Even after a mild winter, the car club recommends a car spring cleaning. Not just because it looks nicer, but because it saves you trouble and money as a driver. In addition, the spring cure & vehicle care also ensures more safety on the roads.
When beginning of autumn applies the March 1st to May 31st and always lasts three months. Then the summer starts. There are also a particularly large number of traffic jams at Pentecost and the Easter holidays. You can find out the exact holiday times in the holiday calendar.
Washing the car yourself
The automobile club has summarized what is important now. Ten ADAC spring cleaning tips for a clean and safe start to spring.
Only then is the car driven into the car wash. Be sure to select a program with underbody washing. During the subsequent corrosion check, the main thing is to discover small pockets of rust and treat them accordingly. The removal of major rust damage and a possible refreshment of the underbody protection is best done in the authorized workshop. To “round off” the spring cleaning, it is advisable to seal the paintwork with a layer of wax. Only then can you look forward to a successful start to the automotive spring. (dpp AutoReporter)
- Thorough cleaning from the outside: Before the body comes into contact with brushes in the car wash, stubborn dirt particles should be removed. The best way to remove coarse dirt particles and road salt residue from the paintwork, windows and headlights is with warm water and a sponge. A high-pressure cleaner is recommended to remove winter dirt and dirt particles from wheels and wheel housings. Otherwise the deposits act like sandpaper. Definitely one Select a program with underbody washing. The paintwork may have been severely damaged by road salt and loose chips. Touching up, for example with a touch-up pen or a fine brush, is not expensive.
- Check seals: After the “main wash cycle”, carefully grease the door and window seals and check the wiper rubbers for damage and replace them if necessary. During the subsequent corrosion check, the main thing is to discover small pockets of rust and treat them accordingly. The removal of major rust damage and a possible refreshment of the underbody protection is best done in the authorized workshop.
- Clean interior and trunk: The windscreen should be cleaned with glass cleaner and a kitchen towel, including the inside. The dampness of the winter has mainly settled in the floor carpets and seats. A lot of fresh air helps. If cabin air filter (Costs from 30-40 euros) are installed, it would make sense to change them now. It is best to remove damp floor mats and let them dry.
- Clean slices: Wiper blades severely affected by frost and ice need to be replaced. Smearing windshield wipers indicate porous rubber lips and should be replaced with new ones.
- Check lighting: A function test serves to ensure safety and saves trouble during vehicle inspections.
- Check engine compartment: Under no circumstances should the dirt in the engine compartment of modern vehicles be removed with the steam jet. Damage to the sensitive electrical and electronic components of the engine control is usually the costly consequence. If an engine has to be cleaned due to leaks or marten infestation, this work should be left to a specialist. Any remaining foliage, leaves or old branches can be removed by hand.
- Check liquids: When looking into the engine compartment, check the engine oil and coolant levels and top up if necessary. Marten bites, for example on the coolant hoses, can cause the cooling system to leak. If the hoses are tight and the coolant level still drops, the cause could be the water pump or the cylinder head gasket. The driver should get to the bottom of this.
- That Top up windscreen washer fluidhoses and lines for leaks.
- declutter: Remove superfluous objects and ballast from the car and – if you haven’t already done so – remove the ski rack. Superfluous weight and disturbing air resistance unnecessarily waste fuel: per 100 kilograms there is up to 0.3 liters more fuel per 100 kilometers.
- change tires: If you still have winter tires on, they should be replaced with summer tires at the latest when the daytime temperatures rise significantly above the frost line. It is important to check the sufficient tread depth of the tires before assembly. Although the legislature only requires 1.6 mm, the ADAC recommends buying new summer tires if they are less than 3 mm. If new summer tires are necessary, the current ADAC summer tire test (www.adac.de/Reifen) provides an overview of current models. If you have a car with a tire pressure monitoring system, you should follow the instructions in the operating instructions for changing a wheel.
- prevention: In preparation for the next winter season, the ADAC advises cleaning wheels and tires, marking them with chalk (e.g. HR for the rear right) and increasing the air pressure by 0.2 to 0.5 bar. When storing winter tires on rims, it makes no difference whether they are stored horizontally or hanging up. The storage location should be cool, dark and dry.
And as a final tip: Write your workshop or your car dealer a short e-mail if there is a special offer for the spring check. Often a wheel change or disinfection of the air conditioning (price around 40 €) is also offered.
If you want to save time and have it done by a professional, this might just be the thing for you.
Disinfection in the interior
A clean car is not only the be-all and end-all in Corona times – or at least it should be. Especially that steering wheel or that navigation devicethat we while driving constantly touch, are rarely cleaned. For a quick, thorough and gentle disinfection suitable sprays that are available at every gas station or at Amazon. These cost around 10 euros. products on Lactic acid water based are far gentler than alcohol-based products. The regular cleaning eliminates bacteria and prevents the adhesion of spores, germs and virusesin addition, the car stays beautiful longer and is more fun ? ✨
