How long after turning off the engine can I cover the car with a car cover?
2 Answers
You can cover the car with a car cover about five to ten minutes after turning off the engine. This is because the car will have cooled down by then, and covering it at this time will neither harm the car nor the car cover. It is important not to cover the car immediately after turning it off. More details are as follows: 1. Function of the car cover: It is designed to protect the car body from damage caused by debris, including dust, sand, acid rain, snow, ice, and hard-to-clean substances like animal droppings. It also prevents man-made damage to the paint. 2. Traditionally, car covers were only full-body covers: They completely wrapped the car. However, after various optimizations, their functionality has improved significantly. Nowadays, besides full-body covers, there are also covers with zippers and partial covers. 3. After putting on the car cover, it must be secured to the car: Most car covers on the market now come standard with fixing ropes, hooks, or buckle windproof straps to ensure they stay in place. The fixing rope method is more traditional, where you tie them to the wheel rim spokes, but this method is not very secure as the knots can easily come undone due to external influences. Hooks are the most convenient to use, as they can be directly hung on the wheel spokes.
The recommended waiting time before covering your car with a car cover after turning off the engine is generally 15 to 20 minutes for safety. I learned this lesson the hard way when I once rushed to cover my car and ended up burning a hole in the car cover because the engine was still extremely hot right after stopping, especially near the exhaust pipe or hood. Covering the car immediately can cause the cover to melt, deform, or even pose a fire risk. In summer or after long-distance driving, heat buildup is more severe, requiring a longer wait for the heat to dissipate. In winter, the waiting time might be reduced to around 10 minutes, but it's still essential to test the surface temperature with your hand—if it's too hot to touch, wait longer. Before covering, allow a few minutes for simple ventilation to protect the car cover, extend its lifespan, and avoid damaging the car paint. After adopting this habit, my car cover has lasted several years without any issues.
