Caring for Your Vehicle’s Paint This Summer
Most people understand the effect that the sun has on our skin and the risks associated with those powerful UV rays. What many people don’t take into consideration is the effect that the sun has on our vehicle’s exterior. Here’s why it’s important to protect your vehicle from the sun and easy tips for caring for your vehicle’s paint this summer.
The Damaging Effect of Direct Sunlight on Your Vehicle
You may think it’s not a big deal to let the sun bake down on your vehicle’s exterior. However, heat and UV rays produce a chemical reaction that can bond contaminants to your vehicle’s paint or can cause the paint to fade.
Prolonged exposure can even create cracking and peeling of your vehicle’s paint which is not only unsightly but can lead to rust spots down the line. Since our vehicles are a big investment, it’s important to protect them from the sun’s rays in the same way that we’d protect our skin.
3 Simple Tips for Caring for Your Vehicle’s Paint
Protecting your vehicle’s paint from the sun’s rays doesn’t have to be a big project. Following these simple tips can help prevent costly damage to your vehicle’s exterior and keep your investment in pristine shape.
- Try to Avoid Parking in Direct Sunlight. Carefully choosing where you park your vehicle can protect it from the sun’s damaging rays. Since not everyone has access to a garage or parking structure, it’s important to be mindful of other potential physical barriers that can protect your vehicle’s paint. The shade from those physical barriers, such as trees or buildings, not only acts as a buffer to the sun’s UV rays but also can keep the interior of your vehicle up to 20 degrees cooler.
- Thoroughly Wash Your Vehicle. Parking in the shade goes a long way in protecting your vehicle, but it doesn’t remove contaminants that adhere to your vehicle’s paint. Through everyday driving, contaminants like tree sap, dried bugs, or tar may end up on your vehicle’s surface. Those contaminants can then bond to your vehicle’s paint due to the heat and UV rays from the sun. Washing your vehicle regularly can remove harmful contaminants before they can bond to your vehicle’s paint.
- Don’t air dry your car after a wash. Water droplets left on a car magnify UV rays from the sun, causing hard water deposits to be etched into the surface of your car.
- Apply Vehicle Wax Regularly. Vehicle wax is like your vehicle’s sunscreen. It protects your vehicle’s paint from the sun’s harmful UV rays and acts as a barrier between any contaminants that find their way onto its surface. Wax can also help seal the top layer of your vehicle’s paint preventing water spots that can bake in the sun’s rays.
Caring for Your Vehicle’s Paint if it Already Has Sun Damage
If your vehicle’s paint has already been damaged by the sun, it’s not a lost cause. The best thing you can do once you notice sun damage to your vehicle’s paint is to take it to a professional to repair the damage. A professional body shop has the tools and techniques to prep your vehicle, sand off the damaged areas, and apply a new coating of both the base coat and the clear coat. Quickly repairing any damage to your vehicle can prevent further issues down the line.
About Pole Position Auto Body
With over 3 decades of experience, Pole Position Auto Body can restore your vehicle’s exterior and interior to its pristine condition. Whether it’s damage to your vehicle from the sun’s rays or damage from a collision, Pole Position Auto Body can bring your vehicle back to life. As an I-Car Gold Class Certified, facility, we use the best techniques and follow stringent protocols for all repairs to ensure quality results every time.
