How to Protect Your Car in Hot Weather

Co-authored by Chad Zani

Last Updated: November 14, 2023 Approved

Cars need a little protection from the hot weather to ensure that they run optimally and don't end up with cracked leather or vinyl upholstery or interior trim. Sun light can fade fabric and even paint over long enough. As for those traveling inside the car, the minimization of heat is essential!

Steps

1
Protect your parked car from heat. Car upholstery, dashboards and steering wheels can suffer from too much sunlight and heat beaming down on them regularly. If you have to park in the sunshine during the summer on a daily basis, do what you can do protect the inside part of the car. Some of the things you can do include:
- Use a windshield sun shade. This is usually something that folds out and then folds up easily for storing behind the seat. If you put up a shade every time you park the car, it'll help cut down the sun's rays and can reduce a bit of the heat. While you can use just one for the front, a back window shade can also be helpful for some car types.
There are products available that can provide an additional protective layer, such as vinyl or leather protectants.
If you leave the car parked in the sun a lot and it causes cracking of the upholstery, etc., tinting may be an option.^{[1]
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Research source} However, you'll need to check your local regulations as some jurisdictions don't allow tinted windows for safety or other reasons.
Wherever possible, find shady or indoor car parking during the hottest parts of the day. In some places this is possible if there are car parks lined along a park or in leafy neighborhoods. Obviously, many places lack trees for shade but check out building shade––try to look for streets where the shade created by buildings will be passing over your car during the hottest part of the day.
Excessive fluid evaporation can reduce the life of the battery. If it's the type of battery that needs liquid top-ups, add distilled water when needed.^{[2]
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Research source}
This should be topped up when needed.^{[3]
X
Research source} Of course, don't open the radiator cap when the car is still running hot; wait at least an hour after using the car before opening.
Try to target your driving times for the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late evening. This will make it a lot more pleasant for both the driver and any passengers.

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Question

How do you stick tint to a window?

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert
Chad Zani is an Auto Detailing Expert based in Los Angeles, California. He is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. He and his team are auto detailing experts that offer detailing and car care services.

Chad Zani

Auto Detailing Expert

Expert Answer

The simplest method involves laying film over the outside of the window and then cutting, allowing 1 in (2.5 cm) in overlap. So, you cut the film from the outside and transfer it through to the inside, which gives you the basic shape you need. Just be sure to remember which side is the film, as tint only has one side that's usable.

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What do I do for my tires in hot sun if I'm not going to drive the car for six months?

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Cover them with a towel or RV-type vinyl covers on the sun side.

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Would it help to leave my car windows down a little when it's very hot?

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It would be advisable to keep the windows down a half inch, but it may risk the safety of your car. Another advisable solution would be to start the engine and let it idle for 3 minutes with all the windows open in your presence before getting in.

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Tips

Keep the car clean. A shinier car will reflect more of the sun's rays, while a dirtier car will absorb more heat.

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Tire pressure can change considerably after a series of very hot days. Hot weather causes pressure to rise, so check when the day is cooler. The car's manual will tell you the correct pressure to expect.

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Don't leave trash in your car, especially food waste. Spills of food and drink will "bake" onto carpets and seats in hot weather and could get smelly so make sure you throw away food or drink you don't consume.

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Warnings

Never leave children or pets unattended inside a parked car. The temperature inside a car with windows rolled up can rise incredibly quickly and can cause heat exhaustion and even death. If you do need to leave the car for a moment, ask all occupants to wind down every window, or leave Fido leashed to a post under a tree.

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