How to protect your car when it's very hot

When it's very hot, especially with the car parked in the sun, you can significantly reduce overheating, and possible damage, with a few precautions:

• Park in the shade, if possible. A garage or covered parking lot is even better.
• Use a reflective sunshade on the windshield: it is one of the most effective interventions for lowering the temperature of the passenger compartment and protecting the dashboard and steering wheel.
• Protect the side windows too with sunshades or curtains, especially if the car remains stationary for hours.
• Do not leave heat-sensitive objects in the passenger compartment: smartphones, power banks, canisters, medicines, glasses and electronic devices can be damaged.
• Check the coolant and check that the level is correct. If the engine temperature rises abnormally, stop and let the car cool.
• Check the pressure and condition of your tyres: Heat increases pressure and already worn tyres are particularly problematic.
• Before leavingOpen the doors and windows for a few minutes to let the hot air escape; then use the air conditioning. However, avoid leaving the engine running for extended periods of time just to cool the passenger compartment.
• Do not pour cold water on a hot engine: Temperature changes can cause damage.
• If the car remains stationary for many days under the sun, a specific coverage for cars It can protect paintwork and interior, as long as it is suitable for exterior use.

Regarding the risk of mechanical damage, these are the precautions to take:

• Brakes: After intense driving, avoid immediately parking with the handbrake engaged if the brakes are very hot. It's best to drive slowly for a few minutes to allow them to cool. If you have an electric parking brake, however, use it normally; this isn't a reason to avoid it.
• Discs and pads: Extreme heat in itself does not normally harm them; it is mainly the overheating due to repeated braking to be problematic. If you notice a pungent odor, the pedal becomes spongy, or braking performance deteriorates, stop and let it cool.
• Tires: heat increases pressure. Don't deflate them when hot To bring them back to the indicated value: check the pressure when they are cold and adjust it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Rubber seals: Sun and heat accelerate aging. A useful protection is to park in the shade whenever possible. For door seals, you can periodically use a specific rubber protector, avoiding oily or aggressive products.
• Straps and sleeves: Heat accelerates rubber aging. No special maintenance is required in summer, but it's a good time to check for cracks, hardening, or bulges.
• Coolant: It's essential. Check the level. cold engine and make sure the cooling system is leak-free. Never open the cap when the engine is hot.
• Battery: High temperatures accelerate battery aging, especially if it's already old. Keep the terminals clean, and if the battery is several years old, consider having it checked before summer.
• Motor oil: At high temperatures, the system works harder, but with the correct oil and level, there's usually no problem. It's not necessary to change it just because it's hot.
• Shock absorbers and rubber components: Heat can accelerate aging, but no special precautions are required other than avoiding unnecessarily prolonged exposure to the sun.
• Paint and plastics: Here, the sun is much more damaging than just heat. Shade, a garage, and UV protection help prevent fading, cracking, and deterioration.

The precautions that really make a difference are efficient engine cooling, correct fluid levels, correct tire pressure, and not subjecting the brakes to overheating.

The most potentially significant extra car expenses when it's very hot are: