9 Ways to Protect Your Car in the Summer
Summer can be hard on vehicles. Driving in hotter temperatures can damage your car battery, while sunlight can cause deterioration of exterior and interior paint and plastic. Knowing how to keep your car cool in summer reduces damage caused by ultraviolet rays and helps reduce the risk of engine problems.
How Hot Does a Car Get in the Sun?
How hot your car gets in the sun varies depending on the external temperature. The CDC reports an outside temperature of 80℉ quickly turns the interior of a parked car into a veritable oven. After 20 minutes in 80℉ conditions, a car cabin reaches 109℉. After an hour, the cabin is a scorching 123℉, hot enough to damage plastic components and upholstery.
How to Protect Your Car from the Sun
Taking the following steps will help protect your car from the sun:
Check Tire Pressure
Does hot weather affect tire pressure? Absolutely. As temperatures rise, the air pressure in your tires increases. Overinflated tires increase the risk of blowouts and lengthen stopping distances when braking. Hot road surfaces and underinflated tires also increase the risk of a blowout.
If you’re driving in extreme heat, periodically check your tire pressure. Grease Monkey® locations provide a free tire check and set with every full-service oil change.
Wax Your Car to Protect the Paint
Sun damage on a car eventually results in faded, dull, and even peeling paint. A good quality wax acts as a protective barrier, shielding car paint from damaging UV rays.
Use a Car Cover
If you have to park outside, consider purchasing a car cover. Look for one with breathable fabric, so condensation evaporates. The cover should allow you to quickly slip it on and off the car.
Park in the Shade
Choosing to park in the shade minimizes sun damage on cars. Indoor parkades work best, but you can also use the shade from trees or tall buildings.
Consider Installing Seat Covers
Inside a car cabin, the dashboard and seat upholstery are most vulnerable to sun damage. Make seat covers and windshield screens part of your car interior protection plan. Seat covers shield upholstery from UV damage and fading, while windshield sun protection prevents dashboards from fading and cracking.
Keep an Eye on Fluid Levels
Heat causes evaporation, which impacts your car’s fluid levels. In the summer, you may need to top-off engine fluids, including brake, coolant, transmission, and steering fluids, more often. Grease Monkey’s fluid exchange services help you keep your engine fluids at manufacturer-recommended levels throughout the year. We also offer complimentary fluid top-offs between full-service oil changes.
Check Your Car Battery
Battery fluid contains water, which evaporates at high temperatures. Summer heat can result in low battery fluid levels, which impact battery performance. Heat also increases corrosion rates, damaging battery terminals and connections. Batteries subjected to these conditions lose their charge faster and can suffer permanent damage. Grease Monkey battery inspections check battery function and fluid levels. Drop by if you have concerns about your battery or alternator system.
How to Keep Your Car Cool in Summer
Consider Getting Your Windows Tinted
Tinting vehicle windows helps block damaging sunlight and helps keep your cabin cool. Before tinting your windows, check the maximum tint level legally allowed in your state.
Use Windshield Protectors or a Sun Shade
The same windshield sun protector that prevents damage to your dashboard can help keep your cabin cool. Also known as sun shades, window sun protectors absorb UV rays. Sun shades aren’t just for the summer: during the winter, a windshield protector’s ability to absorb heat helps prevent your windshield from frosting.
Preventive maintenance goes a long way toward protecting a car from the sun and heat. Grease Monkey’s full-service oil change includes fluid top-offs, tire pressure checks, and battery inspections to help ensure your vehicle is prepared for driving in extreme heat. Find a Grease Monkey service center in your area today!