2009 Mazda CX-9 Owner's Manual - Page 467

Maintenance and Care Appearance Care qWater Marks Occurrence Rain, fog, dew, and even tap water can contain harmful minerals such as salt and lime. If moisture containing these minerals settles on the vehicle and evaporates, the minerals will concentrate and harden to form white rings. The rings can damage your vehicle's finish. Prevention It is necessary to wash and wax your vehicle to preserve its finish according to the instructions in this section. These steps should be taken immediately after you find water marks on your vehicle's finish. NOTE l l l The paint chipping zone varies with the speed of the vehicle. For example, when traveling at 90 km/h (56 mph), the paint chipping zone is 50 m (164 ft). In low temperatures a vehicle's finish hardens. This increases the chance of paint chipping. Chipped paint can lead to rust forming on your Mazda. Before this happens, repair the damage by using Mazda touch-up paint according to the instructions in this section. Failure to repair the affected area could lead to serious rusting and expensive repairs. qPaint Chipping Occurrence Paint chipping occurs when gravel thrown in the air by another vehicle's tires hits your vehicle. How to avoid paint chipping Keeping a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead reduces the chances of having your paint chipped by flying gravel. 8-53