Cab Washing and Polishing
To protect the finish of your new vehicle, follow these
guidelines carefully:
•
During the first 30 days, rinse your vehicle fre-
quently with water. If the vehicle is dirty, use a
mild liquid soap. Do not use detergent.
•
During the first 30 days, do not use anything
abrasive on your vehicle. Brushes, chemicals,
and cleaners may scratch the finish.
•
During the first 120 days, do not wax your
vehicle.
To extend the life of your vehicle’s finish, follow these
guidelines:
•
Avoid washing your vehicle in the hot sun.
•
Always use water. After the cab is completely
washed, dry it with a towel or chamois.
•
Do not dust painted surfaces with a dry cloth,
as this will scratch the paint.
•
Do not remove ice or snow from a painted sur-
face with a scraper of any sort.
•
To prevent damage to the finish, wax it regu-
larly. Before waxing, if the finish has become
dull, remove oxidized paint using a cleaner
specifically designed for this purpose. Remove
all road tar and tree sap before waxing.
Freightliner recommends that a quality brand of
cleaner or cleaner-polish and polishing wax be
used.
•
Do not let diesel fuel or antifreeze stand on a
painted surface. If either should occur, rinse
the surface off with water.
•
To prevent rust, have any nicks or other dam-
age on the finish touched up as soon as pos-
sible.
•
Park your vehicle in a sheltered area whenever
possible.
Care of Fiberglass Parts
Wash unpainted fiberglass air fairings and shields
monthly with a mild detergent, such as dishwashing
liquid. Avoid strong alkaline cleansers.
Apply a wax specifically designed for fiberglass.
Care of Chrome Parts
To prevent rust, keep chrome parts clean and pro-
tected at all times. This is especially important during
winter driving and in coastal areas where there is
exposure to salt air.
When cleaning chrome parts, use clean water and a
soft cloth or sponge. A mild detergent may also be
used.
Sponge gently, then rinse. If necessary, use a non-
abrasive chrome cleaner to remove stubborn rust or
other material. Do not use steel wool.
To help protect the chrome after cleaning, apply a
coat of polishing wax to the surface. Never use wax
on parts that are exposed to high heat, such as ex-
haust pipes.
Care of Exterior Lights
Clean the headlight lenses by hand only, using a
flannel cloth with mild, non-caustic soap or detergent,
and water.
CAUTION
Do not use a power buffer, paper towels, chemi-
cal solvents, or abrasive cleaners on the head-
light lens, all of which can remove the UV coating
from the surface, and result in yellowing of the
lens.
Dashboard Care
Periodically wipe the dashboard with a water-
dampened cloth. A mild detergent can be used, but
avoid using strong detergents.
CAUTION
Do not use Armor-All Protectant
®
, STP Son-of-a-
Gun
®
, or other equivalent treatments. These
cleaners contain vinyl plasticizers that can cause
stress crazing in the interior plastic panels,
which can result in cracking of the panels.
Vinyl Upholstery Cleaning
To prevent soiling, frequent vacuuming or light brush-
ing to remove dust and dirt is recommended. Harsh
cleaning agents can cause permanent damage to
Cab Appearance
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