AUDI Q5 2016 Owners Manual

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..... ..... consumption by 10-15 percent . This section w ill
give you some tips on how you can he lp the envi­
ronment and your pocketbook.
(D Tips
T he consumpt ion estimates as published by
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
(EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre ­
spond to your act ual consumption on the
road, which will vary depending upon vehicle
load and speed, road and weather conditions,
trip length, etc.
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are acceler­
ating .
.. Avoid unnecessary accelerating and braking.
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are acceler­
ating . If you anticipate what is going to happen
next, you will need to brake less and, thus, accel ­
erate less . Let the vehicle coast whenever possi­
b le -for example when you see that the next traf­
fic light is red .
Avoid full throttle
Driving a t moderate speeds saves fuel and im­
proves your mileage .
.. Try and keep well be low your car's max imum
speed.
Accelerating gent ly reduces f uel consumption,
engine wear, and does not disturb the environ­
ment.
F ue l cons umption, exha ust emissions and engine
noise increase d isproportionately at high speeds.
If yo u drive at approximately three quarters of
top speed, fuel consumpt ion w ill be reduced by
one ha lf. Never drive faster than the posted
speed limit and weather conditions perm it .
Driving and the envir onment
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel .
.. Shut the eng ine off when you are not driving
the vehicle.
.. Do not warm up t he vehicle by lett ing the en-
gine run at idle .
The idling phase is automatically reduced for
vehicles with the Start-Stop-System*. It is effi­ c ient to sw itch off the engine in veh icles without
the Start-Stop-System* when stopped at ra ilroad
c ross ings and long red lights . T urning the engine
off fo r just 30-40 seconds saves mo re fue l th an is
bur ned by s tarti ng the eng ine again .
It takes a long time for the eng ine to warm up
fully when it is ru nning at id le. However, wea r
and noxious emissions are especially high w hen
t h e engine is war ming up. So yo u should dr ive
aw ay as soon as you star t the eng ine and avoid
runn ing at high rpms w hile the engine is sti ll
warming up .
(D Note
Do not leave eng ine idling unatt ended after
start ing. If wa rning lights sho uld come on to
i ndicate impro per operation, they would go
u nheeded. Extended idling also prod uces
heat, which could result in overheating or
other damage to the vehicle o r othe r proper­
ty .
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot
of fuel .
.. Have your vehicle serviced at regular interva ls.
By hav ing your vehicle regular ly serv ice d by an
authorized Aud i dea ler helps to ensure that it
runs properly and economically . T he cond ition o f
yo ur vehicle not on ly affects its safety and ability
to hold its value , it also affects
fuel consump­
tion .
Check your oil each time you fill your tank.
T he amou nt o f oil used is related to engine load
and speed. .,,.
199

Driving and th e en vironm ent
It is normal for the oil consumption o f a new en ­
gine to reach its lowest value after a certain mile­
age has been driven .
You must drive yo ur vehicle about 3,000 miles
(5,000 kilometers) before you can properly as ­
sess oi l consumption.
This a lso applies to fuel consumption and engine
outpu t.
@ Note
- Have yo ur vehicle maintained properly and
i n accordance with the serv ice recommenda­
tions in yo ur Warranty
& Maintenance book­
l et. Lack of proper maintenance as well as
improper use of the vehicle will impair the
funct ion of the emission control system and
could lead to damage.
- Do not a lter or remove any component of
the Emission Control System unless ap­ proved by the manufacturer.
- Do not alter or remove any device, such as
heat shie lds, switches, ignition wires,
valves, which are designed to protect your
vehicle's Emission Cont rol System and other
i mportant vehicle components.
Fewer short trips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively high
on short trips .
.,. Try to avoid driving short distances with a cold
engine.
The engine and catalytic converter have to reach
their optimal
oper ating temp eratur e to reduce
fuel consumption and noxious emissions effec­ tively .
Just after starting, a co ld engine in a mid-size car
only achieves a fue l economy of 6-8 miles per
gallon (30-40 l/100 km). After about a half a mile, fuel economy cl imbs to 12 mpg (20 l/100
km). After about
2 .5 miles (4 km), the engine is
at its proper operating temperature and fuel
economy has reached a normal level. So you can
see that you sho uld avoid short t rips whenever
possible.
200
The out side t empe rature is also critica l in this re ­
gard . Your car consumes more fuel in the winter
than in the summer.

