One often-overlooked threat to a car’s longevity and appearance is the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. While visible light is readily perceived by the human eye, UV rays are an invisible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that carries significant energy—capable of causing substantial damage to interior and exterior vehicle components.
Similar to how excessive sun exposure can damage your skin, UV rays can cause fading, cracking, and warping of various components.
How UV Rays Harm Your Vehicle
Here are the specific ways your car suffers from excessive UV exposure:
Exterior Damage
The most apparent effects of UV radiation manifest on a vehicle’s exterior, leading to a variety of detrimental outcomes, including:
- Paint Fading and Oxidation
Constant exposure of the vehicle to the sun’s UV rays can lead to oxidation—a chemical process that causes car paint to break down—causing its exterior paint to fade. Over time, the paint can lose its lustre and become chalky to touch. Darker coloured cars are generally more susceptible to noticeable fading than lighter coloured vehicles.
- Cracked and Brittle Plastic and Rubber Trims
UV rays can also damage your vehicle’s plastic and rubber trims. When exposed to UV rays, plastic and rubber trims can become brittle and crack. This not only affects the appearance but can also compromise the integrity of these components.
- Cloudy Headlights
Prolonged UV exposure can also cause the plastic lenses of the headlights and taillights to become cloudy and yellowed. This can reduce their effectiveness and the overall safety of your vehicle.
- Tyre Deterioration
UV rays also affect the rubber components of your vehicle, including the tires. Excessive exposure to the sun’s UV rays can accelerate the aging process in the rubber, leading to a condition called dry rot. This breakdown weakens the tyre structure, significantly reducing its lifespan and compromising its safety. Dry rot also increases the risk of dangerous blowouts and accidents.
Interior Damage
Your car’s interior is equally susceptible to UV damage. The sun’s UV rays streaming through the windows can cause seats and other surfaces to fade and deteriorate. Leather seats are particularly vulnerable, as UV rays can cause them to become tough and brittle.
Moreover, fabric upholstery can fade and weaken, reducing the overall aesthetic of your car’s interior. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays and heat can also warp plastic components, such as the dashboard or door panels, compromising both their functionality and visual appeal.
Degradation of Mechanical Components
While not as readily apparent, the sun’s UV rays can also affect components under the hood. UV rays can accelerate the degradation of vital mechanical components. Plastic and rubber parts, like belts, hoses, and seals, are especially vulnerable. Over time, exposure to high temperatures and UV radiation can make them brittle and prone to cracking, potentially leading to unforeseen mechanical failures.
UV rays can also contribute to the evaporation of crucial fluids within the engine, including transmission fluid, antifreeze, power steering fluid, and even motor oil. This can lead to decreased driving performance or even component failure if left unchecked.
Preventive Measures to Protect Your Vehicle
While you cannot prevent your vehicle from getting exposed to UV rays, you can reduce its impact. Here are some ways to do so:
Parking in the Shade
The most straightforward defence against UV rays is prioritising shaded parking whenever possible. Garages, carports, and even large trees provide valuable protection from direct exposure to sunlight—protecting both the exterior paint and the interior components.
Using Car Covers
Finding shaded parking is not always feasible, particularly in urban settings or during work hours. In such scenarios, consider investing in high-quality, UV-resistant car covers. Beyond shielding your car from the sun’s UV rays, car covers provide an additional level of defence against dust, dirt, bird droppings, and other environmental elements.
Using Sunshades
Sunshades can also be a cost-effective solution to protecting your car’s interior from UV rays. A windshield sunshade can block sunlight from directly heating the dashboard. Meanwhile, side window sunshades provide additional protection to the interior upholstery, particularly the leather seats.
Regular Washing and Waxing
Incorporating regular washing and waxing into your car care routine can minimise UV damage to your vehicle’s exterior. Regular washing, ideally every two weeks, removes dirt and contaminants that can amplify UV damage. Subsequently, waxing at least twice a year adds another layer of protection. The wax acts as a barrier against UV radiation and other environmental elements.
Conducting Regular Inspection and Maintenance
As the sun’s heat can also affect exterior and interior mechanical components like tyres, rubber hoses, belts, and seals, inspecting them for signs of wear and tear is critical. This is essential to ensure optimal engine performance and prevent breakdowns.
During inspection, check fluid levels as well. Top off when fluid levels are below recommended levels. Always refer to your owner’s manual about the advised types of fluids for your vehicle.
Using protective sprays or coatings specifically designed for engine components is also recommended. These can provide an extra layer of defence, preventing heat build-up and protecting your car’s vital components from accelerated UV degradation.
Installing Window Tints
Window tinting Croydon offers a powerful defence against UV rays. High-quality window tint films boast the ability to block up to 99% of this damaging radiation, protecting your car’s interior from premature fading and cracking.
Beyond UV protection, window tinting is also an excellent solution for reducing heat buildup inside the car cabin, enhancing comfort during hot summers, minimising strain on the air conditioning system, and improving fuel efficiency. Furthermore, window tinting Wembley can enhance privacy and security and add a touch of sophistication to your vehicle’s overall aesthetics.
Where to have your window tints installed?
If you have already decided to get your windows tinted, you can always count on Global Tint UK.
Global Tint UK is a reputable window tinting company that believes in and continues to strive to deliver premium products and top-notch services. Our installers and technicians possess combined knowledge and skills to provide only the best service to our clients.
Contact us for inquiries or a free quote by calling 0800-158-8005 or filling in our contact form.
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