You have to keep this in mind when temperatures are below zero

Washing your car in winter – is it better to wash it more often or not at all? We answer the most important questions about winter car washing in the car wash: How often, when, where and how – and what you should pay attention to.

• Proper car care in winter: what is good?

• In very cold temperatures, it is better to avoid washing your car

• Don't skimp on pre-washing: it prevents paint scratches

There are many opinions about proper vehicle care in winter. The well-intentioned recommendations range from the tip to send the car through the car wash as often as possible in winter to the advice to avoid any car wash as much as possible at this time of year in order to protect the paint. And if so, then loving hand washing is the only permitted alternative anyway. So who is right? We answer them most important questions about Car wash in winter.

Table of contents

How often should I take my car through the car wash in winter?

In principle just as often as in the summer months. It is undisputed that a clean car in bad weather is better and, above all, thanks to its shiny light reflections seen in a more timely manner than its contaminated counterpart. But since the introduction of bright daytime running lights for cars, this advantage is no longer so crucial.

So wash your clothes freely even in winter personal sense of cleanliness: When you feel like your vehicle would benefit from a wash.

Is the car extremely stressed by road salt residue in winter?

Nope. The statement that winter dirt – an aggressive, salt-containing lye – has an enormous corrosion-promoting effect on the paint and therefore needs to be removed as often as possible is only true for one person previously damaged paint with scratches or chips. However, flawless painted surfaces can easily handle these attacks of dirt.

The substructure of a vehicle usually does not have any corrosion problems: thanks to factory cavity sealing, improved underbody protection and the use of galvanized sheets, this is more likely problem of the past.

When should you definitely not go to the car wash in winter?

Then when there are extreme temperatures below zero below -10 degrees Celsius has. Just as human skin reacts sensitively to extreme temperature fluctuations, similar stress should not be imposed on the vehicle's paint or rubber and plastic parts.

Therefore avoid that Thermal shock, when the water from the car wash, which is around 10 to 30 degrees warm, hits vehicle parts that were recently exposed to the icy cold. In particular, previously damaged or repainted painted surfaces are not always immediately visible to the layperson, but suffer from thermal shock in the long term.

The danger that Door locks ice or Rubber seals freezing is also lower at moderate temperatures.

What do I have to consider before entering the facility?

It usually says how you need to prepare your car written in large letters at the entrance gate. Not always noted, but a given: close the windows and sunroof, lock the fuel filler cap and turn off the windshield wipers – especially the one rain sensor! Does the car have one? automatically opening tailgate, which is activated by foot movement under the tail, this function must be deactivated. Should you do that? “Auto-hold function” If you have activated it, you also have to switch it off, otherwise the wheels will lock.

And very important: definitely before entering the car wash remove all remaining snow and ice. Otherwise they drag the brushes over the paint like sandpaper – and there are nasty scratches!

Which washing programs are recommended in winter?

The same applies in winter: In principle, cheap is good and sufficient – the main thing is that it is machine or manual prewash for the initial removal of coarse dirt particles (emery effect!) and for balancing the temperature differences in a way that is gentle on the paint is part of the washing program.

Additional and expensive Super programs with hot wax or underbody protection are not necessary from a vehicle technology perspective. But of course everyone can decide for themselves what they want to treat themselves and their vehicle to.

This is more important Check by a specialist: Damage to the underbody protection can be identified and repaired on the lifting platform before and after the winter season – rust then has no chance.

Here you can find out what else you can do to get your car ready for winter.

Car wash or portal system at the gas station: which washes better?

A previous ADAC car wash test showed: In principle, you should wash your car more like a car wash prefer. But this is not due to the brush materials used, because here and there they are made of paint-friendly polyethylene (see above), often also called textile.

It is also not due to the chemical detergents or the washing time, which are on average similar. It is above all that manual prewashthat makes the difference. In front of the car wash there is usually an employee with a high-pressure lance who cleans exactly the problem areas that remain hidden from the brushes of the portal systems.

Some car wash owners rationalize the (expensive) human pre-scrubber, which is possible in principle. But then the prewash has to be done machine take place at a drive-through station before the first brush contact.

That would also be a good alternative in principle traditional hand wash on a self-service car wash: But many people prefer to keep their hands (clammy) away from it in winter.

What do I do if my car is damaged in the car wash?

When in the car wash Paint damage or rear-end collision happens, the question of liability arises. You may be able to request compensation for the damage from the car wash operator. The ADAC lawyers will show you how to proceed in the article Damage to the car wash.

Tip: Check the car for damage immediately after washing. Report any damage to the system operator immediately and obtain written confirmation of the damage.