Learn to Beat the Heat This Summer by Keeping Your Car Cool

Here in Colorado, the summer heat can be quite intense. When you combine our high average number of sunny days per year with the altitude our summers can be quite hot. Beating the heat is an ongoing challenge, and keeping your car cool is a key component to staying cool this summer.

Getting into a hot car is never a fun experience. Nobody wants to be covered in sweat by the time they get to their destination. Not to mention that hot surfaces such as the window ledge or upholstery on your car can cause mild to severe burns depending on your skin type and sensitivity. The best way to protect yourself from the heat is to learn how to keep your car cool by following these simple tips.

Internal Car Temperatures Can Rise Drastically in the Sun

Vehicles left out in the sun can have their internal temperatures rise dramatically. In regular 80 to 100 degrees summertime heat the temperature in your car can actually quickly increase to around 132 to 170 degrees! Even if you have good AC in your car, it can take a while to bring this temperature down- especially for those who only take short trips. If you only have a few miles to get to the grocery store then you may just be arriving by the time your air conditioning has begun to cool down the inside of the car!

In addition, temperatures can vary depending on your paint and/or upholstery colors. Darker colors can absorb more light spectrums thereby converting them into heat. Mythbusters even did a test on identical cars leaving them both out in the summer sun to find that the black car had an internal temperature of 135 degrees whereas the white car was only at 126 degrees, 9 degrees cooler.

Tips for Keeping Your Vehicle Cool in the Summer Heat

There are quite a few ways you can mitigate the heat in your car. In short, you’ll want to find inventive ways and products to block the sun from heating up your car.

Image of women blocking sun wearing shades

Sun Shades for Windshields and Windows

Sun Shades are typically inexpensive and can be easily setup and removed when you are getting in or out of your vehicle. If you are hesitant to get a full set of shades for your car to cover all of the windows, we recommend buying at least a windshield shade to block a majority of the sun while keeping your steering wheel cooler. This can significantly reduce the heat coming off of your dashboard, and potentially prevent any burns experienced by an incredibly hot steering wheel and other parts of your car’s interior.

Tinted Windows for Blocking the Sun

Tinted windows are a more permanent solution to using a full set of sunshades. While sunshades and tinted windows keeping the interior temperature a bit cooler, tinted windows don’t require the ongoing hassle of setup and removal everytime you drive. It is very common to combine a windshield shade with tinted windows for more complete coverage. This is especially important if you are in and out of your vehicle a lot, regularly park in sunny areas, or just plain don’t like the inconvenience of setup and removal or sun shades everytime you get into your car.

We highly recommend if you tint your windows to use a quality service the first time. Although these can cost up to $500 depending on many factors having a cooler car combined with the convenience of not having to worry about sun shades could be worth it for you.

Park in the Nearest Parking Garage or Covered Parking spot

Parking garages are often the coolest options for parking your car- that is unless you end up parking on the roof or on the outer edge with your vehicle exposed to the sun. They tend to be much cooler than other options, and can really help keep things cooler by completing removing the sun factor.

If you can’t find a parking garbage, any kind of shaded parking spot will do. Carports work quite well, or you can even consider parking under a large tree. Keep in mind that the sun moves throughout the day. You may find a great looking covered parking spot in the morning only to find your car has been baking in the sun for hours. Do your best to look for a spot that has good covered and will keep your vehicle shaded for the entire time it is parked.

Keep your Windows Cracked for Better Air Flow

Let’s face it, even after following all of these tips the inside of your car might still be quite warmer than it is outside. An age-old method for keeping your car cooler is to simply leave the windows cracked! Allowing for that small amount of air flow can significantly help to keep the hot air inside the car flowing out. If you have a sunroof, consider leaving that cracked slightly as well.

Image of Car with Windows Cracked Open Slightly

Use Cloth Seat Covers for Cars with Leather Interiors

If you have a leather interior in your car then you know how hot they can get in the summertime. Unless you’re willing to swap out your car for one with cloth seats then we recommend buying some cloth seat covered to help keep the temperature down. This will help to prevent burning your skin when you sit down, especially in the summertime when wearing shorts.

Using Your Air Conditioning the Right Way

First and foremost, it’s important to know if your AC is working properly. While there is no regular schedule for getting your air conditioning checked, you should bring it into a local AAMCO Colorado for a checkup if it doesn’t seem to be blowing as hard or as cold as you remember or want. Take a look at this blog post for signs your car’s A/C unit is failing.

If you’re sure your air conditioner is working properly then using it properly helps immensely in cooling down your car quicker on those incredibly hot days. Set the fan to full blast and the AC unit cold as it can go once you get into your car. Lower your back windows for a few minutes to help let out the hot air that is in your car and coming out of the vents. Once the temperature is to your liking, set the car’s air recirculating feature to on- this is typically a button with a circle and arrow on it. This helps to maintain the coldest temperature by not bringing in hotter air from outside.

Schedule with a Local AAMCO Colorado Today

Is your Air Conditioning Unit not working properly? Schedule an appointment with your nearest AAMCO Colorado right away to get it looked at so you can stay cool this summer. Here at AAMCO Colorado we do much more than just transmissions. Our locally owned shops provide total car care services including complete automotive tune-ups, brakes, free Vehicle Courtesy Checks, and much more. Book an appointment now!

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How to Keep Your Car Cool in the Summertime

Learn to Beat the Heat This Summer by Keeping Your Car Cool

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Internal Car Temperatures Can Rise Drastically in the Sun