If your vehicle is exposed to direct sunlight, your dashboard and seats will become extremely hot. Your car's performance will also suffer. As you drive around during the summer, it's important to have a plan for staying safe.
The following are a few effective ways in which you can protect your car from heat damage.
Tips to Protect Your Interior
- Park in the shade: Whenever you park your car, look for shade. By preventing your car from being exposed to direct sunlight, you can help keep your dashboard from cracking and drying. Look for an area where there are a lot of trees.
- Open the windows: If you are parked in a safe area, you can open the windows to cool off the interior and stabilize the air pressure. Be careful if you are parked in a crowded area. You want to minimize the risks of your vehicle suffering a dent or scratch due to another vehicle.
- Use a windshield sun protector: You may have heard that using a sun protector is complicated, but the visors are easy to unfold. Simply slide the protector on your dash.
- Clean your interiors: Use a microfiber cloth to clean the interior. It's very common for dirt and dust to build up in the interior. The buildup can cause scratches that will aggravate over time. Wipe down the dash every few weeks to remove excess particles. Once you are finished cleaning, add a detailing product to minimize the glare.
- Add seat covers: Another way to protect your vehicle's interior is by adding seat covers. Seat covers are versatile enough to cover leather and fabric seats while keeping them cool.
- Add a conditioner: A conditioner can minimize the damage caused by the sun and prevent tears, cracks, and dirt buildup in your seats.
Tips to Protect Your Exterior
- Wash your car regularly: It's important that you wash your car on a regular basis. Constant exposure to the sun and heat can cause your car's paint to fade and crack. Washing your car regularly helps remove dirt and dust particles that can lead to scratches and a dull finish. Also, be sure to hand dry your vehicle after you wash it.
- Wax your car: You also should wax your car. Spread a layer of wax over your car's finish. The wax will help protect your vehicle from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Try to add wax to your vehicle every three months.
- Maintain the tire pressure: Check your tire pressure regularly. You should avoid driving on hot pavement with underinflated tires. In severe cases, your vehicle may suffer a blowout. Remember that even if your tires are in good shape, they will lose around a pound of air pressure every month. Check your tire pressure even on colder days. Always try to adhere to your vehicle's manufacturer-endorsed tire pressure.
Tips to Protect Your Vehicle's System
- Check your cooling system: If your cooling system is in poor condition, your car will overheat. You can protect your engine by making sure that your car is functioning properly.
- Check the belts and drain the coolant and antifreeze: Adhere to your vehicle's manufacturer-recommended timetable for changing the belts and fluids. You want to make sure that your vehicle's fluid levels never go below the recommended level. Allowing levels to fall short can significantly increase the chances of overheating.
- Check your motor oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid: If your fluid levels need to be topped off, do it immediately. Look at your owner's manual to find out the types of fluids your vehicle needs.
- Check your vehicle's battery: Have your vehicle's battery checked on a regular basis to make sure that it's functioning at the optimum level. High temperatures and accessory loads can cause your vehicle to wear out and fail quickly.
- Check your vehicle's AC unit: If you don't believe that your car's interior is cool enough, there may be a problem with the refrigerant charge level in your air conditioning system. Once the professional examines everything, they can tell you if more serious problems are developing.
Basic preventative care on your vehicle will stop problems before they develop. If your car suffers heat damage, try not to stress out and remain focused. If you have any questions, the experts here at
Little & Sons Insurance Services will assist you. Contact us today to get started!
