Cadillac BLS, Owner'S Manual

Page: 231 / 272

231 Car care
Anti-corrosion
treatment
The entire car undergoes a series of anti-
corrosion processes during production.
These include electrophoretic priming,
PVC-based coating to protect against stone
chip damage and corrosion, and treatment
of body cavities and members with thin,
penetrating rustproofing oil.
In addition, most body panels, such as the
bonnet, doors and floor pan are galvanised.
The anti-corrosion treatment on some parts
of the car is constantly exposed to wear and
prone to damage. This applies particularly
to the underside of the car and inside the
wheel arches, where grit, road salt and the
like that are thrown up can give rise to cor-
rosion where the underseal has worn away.
The extent of this obviously depends on the
conditions in which the car is used.
Accordingly, make it a habit to hose the
underside of the car often and to inspect
the condition of the underseal. The anti-
corrosion warranty does not relieve the
car owner of the need to carry out normal
maintenance to the rustproofing and to
make good any damage.
Use a hose to clean the underside of the car
thoroughly. After it has dried, use a brush or
spray to apply a viscous anti-corrosion
agent to any worn or damaged areas, to pre-
vent the onset of corrosion.
Even after the anti-corrosion warranty has
expired, it makes good sense to continue to
maintain the rustproofing.
Seams in the body, especially those in the
doors and boot lid, are particularly vulner-
able to corrosion from the outside, caused
by grit and salt thrown up from the road, and
to corrosion from the inside, largely as a
result of condensation. Keep the seams
clean and at the first sign of any rust, apply
a thin anti-corrosion agent using a spray can
or a brush. We recommend that you contact
an authorised Cadillac workshop.
Surface treatment composition
1 Body panel
2 Zinc (certain components only) 7.5 µm
3 Phosphate coating 3–5 µm
4 Cathodic ED 23 µm
5 Intermediate coat 35 µm
6 Metallic base/solid base 11 µm
7 Clear enamel 45 µm
460_OM_MY09.book Page 231 Wednesday, April 2, 2008 10:32 AM