1999 Mercury Sable Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 176

Maintenance and care Waxing your vehicle Wax when water stops beading on the surface. This could be every three or four months, depending on operating conditions. Use only carnauba or synthetic-based waxes. Use cleaning fluid or alcohol with a clean cloth to remove any bugs and tar before waxing vehicle. Use tar remover to remove any tar spots. Avoid getting wax on the windshield. If you have wax applied at a commercial car wash, it is recommended that you clean the wiper blades and windshield as described in Cleaning the wiper blades and windshield. Repairing paint chips Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris may be repaired with touch-up paint, repair foil or aerosol paint spray from the Ford Car Care Chemicals line. Observe the application instructions on the products. Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap, insect remains, tar spots, road salt and industrial fallout immediately. Cleaning the wheels Wash with the same detergent as the body of your vehicle. Do not use acid-based or alcohol-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or strong detergents. Never use abrasives that will damage the finish of special wheel surfaces. Use a tar remover to remove grease and tar. The brushes used in some automatic car washes may damage the finish on your wheels. Before going to a car wash, find out if the brushes are abrasive. Cleaning the engine Engines are more efficient when they are clean because grease and dirt buildup keep the engine warmer than normal. When washing: 176