Can You Store Coke in a Car Trunk in Summer?
3 Answers
Coke is not recommended to be stored in a car, and it is especially not advisable to keep it in a vehicle for extended periods during summer. Car trunks should not be used to store Coke: During the hot summer months, temperatures inside a car can soar above 40 degrees Celsius, which may cause Coke cans to explode. Items that should not be stored in a car during summer: Lighters contain fuels such as n-butane, isobutane, and propane, making them highly flammable and explosive. While high temperatures can enhance the chemical reactions inside lithium batteries, improving their performance, they can also trigger unwanted side reactions, leading to the degradation of electrode materials and electrolyte, thereby shortening the battery's lifespan. Glass items should also not be placed in areas exposed to direct sunlight. The concentrated energy from solar radiation can, over time, ignite the car's interior or other items inside the vehicle.
As someone with some household experience, I often put cola in the trunk when shopping in the summer. Last year, I learned a hard lesson when I took cola on a trip during a 40°C heatwave—the bottles expanded and burst, leaving the entire trunk wet and sticky with residual sweetness, making cleanup a nightmare. The car trunk in hot summer acts like a giant steamer, with temperatures soaring above 60°C. The carbon dioxide in cola accelerates expansion under high heat, causing plastic bottles to overpressurize and easily rupture. Beyond the explosion risk, the taste also spoils, turning sour. I recommend avoiding any carbonated drinks in the car—if you must, use an insulated cooler bag and don’t leave them for more than an hour. My kids always want to bring cola for picnics, but now I teach them to only carry chilled boiled water or juice—safe and healthy.
As young people, we often stash drinks in the trunk after gatherings. Last week after a barbecue, we left a few bottles of cola inside and only remembered to take them out two days later. The bottles were warped and deformed—though they didn't burst, the carbonation had weakened significantly, and the taste turned weird. In summer, car interiors heat up like ovens, especially the trunk, which lacks air conditioning or ventilation, easily exceeding 50°C. This environment is extremely harsh on cola. Under such conditions, carbonated drinks experience gas expansion, putting pressure on the bottles. Short-term storage might be fine, but long-term storage is a disaster. My suggestion is to opt for non-carbonated drinks if you must store something, or use them immediately after placing them inside. A friend once tried leaving drinks overnight, only to end up with sticky residue on the interior, which was a pain to clean. Nowadays, when bringing drinks on trips, I prioritize ice water or tea beverages—less hassle, more convenience.