As anyone who has ever left a crayon to melt on a leather car seat as a child can attest, the inside of a vehicle can become dangerously hot given the right conditions. In fact, the inside of a car can be such a hot and dangerous place that in a matter of minutes, individuals or pets can feel negative side effects such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or even death if left unattended. Aside from the moral injustice and physical injury (or even death) risks, parents may also be held liable for such accidents in many states across the country.
Besides safety, there are several reasons why car owners should protect their car from extreme heat – some of which includes saving on maintenance and AC costs. Heat protection can take many forms, from parking in a shaded spot to tinting windows or using a sunshade. It is hard to take too many precautions from the damaging effects that heat can have on a vehicle.
If you are ready to take the next step in protecting your vehicle from dangerously high heat, but you are unsure of your options, the information below is meant to provide that insight.
Park in the Shade
Our first tip is a good one to keep in mind anytime you’re parking the car on a hot summer’s day – park in the shade whenever possible. While not an ironclad defense from the sun on its own (even though you parked in the shade, you may come back and be entirely parked in the sun) this simple step can help lower the temps around your car and keep the worst effects of extreme heat away from your vehicle – especially for short-term parking.
Tint Your Windows
If most heating in a car is due to radiant heat from the sun, it stands to reason that filtering out those heat-producing rays in the first place would go a long way towards keeping any car cool. For those looking for a cheap and easy solution, window tinting may just be it.
Window tinting can not only help keep a car cooler while it’s parked, but it can help keep it cool by continuing to block the sun as the vehicle is in motion. Tinting can include such features as polarized or anti-glare finishes for added safety and eye comfort.
When tinting your windows, it is careful to follow local regulations in terms of overall tint opacity. For example, local window tinting in Southlake, TX, will likely have different rules regarding the amount of allowed tinting than other surrounding states. This also means that you should comply with the most stringent local regulations that you are likely to drive through, as those will be the ones that you have to worry about being enforced.
Use a Sunshade
Covering your car with a sunshade can be an easy and effective way to protect your car’s interior and keep it from getting too hot. Sunshades can be used for any of a car’s windows, and, for safety reasons, all shades should be stored away when the vehicle is moving.
The one thing that drivers must be aware of when using a sunshade is the potential for user error to render it ineffective. For example, a sunshade that isn’t properly affixed to a car’s windshield will likely provide more of a tenting effect rather than repelling the sun’s rays.
Get Your Car Washed
The sun can combine with brutal temps to crack and fade otherwise vibrant paint jobs. One way to prevent this is to keep your car as clean as possible. This will stop micro-abrasions from forming on your car’s surface before they start. Not only that, but you might get a boost in MPG as well from reduced drag – although this is likely minimal, if at all.
Take Care of Your Vehicle’s Internals
Topping off fluids and making sure your car’s cooling system is functioning may seem like it wouldn’t make much of a difference to your car’s overall performance, however, ignoring routine maintenance should be avoided at all times. When it comes to the scorching days of summer, having a properly maintained vehicle can make all the difference between getting where you want to go and a breakdown on the side of the road.
Keep You Dashboard Clean
One tip that often gets overlooked is to keep your vehicle’s dashboard free of debris and dirt. Such detritus can harm a dashboard, scratching it and making it easier for glare and ultraviolet damage to take place. Something as simple as a scratch can be the starting point for increased sun decay.
Keep Your Cool and Make a Plan to Prevent Car Heat Instead
So, if you utilize some of the heat fighting tips outlined above, the next time you park outside on a warm summer day, you won’t have to brace for a scorched back thanks to your sunbaked leather seats. Keeping your car cool can have a positive effect on its overall health and durability. Taking just a few of the simple measures above (or all of them) can make a significant difference when it comes to fighting extreme heat and prolonging the life of your car.