How to Protect Your Car from Sun Damage
By John Funk, June 20, 2023
Regardless of how much you love your car, you wouldn’t want to enter your vehicle when it’s been exposed to sunlight for a long time. Blazing hot interiors due to scorching heat can feel suffocating and uncomfortable, but what you probably didn’t know is that it can also have adverse effects on the condition of your vehicle in the long haul.
UV rays from the sun can wreak havoc on your beloved car. Harmful UV rays can damage both the interior and exterior of your vehicle. It can cause cracks in the dashboard and also lead to faded upholstery and overheating. In the worst scenario, it could also lead to engine failure. The interiors of many vehicles are made of leather, making them vulnerable to drying. Extreme heat can affect your vehicle’s cooling system, battery, and fluids.
The sun’s rays can oxidize your car’s paint. When your paint dries and starts patching up, it affects the appearance of your vehicle – making it look as though it is aging prematurely, which can affect its resale value.
As a car owner, it can be very painful to watch your beloved vehicle age prematurely. Luckily, you don’t have to witness this horrible sight as there are various ways to protect your investment from UV rays and heat.
How to Protect Your Car from Sun Damage
When you venture out on a bright sunny day during the peak summer season, you take preventive measures (sunscreen) to protect your skin from sunburn. If the sun’s rays can be bad for you, they can be bad for various other things as well, including your vehicle. As a car owner, it is your responsibility to take preventive measures to protect your vehicle from extreme heat and UV rays.
If you are wondering how to protect your car from the sun, you have come to the right place.
#1. Wash Your Car Regularly
If you use your car to commute regularly, washing your vehicle frequently is a no-brainer. While traveling on the road, there’s a high chance for your vehicle to attract debris and minerals. You already know that when your vehicle is exposed to sunlight for a long time, it can be bad for your vehicle, but what you probably didn’t know is that when sunlight reacts with debris and minerals, it can have a much worse impact on your car.
This problem can be minimized to a great extent by washing your car regularly. Washing your vehicle every now and then ensures that dust, dirt, insect frass, dead bugs, and other particles that can damage your paint and the overall finish of your vehicle are washed away. After washing your car, you should not forget to dry it. You can use a soft microfiber cloth for the drying process.
#2. Wax Your Car
Another best practice is to wax your car once every few months, preferably twice a year. The applied wax can act as a strong protective layer against harmful UV rays.
Applying wax will not only protect your vehicle against UV damage, but will also minimize scratches, giving your vehicle a polished look that ensures that the resale value of your vehicle depreciates much more slowly.
#3. Park Your Car Indoors
If you own a garage, it is one of the best places to park your vehicle. However, everyone may not own a garage or have an indoor parking facility. Many car owners find parking spots in the shade, under a tree to park their vehicles. This can minimize the impact of sun damage; however, your vehicle could suffer damage when branches, tree sap, nuts, and pollens fall on it. So, you need to be careful.
Parking in the shadow of a building is another option you can try; however, the shade will move its position every hour due to the sun’s movement throughout the day. Therefore, you should pick a spot accordingly.
#4. Test Your Battery and Check the Tire Pressure
Whether it is your home or your car, the usage of air conditioning systems increases dramatically during the summer season.
When you increase the use of A/C, the load on your car battery also increases. The increased strain can cause it to wear out quickly, causing your vehicle to break down. An unexpected breakdown can be frustrating, especially if it happens in some isolated location where it can be difficult to get any kind of help. To avoid such situations, you should get your battery tested periodically.
High temperatures can cause the air trapped inside your tires to expand and blow out. So, it is recommended to check the tire pressure regularly during the summer season. Try to do this during the early morning hours (when the temperatures are cooler) to get an accurate reading. You need to make sure that the pressure is kept in line with the manufacturer’s recommended levels (check the vehicle’s manual for the recommended level).
#5. Install Good Quality Seat Covers
Prolonged exposure of your seats to sunlight can lead to damage as they are made of leather and fabric that can stiffen and dry out due to the sun’s rays. Using seat covers is an effective solution to this problem.
Seat covers will not just protect your upholstery from UV rays, but will also provide great protection from dirt, dust, food spills, and downpours.
A few other benefits of using seat covers are that they are easy to maintain and can keep your seats cool.
Other Preventive Measures
Installing windshield protectors, getting window tints, and checking the fluid levels are a few other preventive measures that can help you protect your car from sun damage.
However, the best way is a car cover. Using a car cover is undoubtedly one of the most effective ways to protect your vehicle from the damaging consequences of UV rays and other outdoor elements.
Choose Seal Skin’s Expertly Designed Car Covers
Seal Skin offers an extensive range of UV-resistant car covers that can provide superior protection to your vehicle from sun damage. Our UV-resistant car covers are made of multiple layers that effectively block UV rays and prevent photodegradation.
Our Seal Skin UV-resistant car covers can protect your car’s paint from fading and cross-linking. They provide superior protection for your interior, ensuring that the dash lasts longer.
Our covers are UV-resistant, waterproof, durable, affordable, and reliable, making them the ideal choice for your car not only for the summer season but in all weather conditions.
You can call us at 800-915-0038 during our office hours (Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST) and we will help you find the right car cover that fits your needs and budget. We will also help you if you have any questions about our products, shipping policies, and exchange/refund policies.
