How to degrease a car body after winter
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How to degrease a car body after winter

Most drivers believe that the transition to summer tires is all the manipulations that need to be done when spring comes. But modern conditions make it necessary to degrease the car body. Why did such a need arise and is it really necessary to do this?

a set of decades ago, degreasing was carried out mainly before painting a car, so that the color was smoother and lasted longer. Utilities now use a variety of chemicals on the roads. These substances, evaporating, settle on the body as part of snow and moisture and pollute it (the same is true with exhaust gases and emissions from enterprises).

These oils in combination with solid particles do not disappear from the surface even when washing (contact or non-contact), leaving streaks, brown rough deposits, etc. This is clearly visible in the lower side of the body and behind, and is also felt to the touch. The problem is especially relevant for those who often drive a car in winter, getting to the car wash once a month or even less often.

Degreasing is, in fact, the procedure for removing “sticky” plaque from dust, dirt, asphalt chips, bitumen, oils, lubricants and various fats from the body.

The first means that are within the driver's visibility range, and which are used to cleaning stains, are gasoline, kerosene and diesel fuel. But experienced car mechanics categorically do not recommend using them for degreasing. These substances have the following negative effects:

  • fire and explosion hazard (especially when used indoors);
  • can leave greasy stains on the body from the substances present in their composition;
  • can damage the paintwork of your car.

How to carry out degreasing, so as not to regret later? The following tools are especially popular among motorists and craftsmen:

  • ordinary white spirit. It cleans well, does not destroy the paintwork and is washed off without residue. But there is also a drawback - a sharp unpleasant odor;
  • B.O.S. - bituminous cleaner Sitranol. Copes with stains from oils, bitumen and grease. It has a light, unobtrusive smell, similar to kerosene. The disadvantage is that its cost is almost twice as high as white spirit;
  • universal degreasers consisting of normal and iso-paraffinic hydrocarbons. They can not cope with all types of fatty deposits;
  • anti-silicones - special solutions based on organic solvents. Inexpensive, they do their job perfectly;
  • trichlorethylene emulsion. Used for deep cleaning in industrial conditions. The disadvantage is that it is applicable only to ferrous metals, aluminum corrodes.

It is also worth noting that at home they often use a solution of detergent in vinegar. To do this, use the products of the companies "Fairy", "Gala", "Sarma", etc. But it is better to give preference to tools specially designed for this, so as not to spoil the paintwork of the car.

This procedure can be performed with equal success both at home and at the service station. The second option is preferable if the vehicle is to be painted after cleaning.

There are two ways to degrease.

  1. Contactless - a cleaning agent is sprayed onto a dry car (most often BOS is used). After a set of minutes, it will dissolve the plaque (this will be visible from the streaks on the body). Next, you need to cover the car with active foam and wash it off after a set of minutes under pressure. It is worth noting that if there are large oily stains, the soaking process can take a little more than a set of minutes.
  2. Contact - a degreaser is applied to a washed and dried car with a rag. Then rub, using efforts on heavily contaminated areas. Next, active foam is applied and the car is washed well under the pressure of water.

The cost of degreasing depends on the chosen means. The duration of the procedure at the service station will be 30-35 minutes.

Despite the attractiveness of the paintwork of the car after degreasing it, you should not carry out this procedure very often. It is enough to degrease after winter and before the onset of cold weather. Also, without fail, the procedure is carried out before painting the vehicle.

Available means that protect the paintwork of the machine after cleaning are polishes. There are a huge variety of these products in the auto chemical goods market in liquid, solid, aerosol and foam form. By applying the polish to the car, you can be sure that in the next 4-6 months (depending on the operating conditions) there will be no problems with the appearance of grease stains.

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