German car club advises against underbody washing
The underbody wash is traditionally part of good car care for many drivers. It is intended to prevent corrosion and damage to the underbody of the vehicle. But now, the influential German automobile association ADAC advises against this type of car wash. According to them, it can even be harmful.
After the winter, thorough car cleaning was standard practice for many drivers in order to protect their cars. In the past, a lot of emphasis was placed on an intensive underbody wash, to get all the dirt and corrosive road salt off.
But as the design of vehicles has changed and many vehicles now have underbody panels, this part of the car wash suddenly seems counterproductive, according to ADAC.
The German car club (which represents 21 million members) recommends rethinking the use of underbody washing and even cautions that it could lead to damage. “Underbody washing could lead to problems. In older cars, it can cause moisture to penetrate into cavities in the vehicle floor. In modern cars, which are usually covered with plastic on the underbody, the underbody wash is simply superfluous to protect against corrosion.”
Inspection
As an alternative, the ADAC advises a visit to the garage. “It’s important to let the car be inspected by a specialist. Once on the car bridge, damage to the underbody protection can be detected and repaired after the winter season. Rust then has no chance.”
Archive photo: Otto Christ AG
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