“Clean it anytime or don’t if it doesn’t bother you. It’s not the base metal. The specs are about the size of the pin of a pinhead,” the Tesla engineer wrote in another post. Now, Tesla’s official website hasn’t shared the Cybertruck user manual yet, but copies and segments from it appeared online a while ago. An image shared on Reddit, which apparently shows the “Cleaning” portion of the Cybertruck user manual, mentions that “it is normal for the stainless steel exterior to mature over time,” adding that natural aging can change the reflective properties of the material.
However, it also warns buyers to immediately remove any corrosive material that lands on the surface, including “grease, oil, bird droppings, tree resin, dead insects, tar spots, road salt, industrial fallout, etc.” Depending on the kind of material, Tesla advises users to clean it with denatured alcohol, water, or mild non-detergent soap.
The company also advises against using car shampoos or cleaning chemicals that contain hydroxide, alkaline, caustic, or acidic ingredients. Tesla says such chemicals can lead to discoloration or damage to external components, neither of which is covered under warranty. SlashGear has reached out to Tesla for more clarity into the rusting reports and will update this story as we get a response from a spokesperson.