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,...., Offroad driving Driving under difficult
conditions and off-road
General information
The operation of the Electronic Stabilization Con­
trol (ESC) is expanded for operation away from paved roads. In situations where slip or a differ­
ential locking fun ction is required , the offroad
mode can be activated ¢
page 190. Your Audi al­
so has permanent all-wheel drive in addition .
However, your Audi is not a pure offroad vehicle.
It was not built for driving under extreme condi­
tions, e.g. for tr ips that are in the nature of an
expedition .
Drive only on roads and offroad sections which
match the design of your vehicle and your abili­
ties as a driver. Never take risks!
Before driving offroad
-Check the engine oi l level, tire pressure, coo l­
ant level, and the fluid level in the windshield
washer reservo ir.
- Stow luggage items and other objects in the
luggage compartment, and secure them
against sliding around.
After driving offroad
-After trips offroad, remove any twigs and other
foreign objects from the gri ll, the underbody
and the wheels. Pay special attention to foreign
objects (stones) which have become lodged in
the tire tread.
- Clean the body and the vehicle underside, and
inspect the vehicle for possible damage.
- Clean dirty windows, headlamp lenses, rear
lights, and license plates.
- Perform a brake check (particularly after travel­
ling through water).
A WARNING
-Drive especially attentively and plan ahead
in difficult road condit ions and when off­
road. Excessive speed or incorrect maneu­
vers can cause injuries and damage to the
vehicle .
Offroad driving
-Always adapt your speed and driving style to
road, offroad, traffic, and weather condi­
tions. Drive especially slowly offroad when
your view is restricted.
- Please be aware that in offroad mode, par­
ticularly on a smooth and slippery road, the
wheels may have an increased tendency to spin and the vehicle may break away - dan­
ger of skidd ing!
- Stability is lim ited in the offroad mode .
@) For the sake of the environment
Avoid damage to the environment and re­
spect nature.
(D Tips
Only drive where it is permitted and stay on
marked roads and paths.
Explanation of some technical terms
The following data refer to ideal conditions. De­
pending on vehicle load and ground conditions
and the environment, the numbers may vary. It is
the driver's responsibility to decide whether ave­
hicle can overcome a specific s ituation
¢ ,&. .
Gradient angle
The number of meters in altitude gained over a
distance of 109.4 yards or 100 meters (grade)
are given as a percentage or degrees. Informa­
t ion about the gradient the vehicle can cl imb un­
der its own power (depends in part on the road
s ur face and eng ine power). Maximum permitted
grade: 31
°
Ground clearance
The distance between the road surface and the
lowest point of the vehicle underbody. Ground
clearance 7.9 in (200 mm)
_& WARNING
-
Exceeding the stated maximum figures can
result in severe injuries or vehicle damage.
- All the information was gathered on level,
firm and non-slippery road surfaces, and un-
der dry weather conditions.
~
201

