Get General Maintenance -> Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle Guide for Skoda Octavia 4 Door Third Generation (2013-2020)

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

137

General Maintenance

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

 Frequency of use,

General

 The parking situation (garage, below trees etc.),

Proper care retains the value of your vehicle.

 Season of the year,

 Weather conditions,

Regular and proper care retains the value of your vehicle. It may also be one of the

requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims relating to corrosion damage and

 Environmental influences.

paint defects on the bodywork.

The longer insect residues, bird droppings, tree sap, road and industrial dust, tar, soot

We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your

particles, road salt and other aggressive deposits remain adhering to the paintwork of

Škoda dealer. Please follow the instructions for use on the package.

your vehicle, the more detrimental their destructive effect can be. High temperatures,

such as those caused by intensive sun's rays, accentuate this caustic effect.

WARNING

It may therefore be necessary, in certain circumstances, to wash the car once a week.

 Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the

It may also be sufficient, however, to wash the car once a month followed by appro-

instructions.

priate wax treatment.

 Always store care products in a safe place, out of the reach of children - risk

It is essential to also thoroughly wash the underside of your vehicle at the end of the

of poisoning!

winter road salting and gritting period.

For the sake of the environment

WARNING

 Always select environmentally-friendly products when purchasing vehicle care

When washing your vehicle in the winter: Water and ice in the brake system can

products.

affect the braking efficiency - risk of accident!

 Do not dispose of the packages with residues of care products in domestic waste.

Automatic vehicle wash systems

Care of the exterior of vehicle

The paintwork of the vehicle is sufficiently resistant that the vehicle can be washed

normally in automatic vehicle wash plants without any problem. The actual stress to

Washing the vehicle

which the paintwork is subjected, however, depends greatly on the design of the

vehicle wash system, the filtering of the water and the type of washing and care prod-

Frequent washing protects your vehicle.

ucts used. If the paintwork of your vehicle appears mat after being washed or even has

scratches, point this out to the operator of the vehicle wash plant. Use a different

The best protection for your vehicle against harmful environmental influences is

vehicle wash plant, if necessary.

frequent washing and wax treatment. How often you should wash your vehicle

depends on a wide range of factors, such as:

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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

There are no particular points to note before washing your vehicle in such a plant other

Caution

than the usual precautionary measures (closing windows and sliding/tilting roof,

 Do not wash your vehicle in bright sunlight - risk of paint damage.

moving any factory-fitted aerials down flat against the bodywork, etc.).

 Ensure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locking cylinders or at the

If you have any particular attached parts fitted to your car - such as spoiler, roof rack

door and panel joints if you spray your vehicle in winter down with a hose - risk of

system, two-way radio aerial - it is best to first of all consult the operator of the car

freezing.

wash plant.

 Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar cleaning products

It is important to degrease the lips of the windscreen wiper rubbers after passing

- risk of damage to the surface of paintwork.

through the automatic vehicle wash system.

For the sake of the environment

Caution

Only wash your vehicle at washing bays specifically reserved for this purpose. This

Do not screw the swivelling down roof aerial tight before washing the vehicle in an

ensures that no water which may be contaminated by oil flows into the sewage system.

automatic vehicle wash system - risk of damage!

It is not even permitted to wash your vehicle in certain areas except at such specific

washing bays.

Washing vehicle by hand

Washing with a high-pressure cleaner

It is important to first soften the dirt with plenty of water and rinse it off as thoroughly

as possible before washing your vehicle by hand.

When you wash your vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, it is essential to comply with

One should then clean the vehicle using a soft washing sponge, washing glove or a

the instructions for use of the cleaning equipment. This applies in particular to the

washing brush and only slight pressure. Work from the top to the bottom - beginning

pressure used and to the spraying distance. Maintain a sufficiently large distance to

with the roof. Only place slight pressure on the vehicle paintwork during cleaning Only

soft materials such as rubber hoses or insulation material.

use a car shampoo for stubborn dirt.

On no account use circular spray nozzles or so-called dirt cutters!

Wash out the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.

Clean wheels, door sills and similar parts last. Use a second sponge for such areas.

WARNING

Rinse off the vehicle well after giving it a wash and dry it off using a chamois leather.

It is particularly important that you do not clean tyres with circular spray jets.

Visible but also invisible damage to tyres may occur even at a relatively large

spraying distance and if sprayed only for a short time - risk of accident!

WARNING

 The ignition should always be switched off when you wash your vehicle -

Caution

risk of accident!

 Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when you are

The water containing wax must be no hotter than 60°C, otherwise the vehicle can be

damaged.

cleaning the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims -

risk of cuts.

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

139

Wax treatment

Caution

Do not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment, otherwise they can be

Good wax treatment is an effective way of protecting the paintwork from harmful envi-

scratched.

ronmental influences and minor mechanical damage.

The vehicle must be treated with a high-quality hard wax polish at the latest, when no

Paint damage

more drops form on the clean paintwork.

