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The sun powers all life on Earth. UV (Ultraviolet) rays from the sun are also responsible for much destruction when unguarded. Human skin problems, dying plants, and even building construction have suffered the effects of the sun’s unbridled life-giving power. Vehicles are not exempt from this powerful force. Car owners will tell you stories for days about how their brand-new paint jobs were ruined by exposure to the sun. Then there are other annoyances like bird droppings, careless kids in the neighbourhood and even careless auto mechanics who work on the cars, ruining the paint job that car owners basked in. There are ways to guard against these, and this article discusses some of them: 5 Ways to Protect Your Vehicle from Scratches and UV Damage
Use Bed Liners
The few hours your car spends in the sun every day can cause a myriad of problems, including paint fading and oxidation, upholstery damage, especially if you have leather seats, dashboard cracking, other material breakdowns, damage to electronic systems, tyre degradation, discolouration of a plastic headlight and tail light covers.
But you need to drive your car, and sometimes, for hours too. The quickest and easiest solution is bed liners like the Mil+Spec Liner.
Bed liners were used for truck beds to protect metal or plastic from the harmful effects of UV rays and scratches that could happen when stuff is placed on them. They are also used on military vehicles for the same reasons. Recently, they’ve been applied to vehicle bodies as a protective cover.
Apply spray-on bed liners to your car’s coat of paint, and not only will you be able to enjoy the excellent bodywork you spent so much money on for much longer, but you will feel more at peace in any situation.
Coat your Car with Ceramic
Coating your car with ceramic is like applying a super-strong invisible shield that adds an extra layer of gloss to the paint job.
Ceramic coatings are thick, feel like a second skin on your car, and last 2-5 years. They bond with the paint job to protect your vehicle from scratches and the harsh effects of UV rays. Great ceramic coats even have waterproof qualities that prevent water from denting your car’s bodywork.
Car waxing and paint protective films are great, but ceramic will save you money and time. You can make it a part of your next auto-detailing schedule.
Use a Car Cover
All cars come with protective covers. These are made of rigid cloth material that is not easily worn down by sunlight or human action.
If you don’t have a garage, use your car cover when you park. If you know your car will be at a spot for some time – like when it’s parked at your work garage – always carry your car cover around and use it while it’s parked.
Using car covers will shield your car from harmful UV rays, bird droppings, leaves and twigs that fall off trees, rain, and possible weather changes.
If you own a used vehicle, make sure to buy a car cover with it. Use a breathable one, as condensation can damage your car’s bodywork. Also, buy a cover that is easy to use and store and wash because using dirty/grimy car covers is just as bad as leaving your car in the open for the sun’s rays.
Practice Defensive Driving
The easiest way to get scratches on your car is while driving, especially in busy cities. Defensive driving techniques exist to help you deal with the craziness that comes from driving in places like this. More importantly, they also help to minimize scratches to your bodywork.
Don’t run red lights, fasten your seatbelt, keep a safe distance from the car in front of you and maintain the speed. When you come up against a driving obstacle like an intersection or a roundabout and are unsure of what to do, yield and let others go ahead of you. Finally, always assume other drivers don’t know defensive driving. This saves you a lot of time and energy.
Park in a Shade
This was the ultimate bodywork protection method until the discovery of protective coatings. However, it remains popular because a car parked out of sight and out of the sun is much safer than one parked in the open.
House shoppers who look for houses with garages know that leaving their cars out in the sun is a recipe for significant future expenses.
Most office complexes also build garages for this reason. Those that operate open garages are now using carports to provide shade for the cars that park in their complexes.
Stadiums, concert venues, museums, and other public places are also investing in shade for the vehicles that park on their premises while their owners use them.
Always look for shade wherever you park. Also, choose your parking spot wisely in a public garage and maintain a reasonable distance between your car and those around you.
Doing away with the sun and its UV rays is a deliberate effort. It is not an endeavour to undertake lightly because the consequence is a reduced bank account. Take your car bodywork as seriously as you maintain your body, and you’ll be grateful you did.