Offroad dri ving
- Ideal conditions do not prevai l offroad . Nev­
er utilize the maximum readings to their
fullest, always leave a safety reserve.
Driving tips
On poor rood ond offroad, there is always only
one motto: Plan ahead and drive slowly!
Pl ease observe the following when driv ing away
from paved roads:
.,. Drive only on roads and off road sections which
ma tch the des ign of your vehicle and yo ur abili ­
ties as a driver . Neve r take risks!
... Drive slowly and p lan ahead!
... Take into consideratio n the
ground clearan ce
of your veh icle.
.,. Activate the
offro ad mode Q page 190 as need­
ed .
.,. Use the
hill desc ent a ssis t Q page 192 when
driv ing down steep sections on hills .
Unpaved roads and offroad
Drive s low ly on unfam iliar roads and unknown
offroad sections, and look out for unexpected ob­
stacles (e .g. potholes, rocks, tree stumps, etc .) .
To prevent the veh icle from bottoming and avoid
damage to the underbody, you should d rive
stra ight across severe bumps in the ground with
only one side of the vehicle so that only two of
your wheels cross the b umps.
Drive briskly through sandy or marshy offroad
sections and do not stop , if at all possible .
Driving through water
Note the following to avoid vehicle damage when
driving throug h water, fo r example on flooded
roads:
- T he wate r must no t be any higher than the bot-
tom of the vehicle body .
- Do no t drive fas ter than wa lking spee d.
Driving on a slope
If you ever find yo urself not able to cl imb a s lope,
do not try to turn around, d rive back down in
re ­
verse .
Otherw ise, you run the risk of tipping over.
202 If the vehicle thre
atens to tip o ver when dr iving
across a slope, you must immediately stee r
downhill in the direction of the slope.
Do no t pa rk you r vehi cle on steep s lopes or
grades .
To reduce the risk of tipping over, drive on slopes
i n the d irect io n of the downwa rd slope (fa ll line) -
not cros swi se .
& WARNING
After driving thro ugh water, mud, slush, etc.,
the brakes may be slow to take effect beca use
of wet brake rotors and pads. Dry the brakes
f irst by braking carefu lly to restore the full
braking effect .
(D Note
- Vehicle components such as the engine,
transmiss ion, suspension or electrical sys­
tem can be seve rely damaged by driving
throug h water.
-Always switch off the Start-Stop-System *
when driving through water Qpage 93.
(D Tips
-Check the de pth of the water before driving
through it.
- Do not stop the vehicle, drive in reverse or
switch the engine of f whe n driving through
water.
- Keep in mind that oncom ing vehicles may
create waves that raise the water level and
make it too deep fo r your vehicle to drive
t h roug h safe ly.
-Avoid driv ing through salt water beca use it
can cause corrosion.

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,...., Trailer mode Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger
transportation .
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that
the additional load will affect durability, econo­ my and performance.
T railer towing not only places more stress on the
vehicle, it also calls for more concentration from
the driver.
For this reason, always follow the operating and
driving instructions provided and use common
sense.
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to the
gross trailer weight. The hitch must be suitable
for your vehicle and trailer and must be mounted
securely on the vehicle's chassis at a technically
sound
location . Use only a trailer hitch with a re­
movable ball mount . Always check with the trail­
er hitch manufacturer to make sure that you are
using the correct hitch.
Do not use a bumper hitch.
The hitch must be installed in such a way that it
does not interfere with the impact -absorbing
bumper system . No modifications should be
made to the vehicle exhaust and brake systems .
From time to time, check that all hitch mounting
bo lts remain securely fastened.
When you are not towing a trailer,
remove the
tra iler hitch ball mount . This prevents the hitch
from causing damage should your vehicle be
struck from beh ind ¢
,&. .
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
check to be sure that it conforms to all regula­
tions .
Trailer mode
The trailer hydraulic brake system must not be
directly connected to the vehicle's hydraulic
brake system ¢.&. .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle
and the trailer.
Trailer lights
T ra iler lights must meet all regulations . Be sure
to check with your author ized Audi dealer for cor­
rect wiring, switches, and relays.
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traffic behind you us­
ing the regular outside mirrors, then you
must in­
stall extended mirrors. It is important that you
always have clear vision to the rear.
,8. WARNING
-If a trailer has electrical brakes please note
that these brakes are not activated by the
factory-fitted control unit -risk of accident!
- After removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle. In case of sudden
braking, the hitch could fly forward and in­
jure you or your passengers.
- Never install a "weight distributing" or
"load equalizing" trailer hitch on your vehi­
cle. The vehicle was not designed for these
kinds of trailer hitches . The hitch attach­
ment can fail, causing the trailer to tear
loose from the vehicle.
- The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating for your
vehicle, found on the safety compliance la­ bel on the driver's side B-pillar, must never
be exceeded under any circumstances. Ex­
ceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of
your vehicle is likely to damage your vehicle,
and such damage will not be covered by
your Limited New Vehicle Warranty. Exceed­
ing the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating will al­
so change the performance and handling
characteristics of your vehicle, which could
cause a crash resulting in serious injury or
death.
203

