The dog days of summer are here; have you summer-proofed your car? Yes, summer-proof your car!
Most of us are well aware of the damage the chill of winter can wreak on our SUVs, vans, and trucks but the heat and UV rays of summer can also harm our vehicles.
According to R.L. Polk, Americans keep their cars for an average of six years and most vehicles are resold at that time. Taking the time to summer-proof your vehicle is not only good for your car, it can add dollars to your resale price. Statista – The Statistics Portal, reported people are selling their vehicles at ever increasing rates.
Want top dollar for that car when you are ready to sell it? Make sure it looks good. The most obvious summer-time damage is to the paint and the dashboard. The UV rays of the sun can discolor paint and crack the dashboard until it looks like a model of the Grand Canyon.
BYK Laboratories explained that the UV rays breakdown the organic compounds in the paint like the binders which lead to the paint discoloring and drying out to the cracking point. Also increased dust because of dry, summer conditions can really build up.
Dust acts like sandpaper on your cars’ clear coat. The clear coat not only makes the car look good but more than that, it is the primary barrier against rust. The scratching effects of accumulated dirt and dust coupled with the drying effects of the suns UV rays, acidic insects from increased summer insect populations, bird droppings, and tree sap all have adverse effects on an otherwise beautiful and beneficial paint job.
Don’t forget, every trip to the beach we not only bring home sand in our shoes but also in our car, on our car and in our air filters. An air filters’ job is to trap sand, dust, and other particles to keep them from mangling our vehicles’ engines. Regular checks and changes of the filters will keep our engines running smoothly and a quick wash will rid the paint of the scratching sand.
Plastics and vinyl tend to absorb UV radiation more quickly than paint. This leads to crumbling windshield wipers, which do little good in the occasional August rain shower. One place you might not think of when you think of summer damage are the belts and hoses under the hood. Excessive heat from parking in the sun can damage these parts as well. It would be a good idea to check them a few extra times during the summer.
Summer Proofing Steps –
- Park in the shade whenever possible but be careful of parking under trees that might drip sap and be a favorite roosting spot for birds
- Wash your car often – once a week is recommended. Hand washing is recommended but having the vehicle on a regular washing schedule and hand dry – Don’t let it dry in the sun
- Protect interior by tinting windows, using a windshield sun screen and using a protectant on the dash
- Check and maintain all fluid levels
- Check and change the filters often
Resource list
https://newsroom.aaa.com/2018/06/47-million-americans-new-independence-day-travel-record/
BYK LABORATORIES BLOG
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/preserve-car-value-vehicle-depreciation.asp
https://www.wikihow.com/Increase-Your-Car%27s-Resale-Value
https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1090254_the-united-states-of-used-cars
https://www.statista.com/statistics/183713/value-of-us-passenger-cas-sales-and-leases-since-1990/
R.L. Polk
by: J. K. Luckhurst
