Operation Manual

Vehicle care 197
Engine compartment
Areas of the engine compartment that are
painted in the same colour as the vehicle
must be looked after like any other painted
surface.
It is advisable to wash the engine
compartment before and after winter and
preserve it with wax. Cover alternator and
brake fluid reservoir with plastic sheets
before washing the engine.
When washing the engine with a steam-jet
cleaner, do not direct the steam-jet at
components of the Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS), the air conditioning system or the
belt drive and its components.
Protective wax that has been applied is
also removed during the engine wash. For
this reason, have the engine, brake system
components in the engine compartment,
axle components with steering, body parts
and cavities thoroughly preserved with
protective wax after the wash. We
recommend that you consult your Vauxhall
Authorised Repairer.
An engine wash can be performed in the
spring in order to remove dirt that has
adhered to the engine compartment,
which may also have a high salt content.
Check protective wax layer and make good
if necessary.
Underbody
Your vehicle has a factory-applied PVC
undercoating in the wheel arches
(including the longitudinal mem bers) which
provides permanent protection and needs
no special maintenance. The surfaces of
the vehicle underbody not covered by PVC
are provided with a durable p rotective wax
coating in critical areas.
On vehicles which are washed frequently
in automatic car washes with underbody
washing facility, the protective wax
coating may b e impaired by d irt-dissolv ing
additives, so check the underbody after
washing and have it waxed if necessary.
Before the start of the cold weather season,
check the PVC coating and protective wax
coating and, if necessary, have them
restored to perfect condition.
Caution – commercially available bitumen /
rubber materials can damage the PVC
coating. We recommend that you have
underbody work carried out by a Vauxhall
Authorised Repairer, who knows the
prescribed materials and has experience in
the use thereof.
The underbody should be washed
following the end of the cold weather
season to remove any dirt adhering to the
underbody since this may also contain salt.
Check protective wax coating and, if
necessary, have it restored to perfect
condition.