Trailer mod e
Operating instructions
6"
~ 2

. 1/2 "
.(. '-I} 1-1/2"
-
F ig. 189 Pe rmi tted ball posit io n of the traile r hi tch
Tr aile r to wing weights
With a f ac tor y-inst all ed or an a ft er ma rket trailer
h itch, the maximum permissib le trailer weight is
4,400 lbs (2,000 kg) . The maximum perm iss ible
unb raked trailer weight is 1,650 lbs (750 kg) .
These spec ificat ions apply when dr iv ing on roads
hav ing an incl ine of less tha n 12%.
Perm is sible tongue load
For best vehicle handling under these changed
conditions, adjust the trailer load so that the
tongue load is at the maxim um allowable or
slightly lower. You can get an approx imation of
the tongue load w ith a bathroom scale or you can
measure the load at a tr ucking company or
weighing station.
W ith a
fa ctor y-installed or an aftermarket trailer
h itch, t he maximum permissib le load on the ball
h itch may not exceed 440 lbs (200 kg).
It is rec­
ommended to use the maximum permissible
load.
Trailer load di stribution
B e su re the load in the trailer is held securely in
p lace to prevent it from s hift ing fo rwa rd, back ­
ward or sideways.
Nev er allo w a p assenge r to ride in a trail er c::> A
in Driving instructions on page 205.
Ball mount
The trailer hitch may only be used w ith suitable
ball mount and ball
c::> fig. 189 . Installat ion of
the hitch ball must be carr ied out in accordance
w ith the manufacturer 's inst ruct ions.
204
Engine cooling system
Towing a tra ile r makes t he engine work harder. It
is important that the cooling system's perform­
ance is up to the additional load . Make sure that
the cooling system has enough fluid .
Tire pressure
When towing a t railer, inflate the ti res of your
vehicle to the cold tire pressure listed under "Full
l oad" on the tire press ure label. The tire pressure
l abel is located on the driver 's side B-pillar . In­
flate tra iler tires to trailer and tire manufactur­
ers' specifications.
Lights
The head light settings shou ld be checked with
the trailer attached before driving off. Check to
make s ure both vehicle and trailer lights are
working properly.
Safety chains
Be sure tra ile r safety cha ins a re properly connect­
ed from the trailer to the hitch on the vehicle.
Leave enough slack in the chains to permit tu rn­
i ng corners . When you install safety chains, make
s u re they will not drag on the road when you are
driv ing.
The chains should cross under the trai ler tongue
to prevent it from dropping in case of separation
from the hitch.
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care
and consideration.
To obtain the best possible handling of veh icle
and t railer, p lease note the following:
.., Do not tow a loaded trai ler when your car itself
is not loaded.
.., Be especially care ful when passing other
vehicles .
.., Observe speed limits.
.., Do not drive at the maximum permissible
speed.
.., Always app ly brakes early.
.., Monitor the temperature gauge.

