The sun can wreak havoc on a car’s condition and with South Africa’s notoriously-sunny climate, it pays to go the extra mile in protecting your ride against harsh rays.
Too much exposure to sunlight can cause a vehicle’s paint to fade and crack, the dashboard to lose its shine, the leather seats to tear, and engine fluids to evaporate.
MotorHappy has therefore outlined simple preventative actions you can take to keep your daily driver looking better for longer.
Protecting the body
The easiest way to keep your car away from the sun is to park in shady areas whenever there’s an opportunity to do so. It may not always be possible, but it’s certainly worth walking the extra few steps to the shop doors if it means your wheels have a shady place to wait.
Washing and hand drying a vehicle regularly, and with the correct soap, also removes excess dust and dirt particles which could scratch up the exterior.
Another way to keep the paint in good shape is to wax the body – preferably at least twice a year – as this adds extra layers of protection against harmful sun rays as well as keeps dirt, rain, and other abrasives away from the factory coating.
Protecting the interior
The dash is the most vulnerable part of the cabin when it comes to overexposure to sunlight, and a windscreen protector is the first accessory every car owner should buy. These shiny deflectors safeguard the car’s dashboard when it is parked in the sun, ensuring no unnecessary damage when you’re not using it.
Regularly wiping the dash with a low-gloss cleaner will also remove dust and other particles that have accumulated, while simultaneously providing a more permanent shield from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays.
Seat covers further assist in reducing the harmful effects of the burning ball of gas, but if you prefer the look of your original leather seats, these can be protected with a leather cleaner and conditioner which adds a protective layer against scratches and sunshine – usually of some sort of organic oil or less-organic silicone – while also bringing back the seat’s shine.
Protecting the engine
Heat causes fluids to evaporate, so it’s especially important to check the levels of the engine oil, transmission fluid, and brake fluid during a particularly-hot season to ensure you don’t run the car dry.
As a general rule of ownership, it’s also imperative to keep the vehicle’s services up to date and to change parts and fluids when recommended by the manufacturer.
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