The sun’s rays can cause quite a bit of damage to your car. You need to know how to protect it and maintain its good looks until the day of its sale.1
How hot can a car’s interior get when in the sun?1
Research by the State Farm® Vehicle Research Facility has shown that the air temperature inside a car can reach over 63°C, while interior car surfaces exposed to the sun can exceed 91°C. If your car has been standing in the sun, open the doors and boot for a little while to allow some of the hot air to escape. When you drive off, it will feel as if the car never stood in the sun. Also, the air conditioner will not have to deal with all that heat.
How can we best protect the car’s interior?
- Shade protects1
Parking in the shade under a tree or building is the best way to eliminate the sun’s powerful effect and the heat it creates. You may have seen car dashboards that have cracked due to the sun. If security is not compromised, slightly opened windows will allow hot air to escape, lowering the interior temperature, and equalizing air pressure.
- Use a windscreen sun shield1
The soft shields that can be folded out behind the windscreen and held in place by the sun visors provide ideal protection for the dashboard and steering wheel. Without a shield, the steering wheel can be too hot to touch.
- What about the interior seats?1
Installing covers will protect the interior seats from the sun’s damage and general wear and tear. Wipe leather seats regularly with a conditioner to prevent drying out in the heat. Make sure the leather is cleaned often to prevent cracks from developing.
- What about the exterior?1
A car’s paintwork that ensures your car looks great is at stake when exposed to the sun. So, what can be done to protect it?
- Regularly clean your car1
Paint exposed to the hot sun begins to crack and fade. By washing and drying a car often it removes all the dirt but avoid doing this in full sun. Be sure to spray a car first with water to remove excess dirt. This is because when using a cloth or sponge, any excess dirt can act like fine sandpaper and cause the paint to become dull with small scratches. For this reason, it’s not a good idea for someone with a bucket of water to wipe your car clean.
- Apply car wax 1
Regularly applying car wax to your car’s paintwork provides a protective layer against the sun’s powerful UV rays.
Possessing a car is a privilege, and we need to look after it well. This will pay off when the car is still good as new at the time of sale. You can also take care of your vehicle with car insurance. Are you looking to buy affordable car insurance? Contact PMD and find out more about car insurance products that suit your budget, including unique benefits such as fixed premiums*. T’s and C’s apply.
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
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Whether you are Driving, Riding Cycling or Walking… Keep hydrated in the heat of Summer!! Do Not leave the Elderly, Children and Pets locked inside Vehicles! https://t.co/npZkIaRuBy #ArriveAlive @NSPCA_SA pic.twitter.com/0tbGEgKNry
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) March 23, 2021
