Even when the dog days of summer wind down, sunlight and heat can affect your car while it’s parked for long periods, especially if you live in states like Texas and Georgia. It’s one thing to let your car sit out in the heat for a day or two, but if you need to park your car for weeks, months, or longer, it’s crucial to understand how to prevent heat from damaging your ride.
As your local storage provider, our team at Compass Self Storage knows a thing or two about storing your belongings, including your vehicle. Read on to learn more about heat’s impact on your car and how self storage can help prevent issues down the road!
How Hot Does a Car Get in the Sun?
Cars easily absorb heat from sunlight due to the greenhouse effect. Their glass windows trap sunlight inside, which means the inside of a car can reach 109° F in 20 minutes, and hit 123° F after an hour of being outside.
Not only is this dangerous for people and animals sitting in a parked car, but the prolonged exposure to heat can damage your upholstery, dashboard, and electronics. Outside of your car’s cabin, the hot pavement can stress your tires, weakening them over time.
Does Extreme Heat Affect Cars?
Yes, extreme heat affects cars in several ways, such as:
- Reducing battery performance for conventional, electric, and hybrid vehicles’ batteries
- Thinning out engine fluids and stressing mechanical components
- Fading and cracking your car’s interior materials, like leather upholstery
Even if your car seems fine after a few weeks of parking outside, exposure to sunlight and heat can be silently shortening its lifespan. Prolonged exposure to heat can even affect your car’s paint job.
Automotive paint is designed to withstand heat, given the high temperatures engines can reach, but most modern cars typically have a clear coat that protects the paint. If the clear coat breaks down because of sunlight and heat exposure, it can leave the paint underneath exposed to damage, too.
What Happens To a Car Tire in the Heat?
Tires are no strangers to stress as they travel over asphalt, gravel, and potholes, but heat is one of the biggest risks they face. As temperatures rise, the heat causes the air in your tires to expand, increasing tire pressure. When your car is in motion, overinflated tires can often blow out. Even when you park your car, the hot pavement can weaken the tires’ rubber, making them less reliable the next time you drive.
Not sure how to protect your tires from heat while parking outside for extended periods? Here’s what you can do:
- Park on less heat-absorbing surfaces like grass or gravel instead of asphalt
- Use tire covers
- Keep your car in the shade
If you don’t have space in your driveway or garage, or you live in an apartment with limited shaded parking spots, consider self storage.
Why Self Storage Can Be the Best Solution for Your Car
Whether you’re traveling for weeks or months, or you have a vehicle you don’t drive often, self storage provides the parking space and peace of mind you need. When you store your car with Compass Self Storage, you can enjoy a variety of benefits, such as:
- Shielding your ride from extreme heat with outdoor covered spaces or fully enclosed storage spaces
- Convenient storage facilities near major roads and highways
- Security features like security cameras, gated access, and on-site managers
Which Storage Option Is Best for a Car?
If your ultimate goal for using car storage is to shield your car from heat, we recommend a covered outdoor storage space or a drive-up indoor storage unit. Most cars typically fit in a 10×20 drive-up storage unit.
Uncovered spaces typically cost the least, but they don’t provide the same shelter as covered or enclosed storage. If you’d still like to enjoy the benefits of security features like fully fenced properties and security cameras, however, many of Compass Self Storage’s facilities include these measures with uncovered vehicle storage.
To keep your car cool in its uncovered parking space, use these strategies:
- Use a windshield shade to block UV rays that heat up your cabin faster and can cause your dashboard and steering wheel to fade or crack
- Place light-colored towels or cloths over your seats and dashboard
- Top off fluid, like your coolant and oil
- Periodically check in on your battery, or, depending on how long you’re storing your car, disconnect the battery and store it elsewhere
- Put a cover over your car to shield it from wind, sunlight, and rain
Other Common Questions About Cars and Hot Weather
Should I store my car on gravel or concrete to help prevent heat damage to my tires?
You should choose a concrete surface for long-term car storage. Gravel can shift over time as the soil dries, creating an uneven surface for your car. A gravel parking space is better suited for short-term car storage needs.
Either is preferable to an asphalt parking spot for long-term outdoor storage, however, because asphalt absorbs the most heat and can stress your tires. At Compass Self Storage, we offer outdoor parking with gravel or concrete for your convenience.
Can hot weather make your check engine light turn on?
Yes, hot weather can set off your check engine light if the heat stresses your car’s sensors, cooling system, or fuel pressure. Your check engine light may turn off automatically after starting your car and allowing the air conditioning to run for a few minutes. Still, it’s wise to follow up with an automotive technician.
How can I prepare my car for storage in the heat?
Wash and wax your car’s exterior, top off its fluids, and inflate your tires to the recommended PSI, whether you plan to keep your car inside a drive-up storage unit or outside in a covered or uncovered storage space.
Keep Your Car Cool With Compass Self Storage
When you need a place to store your car and shield it from the heat, choose Compass Self Storage. We offer covered car storage and drive-up storage units to help you park your ride without leaving it out in the heat.
Even if you just need to free up space in your driveway, our uncovered outdoor parking spaces provide a home away from home with helpful features like security cameras and fully fenced facilities. We also offer month-to-month leases to help our car storage solutions align with your needs and budget.
Find your nearest Compass Self Storage facility and take advantage of our convenient car storage options today!
