How to Protect Your Car from Sun Rays this Summer

This summer, while you’re too busy putting on sunscreen, take care not to forget your car as well. 

Paying attention to your vehicle during high heat days is not only a question of comfort to avoid that it is 50 °C in your car, or that the steering wheel burns, or about the leather seats that burn your skin. 

It is a question of efficiency and car value.

Here is a list of tips to limit damage to your car in the heatwaves. Simple and effective, it will take you little time but can limit the damage.

  • Park in the Shade

Easier said than done, as mentioned above the sun damages your car’s body, makes it more fragile, and tarnishes it. It is, therefore, better to park further away from the sun. seek shady parks to protect your car even if it means walking 10 minutes on foot.

Thus, in heatwaves, it is better to park your car in an underground car parking, because it is sheltered from the heat. Or maybe under a tree, although the latter can make it dirty. However, if you can rent a parking lot, don’t hesitate. Whether it is sunny or rainy, the temperature remains fairly stable in garages.

This can indeed make a difference in the long term, as this can save you a little money on your insurance, and save your car’s price from dropping down if you want to cash your car because it won’t have cracked paint and dashboard. (which will greatly decrease the value of your car)

  • Watch Your Belts

Everything made of rubber tends to expand in the sun and heat and contracts in cold weather. These two accumulated phenomena can result in cracks in any belt in the car like the engine belt. During heatwaves, the engine belts at the best scenario just crack, which is dangerous, but at worst, they can break causing the whole engine to break down.

Fan belts are also affected by heat. A fan belt is a piece made of rubber that connects many different components of the engine together. If the fan belt breaks, the car will overheat and cause many parts to fail. 

  • Check Your Vehicle’s Fluids Levels

Heat and liquids never mix. So when it is very hot, liquids tend to evaporate. It, therefore, becomes important to regularly check your windshield washer fluid, coolant, brake fluid, and engine oil.

Of course, always check fluids levels when the engine is cold to avoid burns. Experts recommend that you should have at least one container of engine oil in your vehicle at all times.

1.Cooling liquids: The main role of the coolant is to cool the engine. It also helps prevent corrosion. Coolant has a boiling point well above 100 ° C and a freezing point well below 0 °C. This is why you absolutely must not put water in the place of coolant when the red light comes on on the dashboard. This is to avoid pressurizing the system in hot weather.

2.Engine oil level: The oil helps lubricate engine parts. Without engine oil, your engine will not last more than a minute and will need to be replaced. Engine oil also plays a role in engine cooling. The oil level is measured on the dipstick and must strictly be between the minimum and maximum indicators. 

3.Brake oil level: As the name suggests, brake fluid acts on the braking of your car. Maintaining it guarantees you maximum safety. When you press the brake pedal, the fluid will push the brake pads onto the brake disc. The friction between these two elements will generate a lot of heat, and this heat will be transmitted to the brake fluid nearby, which will then degrade over the brakes.

  • Take Care of Your Tires

Tire maintenance involves inflating them and measuring the pressure. However, maintaining a tire takes much more because it is the only point of contact between your car and the road. A “detail” that is quickly forgotten but influences the way you drive and your safety.

 Summer heat has a great effect on tires. For one thing, the high temperature of the road in summer causes more friction, which means more heat. Heat in its turn speeds up the worn of the rubber.

In general, good quality tires have a wear marker printed in the tread that tells you the critical level of tread depth. It is better to change them before they reach this limit to maintain optimal traction and your grip on the road.

Tires are like balloons. They can hold a certain amount of air, any additional pressure can cause the tire to blow out. For your safety, you should always keep an eye on your tires’ pressure and always inflate them to the recommended levels. Any small change in the air levels can cause dangerous accidents.

These little steps may not take a huge chunk of your time, but they absolutely ensure you’re driving safely.

Summertime is the best time to have fun, but remember your car shouldn’t be as hot as you. Stay hydrated, and drive safe!