extensive "protocal" driven testing of them.
"Would any of you use an oil or lubricant that has not been tested and approved, SAE, etc for your motor oil?"
Same thing, obtain those products that meet or exceed their specs.
Grumpy
