2008 Jeep Patriot Owner's Manual - Page 378

376 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE the fill plug. The fluid level should be maintained between the bottom of the fill hole to 1/8 in (4 mm) below the fill hole. Add fluid, if necessary, to maintain the proper level. Frequency Of Fluid Change Refer to the "Maintenance Schedule" under Section 8. Appearance Care And Protection From Corrosion Protection Of Body And Paint From Corrosion Vehicle body care requirements vary according to geographic locations and usage. Chemicals that make roads passable in snow and ice and those that are sprayed on trees and road surfaces during other seasons, are highly corrosive to the metal in your vehicle. Outside parking, which exposes your vehicle to airborne contaminants, road surfaces on which the vehicle is operated, extreme hot or cold weather and other extreme conditions will have an adverse effect on paint, metal trim, and underbody protection. The following maintenance recommendations will enable you to obtain maximum benefit from the corrosion resistance built into your vehicle. What Causes Corrosion? Corrosion is the result of deterioration or removal of paint and protective coatings from your vehicle. The most common causes of corrosion are: • Road salt, dirt and moisture accumulation. • Stone and gravel impact. • Insects, tree sap and tar. • Salt in the air near sea coast localities. • Atmospheric fallout/industrial pollutants.