Volvo S40 - Manual (Page 138)

2003 Volvo S40 & V40
NOTE: When washing the car, remember to remove dirt from the drain holes in the doors and sills.
Painted Bumpers: Wash the painted bumpers with the same cleaning agent used on the rest of the car.
Never clean the bumpers with gasoline or paint thinner. Difficult spots can be removed with denatured
alcohol. To avoid scratches, do not dry the bumpers with paper.
pg. 104 Automatic car washing, Polishing and waxing
Automatic washing simple and quick
Brushless car washes are recommended. An automatic wash is a simple and quick way to clean your car,
but it is worth remembering that it may not be as thorough as when you yourself go over the car with
sponge and water. Keeping the underbody clean is most important, especially in the winter. Some
automatic washers do not have facilities for washing the underbody.
Before driving into an automatic wash, make sure that side view mirrors, auxiliary lamps, etc., are
secure, otherwise there is risk of the machine dislodging them. You should also lower the antenna
(sedans).
We do NOT recommend washing your car in an automatic wash during the first six months
because the paint will not have hardened sufficiently.
Polishing and waxing
Normally, polishing is not required during the first year after delivery, however, waxing is
recommended.
Before applying polish or wax the car must be washed and dried. Tar spots can be removed with
kerosene or tar remover. Difficult spots may require a fine rubbing compound.
After polishing use liquid or paste wax.
Several commercially available products contain both polish and wax.
Waxing alone does not substitute for polishing of a dull surface.
A wide range of polymer-based car waxes can be purchased today. These waxes are easy to use and
produce a long-lasting, high-gloss finish that protects the bodywork against oxidation, road dirt and
fading.
Note: Polishing removes oxidized paint from the surface. This
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