Exploring Auto Body Paint Application Procedures

New Car Paint? How To Keep It Looking Great During The Summer

The UV rays that the sun puts off are not good for the paint of your vehicle. However, do you know exactly what the sun can do to your car? Do you know what you can do to minimize those effects? Read on to learn just that.

What the Sun Does to Your Car

Essentially, your car being beneath the harmful rays of the sun is similar to putting your car in an oversized oven. There are a number of things that the sun and too much heat can do to your vehicle. Here are a few:

  • Faded Paint – If you have a new car, or even if you have just recently had your car repainted, then the last thing you want is for your paint to start fading a few months after getting it. Unfortunately, if you leave it out in the sun, that's exactly what is going to happen.
  • Chipped Paint – The sun can also cause your paint to chip. It is similar to your lips getting chapped and the skin beginning to flake and peel off.
  • Stains and Bird Poop – As a general rule, it isn't too difficult to remove bird poop, water stains, and other stains that may get on your vehicle. However, when those things are left on your car underneath the hot sun, they are going to become more stubborn with each passing minute to remove.
  • Overheated Interior – Obviously, the interior of your car is going to get hotter and hotter in the summer sun. It can get extremely hot inside vehicles and can cause cracks in your dashboard and leather seats.

How to Avoid the Above-Mentioned Effects of the Sun

The best way to avoid all of the above is to keep your car in the garage, under a carport or in the shade. However, if you have no other option but to park under the sun, here are a few tips:

  • Get a Car Cover – This is beneficial if you plan on your car being under the sun for an extended period of time – such as your eight-hour work day. It can be tucked away in your trunk when it isn't being used and easily pulled out and placed over your car for protection when out in the sun. It's similar to covering yourself with clothes and hats to protect your skin from the sun.
  • Regularly Wash and Dry Your Vehicle – Make sure that you take the time out of your busy schedule to wash and dry your car on a regular basis. This keeps the stains and bird droppings from getting stuck on your car and harming your paint. It is important to not only wash your car, but to also dry it thoroughly. Otherwise, the water will just attract the sun and cause damage.
  • Add Some Wax – For an additional layer of protection on your vehicle, try adding wax to it. It will help to reflect the sun's rays and minimize the damage that the sun can have on your car's paint.
  • Tint Your Windows – Since your car's interior is also at risk, you should invest in quality tint. This will reduce the amount of sun that can enter into your car, which will protect your interior as well as yourself and any passengers.

If you notice any sun damage to your vehicle, you want to get it checked out immediately at a local auto body shop, like Kevin McKort's Collision Center Ltd. It's better to have small repairs made than having to have your entire car re-painted due to the effects from the sun.  


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