Audi Q5: Car washes
The longer that deposits such as insects, bird droppings, tree sap or road salt remain on the vehicle, the more the surface can be damaged. High temperatures such as those caused by sunlight increase the damaging effect.
Before washing, rinse off heavy deposits with plenty of water.
Stubborn deposits such as bird droppings or tree sap are best removed with plenty of water and a microfiber cloth.
Also, wash the underside of your vehicle once road salt stops being used for the season.
Pressure washers
When washing your vehicles with a pressure washer, always follow the operating instructions provided with the pressure washer. This is especially important in regard to the pressure and spraying distance. Do not aim the spray directly at seals on side windows, doors, the hood, the rear lid or the sunroof or at tires, rubber hoses, insulating material, sensors or camera lenses. Keep a distance of at least 16 inches (40 cm).
Do not remove snow and ice with a pressure washer.
Never use rotary nozzles or high pressure nozzles.
The water temperature must not be above 140 ºF (60 ºС).
Automatic car washes
Spray off the vehicle before washing.
Make sure that the windows and roof are closed and the windshield wipers are off. Follow instructions from the car wash operator, especially if there are accessories attached to your vehicle.
If possible, use car washes that do not have brushes.
Washing by hand
Clean the vehicle starting from the top and working down using a soft sponge or cleaning brush. Use solvent-free cleaning products.
Washing vehicles with matte finish paint by hand
To avoid damaging the paint when washing, first remove dust and large particles from your vehicle. Insects, grease spots and fingerprints are best removed with a special cleaner for matte finish paint.
Apply the product using a microfiber cloth. To avoid damaging the paint surface, do not use too much pressure.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with water. Then clean using a neutral shampoo and a soft microfiber cloth.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly again and let it air dry. Remove any water residue using a shammy.
WARNING
- Only wash the vehicle when the ignition is off and follow the instructions from the car wash operator to reduce the risk of accidents.
- To reduce the risk of cuts, protect yourself from sharp metal components when washing the underbody or the inside of the wheel housings.
- After washing the vehicle, the braking effect may be delayed due to moisture on the brake rotors or ice in the winter. The brakes must be dried first with a few careful brake applications.
Note
- If you wash the vehicle in an automatic car wash, you must fold the exterior mirrors in to reduce the risk of damage to the mirrors. Power folding exterior mirrors must only be folded in and out using the power folding function.
- To reduce the risk of damage to the rims and tires, compare the width between the wheels on your vehicle with the distance between the guide rails in the car wash.
- To reduce the risk of damage, compare the height and width of your vehicle with the height and width of the inside of the car wash.
- To prevent paint damage, do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.
- To reduce the risk of damage to the surface, do not use insect removing sponges, kitchen sponges or similar items.
- Matte finish painted vehicle components:
- To reduce the risk of damage to the surface, do not use polishing agents or hard wax.
- Never use protective wax. It can destroy the matte finish effect.
- Do not place any stickers or magnetic signs on vehicle parts painted with matte finish paint. The paint could be damaged when the stickers or magnets are removed.
For the sake of the environment
Only wash the vehicle in facilities specially designed for that purpose. This will reduce the risk of dirty water contaminated with oil from entering the sewer system.
