As of: March 23, 2024, 9:25 a.m
By: Sebastian Oppenheimer
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As soon as the weather gets better, many people's desire to devote themselves to car care increases again.
But there are a few things you should keep in mind when doing your “spring treatment”.
When an icy wind whistles around your ears, very few drivers feel like checking their car thoroughly and getting it in shape.
But after a long winter, that's exactly what you should do - and a sunny spring day is exactly the right time to get the car ready for the "summer season".
But what should be done?
We show which five points a spring fitness program for the car should contain.
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1. First off to the car wash
Before you do anything else, the first trip should go directly to the car wash or washing station.
Before driving through the car wash, it is important that the coarse dirt is first removed using a high-pressure cleaner, otherwise coarser particles can cause scratches in the paint from the brushes.
If you prefer to remove winter dirt at home, you have to be careful: washing a car privately is sometimes only permitted to a very limited extent or not at all.
Underbody washing is controversial: According to
ADAC
, this can lead to problems, especially in older vehicles, if moisture penetrates into cavities on the vehicle floor.
According to the automobile club, washing the underbody of newer vehicles is “simply unnecessary” because the underbody of these vehicles is usually covered with plastic.
“Expensive super programs with hot wax” are also not necessary from a vehicle technology perspective.
The first item in your spring car fitness routine should always be a thorough wash.
(Symbolic image) © Pond5 Images/Imago
2. Say goodbye to roof boxes and ski racks
When the ski season is over, it is high time to dismantle the ski racks and roof boxes - because these increase the vehicle's consumption.
The same applies to other winter equipment such as snow chains or brooms, which should also be removed from the car during spring cleaning because they also only take up space and increase consumption.
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3. Change to summer tires
The O-to-O rule still applies as a rough rule of thumb for changing tires.
In other words: Winter tires should stay on from October to Easter.
However, if temperatures consistently rise above seven degrees, you should change.
Because: Changing from winter to summer tires is important.
Not only because the soft winter tires wear out more quickly in the high temperatures in summer, but also because fuel consumption increases and the braking distance increases, especially on dry roads.
If you don't store your tires in the workshop but at home in the basement or garage, you should keep a few things in mind: Among other things, it is important to keep the tires dry, cool and dark.
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4. Check fluids and check lighting
When it comes to the “Fit for Spring” program, you also have to take a look under the hood.
Check the engine oil level in your vehicle - and top up if necessary.
Take a look at the coolant and see if there is still enough liquid in the windshield washer system.
And while you're already checking, check whether your car's lights are working properly - checking can be done with little effort and is a big benefit for safety.
5. Check the windshield wipers and replace them if necessary
During private vehicle checks, the windshield wipers often receive little attention, which may be because you usually get your car in good shape when the weather is good - and simply don't think about the windshield wipers.
However, the next time it rains heavily, it is not only annoying but also dangerous if the wiper blades no longer do their job properly and leave streaks.
That's why you should definitely check the windshield wipers regularly.
One way to ensure greater clarity is to recut the wiper rubbers - but only if they are still in good condition.
Otherwise, an exchange is a worthwhile investment.
By the way, the care of the door seals is also often neglected - here too, a little work with an appropriate care product pays off.