Does exposing a car to intense sunlight affect the paint?
2 Answers
Exposing a car to intense sunlight does affect the paint. Here is a detailed explanation: 1. Summer: The scorching summer sun can cause significant damage to the car's paint. 2. Damage: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the paint to lose its original luster, making the surface appear dull, faded, and aged, greatly diminishing the car's aesthetic appeal and value. 3. Direct impact: The paint is the most vulnerable part during high temperatures. When water droplets are present on the car's surface, they can act like lenses, focusing sunlight and potentially burning the surface. Here are some additional tips for summer car maintenance: 1. Sunshade: Sunshades, typically made of foil, can reflect most sunlight and are highly effective for short-term parking. They also prevent direct sunlight from hitting the dashboard. 2. Car cover: Besides protecting the paint from aging, car covers also provide shade and prevent sun damage. If you need to park outdoors for an extended period, a car cover is essential.
Last time I saw an old red car with its roof completely faded to pinkish-white due to years of sun exposure. Car paint is actually as vulnerable to UV rays as human skin, especially dark-colored cars that absorb more heat. Parking under the sun in summer for just one hour can raise the hood temperature to over 70°C, baking the paint like plastic and breaking polymer chains. The most annoying part is when the clear coat wrinkles, cracking in patches like age spots. After five years of sun exposure, the paint thickness can decrease by more than 20%. My neighbor’s black car, parked at a construction site year-round, was covered in sun-induced swirl marks in just three years—no amount of wax could fix it. Now, if I park outdoors for more than two hours, I always use a reflective car cover, which can lower the temperature by at least 20°C.
