AutoZone's tips for vehicle protection during this
heatwave
Auto Channel -- Robert Gordon, Co-Publisher
AutoZone offers 3 tips to protect your car from the summer heat
Memphis, Tenn. (August 7, 2001) - This summer's current heatwave can do serious
damage to
vehicles on America's roads, parking lots and driveways. When the temperature
outside hits 95
degrees, the temperature inside a parked car can reach 140 degrees while the
temperature on the
surface of dashboards and steering wheels can climb to 180 degrees.
"High temperatures affect more than just the comfort level in your car," says
David Cole, director
of training at AutoZone. "Extreme heat can cause expensive damage to your
vehicle unless steps
are taken to prevent it."
With that in mind, AutoZone offers these 3 easy tips to prevent damage from
summer heat.
1. Use a sunshade. Even a simple cardboard sunshade for your windshield can
lower the
temperature inside your car by nearly 50 degrees, and studies show that half of
all cars on the
road have sun damage that could have been prevented by one. A sun-damaged dash
can impact
your vehicle's resale value by as much as $2,000, while most sunshades cost less
than $5.
2. Apply dashboard protectant. A spray-on solution can prevent the cracking,
fading and warping
of your dash. In fact, many contain chemicals that block the sun's harmful UV
rays just like
sunscreen lotion does for your skin. You can also protect your interior from the
heat by simply
spreading a light-colored towel over the dashboard and steering wheel.
3. Protect your paint with washing and waxing. Parking your car in the shade
may lower its inside
temperature, but it may also expose your vehicle to other harmful elements. Tree
sap and bird
droppings can seriously damage automotive paint if it lacks a good coat of wax
or if the residue
isn't quickly washed off. So keep it clean. Use soap designed for automotive
surfaces-don't use
dish washing detergent because it contains grease-removing chemicals that will
strip the wax
from your car's finish. Applying a fresh coat of wax after washing will protect
the paint not only
from the sun's rays, but also from what rains down from trees.
"There are definitely cosmetic benefits to regular washing and waxing and
applying dashboard
protectant," says Cole. "You'll get that new-car shine inside and out. But don't
underestimate the
value of these simple steps when it comes to protecting your vehicle from
expensive damage this
summer."