Can a new car be exposed to sunlight?
2 Answers
New cars can be exposed to sunlight, but it's best to avoid prolonged exposure. Excessive sunlight increases harmful gases inside the car: While sunlight exposure can eliminate odors like formaldehyde and other harmful gases in the car, it can also produce a large amount of gases in a short period, which are difficult to dissipate. Therefore, remember to ventilate the car while it's exposed to sunlight. Excessive sunlight increases safety hazards: Items such as compressed gas containers, lithium batteries, lighters commonly used by men, moisturizing sprays frequently used by women, cooling sprays often used in summer, and power banks are prone to explosion or combustion under high temperatures. These items are best stored in the glove compartment or other areas of the car that avoid direct sunlight, and ideally, they should not be left in the car at all. Excessive sunlight can cause spontaneous combustion: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can raise the temperature of the entire car, potentially leading to spontaneous combustion.
I'm in the car modification business, and the boss specifically mentioned this when I picked up the car. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can really damage the car's paint. UV rays cause the clear coat on the surface of the paint to oxidize and turn yellow, especially noticeable on white cars, which can develop a yellowish tint. The interior is even more vulnerable; for example, plastic parts on the dashboard may crack within half a year, and leather seats can become stiff and fade after sun exposure. Once at a repair shop, I saw a car that had been exposed to the sun for three years—all the sealing strips had hardened and cracked, making a creaking sound when the door was opened. It's advisable to park in the shade whenever possible. If that's not an option, applying sun-protective car wax twice a week can help. The fluorine-containing sun-protective wax available on Taobao works quite well; it costs around a hundred yuan per can and lasts about six months. Oh, and don't forget the dashboard sunshade—it's just a few bucks and can protect the central control screen from aging.