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,...., Weight distribution
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car res ults
in a high ly unstable distribution of weight. If this
cannot be avoided, drive at very low speeds only
to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is eas ier to operate and control.
This means that the tow vehicle should be loaded
to the extent possible and permissible, while
keeping the trailer as light as possible under the
circumstances. Whenever possible, transfer
some cargo to the luggage compartment of the
tow vehicle while observ ing tongue load require­
ments and vehicle loading considerat ions.
Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficult it be­
comes for the driver to contro l the rig. Do not
drive at the maximum permiss ible speed . Reduce
your speed even more if load, weather or wind
conditions are unfavorable - part icularly when
going downhill.
Reduce veh icle speed
immediately if the tra iler
shows the slightest sign of swaying .
Do not try
to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Observe speed lim its . In some areas, speeds for
veh icles towing trai lers are lower than for regular
veh icles.
Always apply brakes early. When driving down­
h ill , shift into a lower gear to use the engine
braking effect to slow the veh icle. Use of the
brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fa il.
Coolant temperature
The coolant temperature gauge r=;, page 10 must
be observed carefully . If the needle moves close
to the upper end of the scale, reduce speed im­ mediately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the
instrument cluster starts flashing., pull off
the road, stop and let the engine
idle for about
two minutes to prevent heat build-up.
A WARNING
Anyone not properly restrained in a moving
vehicle is at a much greater risk in an acci-
-
Trailer mode
dent. Never let anyone ride in your car who is
not properly wear ing the restraints provided
by Aud i.
Trailer mode notes
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a
t railer because o f the additional weight and dif­
ferent weight distribution. Safety, performance
and economy will greatly depend on how carefu l­
ly you load your trai ler and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice
tu rning, stopping and backing up in an area away
from traffic. Keep practicing until you have be­
come comp lete ly familiar w ith the way your vehi ­
cle-tra iler combination behaves and responds.
Backing up is difficu lt and requires practice.
Backing up with a t railer generally requires steer­
ing action opposite to that when backing up your
vehicle without a trailer.
Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle
and the one in front of you . You will need more
room to stop. To compensate for the trailer, you
will need a larger than normal turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accel­
erate as fast as you normally would because of
the added load. Make sure you have enough room
to pass. After passing, allow p lenty of room for
your trailer before c hanging lanes again.
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane
changes.
(D Tips
- Do not tow a trailer during the break-in peri­
od of your veh icle.
- If you tow a trailer, your Audi may requ ire
more frequent maintenance due to the ex­
tra load
r=;, page 280.
205

Trailer mod e
Parking on a slope
Do not park on a slope with a trailer. If it cannot
be avoided, do so only after doing the following:
When parking:
.,. Apply the foot brake .
.,. Have someone place chocks under both the ve­
hicle and the trailer wheels .
.,. With chocks in p lace, slowly release the brakes
unt il the wheel chocks absorb the load .
.,. Turn the wheels towards the curb .
.,. Apply the pa rking brake .
.,. Move the selector lever to P .
When resta rting after parking:
.,. Apply the foot brake .
.,. Start the engine .
.,. Move the selector leve r to 0/5 .
.,. Release t he pa rking brake and slow ly pull out
and away from the wheel chocks.
"' Stop and have someone retrieve the wheel
chocks.
(D Tips
If you move the se lector lever of the automat­
ic transmission to P before applying the park ­
ing brake and before blocking the wheels, you may have to use more force later to move the
lever out of the P position .
206