A new layer of a high-quality hard wax polish can be applied to the clean bodywork

Slight damage to paintwork such as scratches, scuffs or traces of chip damage must be

after it has dried thoroughly. Even if you use a wax preserver regularly we still recom-

touched up immediately with paint (Škoda painting pen) before any corrosion can

mend that you treat the paintwork of the vehicle at least twice a year with hard wax.

result. You can of course have this work carried out by a specialist garage.

Specialist garages have a range of matching touch-up pens or spray cans available in

Caution

the colour of your vehicle.

Never apply wax to the windows.

The paint number of the original paintwork of your vehicle is indicated on the vehicle

data sticker  page 187.

Polishing

Any corrosion which has already have formed must be removed thoroughly. Apply a

corrosion protection primer and then the paint to the affected point. You can of

Polishing is only necessary if the paintwork of your vehicle has become unattractive

course have this work carried out by a specialist garage.

and if it is no longer possible to achieve a gloss with wax preservers.

You must treat the paintwork with a wax preserver if the polish you use does not

Plastic parts

contain any preserving elements  page 139, “Wax treatment”.

We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your

External plastic parts are cleaned by normal washing. Plastic parts and synthetic

Škoda dealer.

leather can also be treated with special solvent-free plastic cleaning agents if a

damp cloth is not sufficient. Paint care products are not suitable for plastic parts.

Caution

 You must not treat mat painted parts or plastic with polishing products or hard

Caution

wax.

Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it.

 Do not polish the paintwork of the vehicle in a dusty environment, otherwise the

Windows

paintwork can be scratched.

Only use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and

Chrome parts

mirrors. You should not move the ice scraper forward and backward but in one direc-

tion on the window which you are cleaning in order to avoid any damage to the surface

First clean the chrome parts with a damp clotch and then polish them with a soft, dry

of the glass.

cloth. If it does not prove to be adequate, use a chrome care product from Škoda orig-

inal accessories.

You can best remove residues of rubber, oil, grease, wax or silicone by using a special

window cleaner or a special silicone remover.

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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

Locking cylinder

You should also clean the windows regularly from the inside.

Do not use window leathers which you have used to polish the vehicle body to dry off

We recommend that you use the spray from Škoda original accessories with

the windows. Residues of preservatives in the window leather can dirty the window

regreasing and anticorrosive effect for de-icing locking cylinders.

and reduce visibility.

Do not affix any stickers over the inside of the rear window to avoid damage to the

Note

heating elements of the rear window heater.

When washing your vehicle, ensure that as little water as possible gets into the locking

We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your

cylinders.

Škoda dealer.

Wheels

Caution

Never remove snow or ice from the glass parts with warm or hot water - risk of forma-

Steel wheels

tion of cracks in the glass!

You should also thoroughly wash the wheels and wheel trims when giving your vehicle

its regular wash. This prevents any brake dust, dirt and road salt from sticking to the

The headlight lenses

wheel hubs. You can remove stubborn brake abrasion adhering to the wheels with an

industrial cleaner. Touch up any damage to the paintwork on the wheels before rust is

Please do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products for cleaning

able to form.

the front headlights - risk of damage to the plastic lenses. Please use soap and clean

Light alloy wheels

warm water.

Regular care of light alloy wheels is necessary in order to retain their decorative

appearance over long periods. It is particularly useful to remove any road salt and

Caution

brake abrasion from the light alloy wheels every two weeks, otherwise the paintwork

Never wipe the headlights dry and do not use any sharp objects for cleaning the plastic

of the wheel rim will suffer damage. Wash thoroughly and then treat the wheels with a

lenses, this may result in damage to the protective paintwork and consequently in

protective product for light alloy wheels which does not contain any acidic compo-

formation of cracks on the headlight lenses, e.g through effect of chemical products.

nents. You should provide the wheel hubs with a hard wax layer every three months.

You must not use any products which cause abrasion when treating the wheel hubs.

Door and window seals

Any damage to the paint layer on the wheel hubs must be touched up immediately.

We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your

The rubber seals on the doors, boot lid, bonnet and windows remain supple and last

Škoda dealer.

longer if you treat them from time to time with a rubber care product (e.g. with a spray

with silicone-free oil). You also avoid premature wear of the seals and prevent leak-

WARNING

ages in this way. It is also easier to open the doors. Rubber seals which are well cared

for also do not stick together in cold winter weather.

One should remember when cleaning the wheels that moisture, ice and road

salt may adversely affect braking efficiency - risk of an accident!

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

141

Note

WARNING

Severe layers of dirt on the wheels can also result in wheel imbalance. This may show

Safety and environmental protection regulations should observed when using

itself in the form of a wheel vibration which is transmitted to the steering wheel which,

petroleum cleaner to remove wax - a risk of fire!

in certain circumstances, can cause premature wear of the steering. This means it is

necessary to remove the dirt.

Engine compartment

Underbody protection

Good corrosion protection is very important, particularly in winter when one often

drives over its salt-strewn roads. One should therefore clean the whole engine

The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechanical

compartment before and after the salt spreading period and treat with preservative in

influences.

order to prevent the salt from being destructive.

