Do you use foil? With one simple adjustment you keep your car another 4 degrees cooler
Does it almost smell like bacon when you grab your handlebars on a hot summer day? Or have you now regretted that aluminum shift knob? Then it is smart to keep your car cool when it is parked. But what is the best method to keep a parked car cool in the summer? The ADAC – the German counterpart of the ANWB – researched a few methods to keep a car cool in the sun.
Striking: sun protection film must be outside
We don’t start with the best method for keeping a parked car cool, but we do start with the most striking conclusion. That piece of aluminum foil that many people put under the windscreen against the sun, it works quite well. The sun-resistant foil provided 4 degrees less heat in the car. But actually they make a mistake. If you put the film on the windscreen, it works twice as well. The test car with the foil on the outside was 8 degrees cooler than the car without.
The best way to keep a parked car cool
The best way according to ADAC is what they call a ‘half garage’. This is actually half a car cover, covering the roof and windows of a car. With the large cover, the car only became 43 degrees in the sun, which is 10 degrees less hot than the car without any form of sun protection. The ADAC also notes that tinted windows help keep the interior temperature 2 degrees lower – nice when driving. With a tint, the surface temperature of, for example, the sofa is even 9 degrees cooler.
Difference in paint color
In warm countries you often see white cars driving. Although it has been proven before that white cars stay cooler, the ADAC is running the test again. The white Dacia Duster was 3 degrees less hot inside than a black Dacia Duster. So you could still consider having a white wrap applied. You can also park under a tree for shade, but keep in mind that bird poop can get on your paint. And if you park for a long time, the sun turns away. Is the heat in your car? This is the fastest way to cool down your car in the summer.
