1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner's Manual - Page 361

Washing Your Vehicle The best way to preserveyour vehicle's finish is to keep it clean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold water. Don't wash your vehicle in the direct raysof the sun. Don't use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use liquid hand, dish or car washing (mild detergent) soaps. You can get GM-approved cleaning productsfrom your retailer. (See "Appearance Care and Materials" in the Index.) Don't use cleaning agentsthat are petroleum based, or that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents should be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on the surface, orthey could stain. Dry the finish with a soft, cleanchamois or an all-cotton towel to avoid surface scratchesand water spotting. Before you enter an automatic carwash, if your vehicle is equipped with the optional power sliding door, be sure to have the switch for thepower sliding door override feature enabled. See"Power Sliding Door" in the Index. High pressure carwashes may cause water to enter your vehicle. Cleaning ExteriorLampsLenses Use lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a liquid hand, dish or car washing (mild detergent) soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses. Follow instructions under "Washing Your Vehicle." Finish Care Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by hand may be necessary to remove residue from the paint finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products from your retailer. (See "Appearance Care and Materials" in the Index.) Your vehicle has a "basecoat/clearcoat"paint finish. The clearcoatgives more depth and gloss to the colored basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are non-abrasiveand made for a basecoatklearcoat paint finish. I NOTICE: Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on a basecoatklearcoat paint finish may dull the finish or leave swirl marks. 6-51