2012 Jeep Patriot Owner Manual - Page 444

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