Is a Car More Afraid of Rain or Sun Exposure?
1 Answers
Both sun exposure and rain have significant impacts on a car. Sun Exposure: Prolonged exposure to sunlight accelerates the oxidation of the car's paint to some extent, which greatly affects the vehicle itself, especially cars with white paint. Therefore, after being exposed to the sun, the white paint on a car will gradually turn yellow, becoming less attractive and appearing aged. Hazards of Sun Exposure: When a car is exposed to the sun for a long time, the first damage is to the paint. Sunlight contains ultraviolet rays, which accelerate aging. In daily life, we can observe the weathering of outdoor plastic products, most of which are caused by UV exposure. Car paint is no exception. The outer layer of car paint is clear coat or gloss coat, with the color coat beneath. The clear coat will slowly age under UV exposure, and the oily substances will evaporate, causing white paint to gradually turn yellow. If this happens, polishing is recommended for a good effect. Sun exposure also causes significant damage to rubber components, such as the car's sealing strips and tires. Aging sealing strips may lead to water leakage during rain and increased noise while driving. Tire aging is even more dangerous, as it can easily lead to blowouts. Moreover, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause the car's fuel lines to age, increasing the risk of spontaneous combustion. Other hazards of sun exposure include increased formaldehyde levels inside the car, making it clear that the dangers of prolonged sun exposure are substantial. Rain: After rain, water droplets remaining on the car act like tiny magnifying glasses. When sunlight hits the car's paint surface, these "magnifying glasses" can bake the paint, leading to a dull and lackluster appearance over time. Hazards of Rain Exposure: Most rain is acidic and corrosive to the glossy outer layer of the car's paint, causing long-term damage to the paint. Rain exposure can also lead to moisture in the ignition system, making it difficult to start the car. Additionally, water ingress into headlights and a musty smell in the car's air conditioning system are not uncommon.
