You try to take care of your car, but sometimes the natural world creates unforeseen complications. If you want to better protect your vehicle, learn about the five environmental factors that are damaging your car.
Excessive Sun Exposure
Many people can’t park their vehicles in covered garages or under shaded spots. Those cars sit in the sun all day and can experience harmful effects due to the extended exposure.
Ceramic coatings are a great investment to minimize sun damage to vehicles’ paint jobs. The tough outer coating acts as a barrier to prevent UV rays from compromising the car’s surface.
UV rays don’t just impact a car’s exterior; they can take a toll on the vehicle’s seats, as well. Adding tint to windows can greatly reduce the strength of UV rays radiating through the glass, limiting damage to the seats. It also helps guard your skin from the sun while driving.
Extremely High Temperatures
Not only are UV rays dangerous, but high temperatures pose a threat to the quality of your car. Vehicles rely on a number of fluids to run properly. If the weather reaches incredibly high temperatures, those fluids are more likely to evaporate and the engine experiences a higher risk of overheating.
Additionally, the heat can negatively affect the condition of your tires. Revolving at rapid speeds on hot pavement overheats the rubber and tears away the tires’ treads. Before long, you will need to fill the tires with more air or replace them entirely.
Dirt and Mud
After an off-roading trip or simply driving around town on a rainy day, your vehicle might accumulate mud all over. While it may simply seem like a blemish that doesn’t need tending to right away, leaving dirt and mud to dry can cause damage.
The combination of lingering dirt and water on the vehicle can cause metals to corrode. The undercarriage—home to the brake line, front and rear axles, transmission system, and more—is especially at risk. If one of those parts corrodes, it will mean trouble for your car.
Hailstorms
Whenever you can’t park under a covered area, your vehicle is at risk of being impacted by the weather. Hail, in particular, is one of the most damaging environmental factors for cars. Unprotected cars can potentially sustain dents ranging from the size of a pebble to a golf ball or larger.
Saltwater
If you live in a coastal town, your car is more susceptible to corrosion and paint damage. The excessive salt within saltwater can latch on to any exposed metals. As the saltwater oxidizes, it tears away the metal and causes a wide array of problems—tearing apart the car’s frame, damaging the undercarriage, and impairing the panels of the car. Additional sun exposure can expedite the rusting process as well.
Remember to take your car for a thorough car wash after parking at the beach for the day. This will limit the possibility of rusting since the saltwater should not have time to begin the oxidization process.
With frequent care and attention to detail, the risks the environment poses to your car won’t be an issue.
