Nissan Brand Assets

Nissan Brand Assets

505 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516

How to Protect Your Car from the Summer Heat

by Client

Hot out there? It’s not enough to simply park your car in the shade. Excessive summer heat can wreak havoc on your vehicle, damaging its exterior paint, harming its interior upholstery, and impacting its value upon resale. And that’s just the beginning.

When your car isn’t properly protected from the sweltering summer heat, your safety may be threatened. If exposed to direct sunlight on a 70-degree day, the temperature inside your vehicle can hit as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit after 90 minutes. On an 80-degree day, that temperature can be reached in only 40 minutes. Crazy, right? But your safety may also be compromised in ways you can’t immediately detect. High temperatures can deteriorate the performance and operation of airbags, tires, and internal components, increasing the odds of an accident or injury.

Fortunately, there’s a range of preventative measures to minimize the potentially disastrous effects of summer heat.

Interior

  • Crack your windows. A little can go a long way. Even a tiny crack will enable better air circulation, keeping interior temperatures down.
  • Use a windshield sun protector, window shade, or car cover. Covering your car when parked at home or taking an extra minute to slide a sun protector across your dashboard can make all the difference on steamy summer days.
  • Use a conditioner. As an additional interior precaution, consider conditioning your leather seats. This will mitigate the damage from the sun and heat and help prevent cracks and tears. Bonus: Your seats will be cleaner than ever.

Exterior

  • Wash and dry your vehicle. A little good old-fashioned elbow grease can make all the difference in protecting your car from severe summer heat. Regularly washing and drying your car will help ward off cracking paint and fading finishes. You’ll also remove dirt and grime that can cause micro-scratches on your exterior.
  • Wax on, wax off! Washing and drying your exterior is a good start, but if you really want to protect your ride, you’ll want to wax your car at least twice a year. The wax acts as a protective barrier against UV damage in the summer while helping to minimize scratches.
  • Check your tire pressure. Scorching conditions will cause air expansion in your tires, which may lead to improper inflation pressure. This can create a whole host of potential issues, including decreased on-road performance, weakened fuel efficiency, and blowouts that put your safety at risk. Ensure your tire pressure is up to par by following your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.

Under the Hood

  • Battery. Skyrocketing summer temperatures may increase battery drainage. We recommend you have a qualified technician at a local dealership check your charging system regularly to maintain proper operations.
  • Fluids. Beat the heat by ensuring your car’s transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze/coolant, and motor oil are properly topped off. Don’t neglect to check!
  • Air conditioning. Ensure the AC system’s refrigerant level has been properly maintained. Low refrigerant will result in a lackluster interior cooling. If improper cooling persists, there may be a cooling system leak or a mechanical issue that requires the attention of a qualified professional.

Schedule Summer Preventative Maintenance Today

Sometimes you can’t do it all on your own, and that’s okay. That’s what we’re here for. If you want to keep your car shielded from the summer heat and operating at its best, schedule an appointment with one of the qualified professionals at Client today.