1997 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual - Page 270
1997 Chevrolet Malibu Manual
Page 270 highlights
High pressurecar washes may cause water to enter your vehicle. NOTICE: Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may dull the finish or leave swirl marks. Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents, road and tar, treesap, bird oil droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can damage your vehicle's finish if they remain on painted surfaces. Wash the vehicleas soon as possible. If necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter. Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather and chemicalfallout that cantake their toll over a period of years. You can help to keep paint finish looking the new by keeping your Chevrolet garaged or covered whenever possible. Cleaning ExteriorLampsLenses Use lukewarm or cold water, asoft cloth and a liquid hand, dish or vehicle washing (mild detergent) to soap clean exterior lamps and lenses. Follow instructions under "Washing Your Vehicle." Finish Care Occasional waxing or mild polishing your Chevrolet of by hand may be necessary to remove residue the fkom paint finish.You can get GM-approved cleaning products from your dealer. (See "Appearance Care and Materials" inthe Index.) Your Chevrolet has a "basecoatklearcoat" paint finish. The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss the colored to basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are non-abrasive and made a basecoatklearcoat for paint finish. 6-49