service notes

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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.

For a Dependable Motor Vehicle
visit us in the Redwood Auto Care Center
Across the street from the Skyview Drive-In

2335 Soquel Drive
Santa Cruz CA 95065
831-462-4436
Monday-Friday/8:00 am-5:00 pm