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..... ..... Care and cleaning
General information
Regular, proper care helps to maintain your vehi­
cle's value.
It can a lso be a requirement when
submitting warranty claims for corrosion damage
and paint defects on the body.
The necessary care products can be obtained
from your authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility . Read and follow the instruc­
tions for use on the packaging.
A WARNING
- Us ing clean ing and care products incorrectly
can be dangerous to your health.
- Always store clean ing and care products out
of reach of children to reduce the r isk of po i­
soning .
@ For the sake of the environment
- Preferably use environmentally-friendly
products when buying cleaning agents.
- Do not dispose of leftover cleaning and care
products with household trash.
Car washes
The longer that deposits such as insects, bird
droppings, tree sap or road salt remain on the ve­
h icle, the more the surface can be damaged. High
temperatures such as those caused by sunlight
i ncrease the damag ing effect .
Before washing, r inse off heavy depos its with
p lenty of water.
Stubborn deposits such as bird droppings or tree
sap are best removed with plenty of wate r and a
microfiber cloth.
Also, wash the underside of your vehicle once road sa lt stops being used for the season .
Pressure washers
When washing your ve hicles w ith a pressure
washer, always follow the ope ra ting inst ructions
p rovided w ith the pressure washe r. This is espe­
cially important in regard to the pressure and
spraying distance. Do not aim the spray directly
Ca re and cleaning
at seals on side w indows, doo rs, the hood, the
lu ggage compartment lid or the sunroof* or at
t ires, 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 rota ry nozzles or high pressure noz ­
zles .
T he wate r temperatu re must not be above 140 °F
(60 °() .
Automat ic car washes
Spray off the vehicle before washing .
Make s ure that the windows and roof * are closed
and the windsh ield wipers are off. Follow instruc­
t ions 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 ve hicle starting from the top and work­
ing down using a soft sponge or cleaning br ush .
U se solvent-free cleaning products.
Washing vehicles with matte finish paint by
hand
To avoid damaging the paint when washing, first
remove d ust and large particles from your vehi­
cle. Insects, grease spots and f ingerprints are
best removed w ith a special cleaner for matte
finish paint.
Apply the product using a microfiber cloth . To
avo id damag ing the pa int surface, do not use too
much pressure .
Rinse the vehicle thorough ly with water. Then
clean using a neutra l shampoo and a soft mic ro­
fiber cloth.
Rinse the ve hicl e thorough ly agai n an d let it air
dry. Remove any water residue using a sham my.
IIIJ,,
207

Care and cleaning
& WARNING
-Only wash the vehicle when the ignition is
off and follow the instructions from the car
wash operator to reduce the risk of acci­ dents.
- To reduce the risk of cuts, protect yourself from sha rp metal components when wash­
ing the underbody or the inside of t he wheel
hous ings.
- After was hing the vehicle, the braking effect
may be delayed due to mo isture on the
bra ke rotors o r ice i n the winte r. The bra kes
mus t be d ried first w ith a few care ful brake
applications .
@ Note
-If you wash the ve hicle in an automa tic car
wash, you m ust fold the exte rior m irrors i n
to reduce the risk of damage to the mirrors.
Power folding exterior m irrors * must on ly
be fo lded in and out using the power folding
funct ion.
- To reduce the risk of damage to the rims
and tires, compare the width between the
whee ls on your ve hicle w ith the distance be­
tween the gu ide rails in the car wash. -
To red uce the risk of damage, compare the
heig ht and width of your vehicle with the
heig ht and w idth 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, k itchen
sponges or s imilar items.
- Matte finish painted vehicle components:
- To reduce the r isk of damage to the sur-
face, do not use polish ing 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 pain ted with matte
finish paint. The paint could be damaged
when the stickers or magne ts are re­
moved.
@ For the sake of the environment
Only wash the veh icle in facilities spe cially de­
signed for that pu rpose. This will reduce the
r isk of dirty wate r contamina ted with o il from
entering the sewer system .
Cleaning and care information
When cleaning and caring for individua l vehicle
components, refer to the following tables. The information conta ined there is s imply recom­
mendations . Fo r quest ions or for components that are not
listed, consult an authorized Aud i
dealer or authorized Audi Service Fac ility. Also
fo llow the information found in c::> & .
Ex ter io r cleaning
Component S ituation Solution
Wind shield wiper
Deposits c::> page 58, Cleaning windshield wiper blades
blades
Headlights /
Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap solution a)
Tail lights
Sen sor s/
Deposits Sensors: soft cloth with solvent-free cleaning sol utio n
camera len ses Camera lenses: soft cloth w ith alcoho l-free cleaning so lu-
tion
Snow/ice Hand brush/solvent -free de -icing spray
Wheels Road salt Water
Brake dust Acid-free special cleaning solution
208