Car body care (Audi A8 D2)

Check the condition of the body regularly. Otherwise, corrosion of individual sections of the body may lead to severe damage and, in the future, to expensive repairs. It is necessary to pay attention to hidden parts of the car, such as the bottom, wheel arches and the lower part of the engine compartment, as well as parts of the body under the upholstery. The main element of car body care is washing. Wash the body with plenty of water using a soft sponge or brush. Do not wash the varnish coating with a jet of strong water. Hose the car and wash off the dirt from top to bottom. Rinse the sponge frequently. Wipe the car with a clean rag. Use only high-quality degreasing detergents. To protect the surface of the body, add detergent preservatives to the washing water. Do not wash and dry the car in the sun, as stains may remain on the varnish surface. Salt sprinkled on the roads has a harmful effect on the car body.

After washing the car, the effectiveness of the brakes decreases due to humidity. It is recommended to dry the brake discs by briefly pressing the brake pedal at the start of movement.

Conservation

The clean, dry varnish coating must be treated every 3 months with preservatives to protect the car surface from atmospheric influences by creating a non-porous, water-repellent wax layer.



Remove any leaking fuel, oil or grease, as well as brake fluid, immediately, otherwise the colour of the paintwork will change.

The surface treatment must be repeated if the water does not form drops but spreads over the surface. Regular treatment with preservatives helps to preserve the shine of the varnish coating.

There is another option for protecting varnish coatings – using washing preservatives. However, washing preservatives provide reliable protection for varnish coatings only if they are used at every car wash and at least every 2-3 weeks.

After using detergents (foaming) additional surface treatment with preservatives is especially recommended for these products.

Warning: Preservation should not be carried out in direct sunlight.

Polishing

Polishing the varnish surface is only necessary if it has faded due to insufficient care, exposure to dust, harmful gases, weather conditions and preservatives cannot restore its shine.

Coarse polishing pastes and chemically active polishing agents should not be used, despite previously good results.

Before polishing, the car must be washed and thoroughly dried. Then follow the instructions for using polishing agents.

Polishing should be done in small sections to avoid premature drying of the polish. After processing the surface with some polishing agents, additional conservation is required. Polishing in direct sunlight is prohibited. Matte varnish surfaces cannot be treated with preservatives and polishing agents.

Removal tar stains

Bitumen stains quickly penetrate into varnish coatings and cannot be completely removed. Fresh stains can be removed with a soft cloth soaked in a special liquid for removing bitumen stains. In emergency cases, use regular gasoline, kerosene or turpentine.

Insect Removal

Insects contain substances that can damage the varnish film if not removed promptly. Use a mild, slightly warm soap or detergent solution or a special insect remover.

Care of parts made of artificial materials

Plastic parts, artificial leather seats, headlights, and parts painted matte black can be washed with water with the addition of special detergents. Wetting is not recommended. Plastic parts can be treated with special cleaners if necessary. Never use nitro solvent or gasoline.

Caring for rubber seals

Periodically sprinkle sealing or sliding surfaces with talc or spray with silicone aerosol. This will maintain their elasticity and eliminate creaking when closing the doors. You can eliminate unpleasant sounds by wiping the contact surfaces with liquid soap.

Wheel rims

Light alloy wheels require maintenance, especially in the cold season. For this purpose, you can use a special cleaning agent for wheels. Do not use active, acid-containing, highly alkaline and rough cleaning agents or water with a temperature above + 60°C.

Seat belts

Seat belts should be washed with a mild soap solution without removing them. Do not dry clean them, which can cause destruction of the fibers. Belts with automatic winding should be rolled up in a dry state, if necessary, use a special aerosol for better sliding. It is not recommended to dry belts at temperatures above 80°C and in direct sunlight.

(Material republished from the website AUDIMANUAL.RU)