One cannot, however, completely rule out damage to the protective layer when

Specialist garages have the cleaning agents and preservatives recommended by the

driving so we recommend that you inspect the protective layer on the underside of

manufacturer and also the required equipment.

your vehicle and on the chassis at certain intervals - this is best done at the beginning

and end of the winter - and to touch up any damaged areas.

WARNING

Specialist garages have suitable spray products available as well as the necessary

 It is necessary to observe the guidelines given in the chapter before working

equipment and are familiar with the instructions for use. It is therefore best to have

on the engine compartment  page 148.

such touch-up work or additional corrosion protection measures carried out by a

 Let the engine cool down before cleaning the engine compartment.

specialist garage.

Caution

WARNING

 Engine cleaning may be only be undertaken when the ignition is off.

Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents for

 It is recommended to cover the generator before washing the engine compart-

the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filter or heat shields.

When the engine reaches its operating temperature, these substances might

ment.

ignite - risk of fire!

For the sake of the environment

Protection of hollow spaces

The dirty water produced by washing the engine has washed away petrol, and residues

of grease and oil and should therefore be cleaned by an oil separator. This is why

All the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protected for life by

engine washing should only be undertaken in a specialist garage or at a fueling station

a layer of protective wax applied in the factory.

(when these are fitted with the required equipment).

This wax protection does not require to be inspected or re-treated. Please remove any

small amount of wax which flows out of the cavities at high temperatures with a plastic

scraper and clean the spot using petroleum cleaner.

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Care of the interior of vehicle

– Ensure that the leather is not soaked through at any point and that no water gets

into the stitching of the seams.

Plastic parts, artificial leather and cloths

– Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth.

You can clean plastic parts and artificial leather with a moist cloth. You should only

Removing stains

treat such parts with special solvent-free plastic cleaning and care products it does

– Remove fresh stains which are water-based (e.g. coffee, tea, juices, blood etc.)

prove to be adequate.

with an absorbent cloth or household paper or use the cleaner from the care set

Upholstery cloth and cloth trim on the doors, luggage compartment cover, headliner

for a stain which has already dried in.

etc. are best treated with special cleaning products, using if necessary a dry foam and

– Remove fresh stains on a fat base (e.g. butter, mayonnaise, chocolate etc.) with an

a soft sponge or brush.

absorbent cloth or household cleaning paper or with the cleaner from the care set

We recommend using a cleaning product from Škoda genuine accessories offered by

if the stain has not yet penetrated into the surface.

your Škoda dealer.

– Use a grease dissolver for grease stains which have dried in.

– Eliminate special stains (e.g. ball-point pens, felt pen, nail varnish, dispersion

Caution

paint, shoe cream etc.) with a special stain remover suitable for leather.

Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it.

Leather care

Fabric covers of electrically heated seats

– Treat the leather every six months with the leather care product available from

specialist garages.

Do not clean the seat covers moist as this may result in damage to the seat heating

– Apply only a small amount of the care product.

system.

– Dry the leather off with a soft cloth

Clean such covers using special agents, for example dry foam.

We recommend that you consult a specialist garage if you have any questions

Natural leather

regarding cleaning and care of the leather interior in your vehicle.

Natural leather requires quite particular care and attention.

Caution

Leather should be treated from time to time according the following guidelines

 You must on no account treat the leather with solvents (e.g. gasoline, turpentine),

depending on how much it is used.

floor wax, shoe cream or such like.

 Avoid leaving your vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight in order to avoid

Normal cleaning

bleaching the leather. If you leave your vehicle parked in the open for lengthy periods,

– Clean soiled areas of the leather with slightly moistened cotton or woollen cloth.

protect the leather from the direct rays of the sun by covering it over.

 Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-edged

Severe soiling

belts may leave permanent scratches or signs of rubbing on the surface.

– Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth dipped in a mild soapy solution (2 spoon-

fuls of natural soap to 1 litre of water).

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

143

Note

 Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect regularly and each

time after cleaning the leather. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to breathe

and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface protection.

 Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months, remove fresh soiling each time this occurs.

 Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe cream

etc., as quickly as possible.

 Care also for the leather dye. Refreshen areas which have lost their colour with a

special coloured leather cream as required.

 The leather is a natural material with specific properties. During the use of the

vehicle, minor optical changes can occur on the leather parts of the covers (e. g wrin-

kles or creases as a result of the stress of the covers).

Seat belts

– Keep the seat belts clean!

– Wash seat belts which have become soiled using a mild soapy solution.

– Inspect the seat belts regularly to ensure they are in good condition.

Belt webbing which has become severely soiled may prevent the inertia reel from

reeling up the belt properly.

WARNING

 The seat belts must not be removed for cleaning.

 Never clean the seat belts chemically as dry cleaning may destroy the fabric.

The seat belts must also not be allowed to come into contact with corrosive

liquids (such as acids etc.).

 Seat belts which have damage to the webbing, the connections, the inertia

reel or the lock should be replaced by a specialist garage.

 Inertia reel belts must be completely dried before being reeled up.

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General Maintenance -> Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle for Your Skoda Octavia 4 Door Third Generation (2013-2020)

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