We are in the middle of the heat wave season and, with it, temperatures maximums that exceed 40 ºC in some parts of the country. Although it may seem that this climate only affects people, the truth is that vehicles also end up suffering the consequences of summer. That is why it is so important to follow the recommendations of experts to ensure safe and cool trips.
One of the most common mistakes when trying to protect the interior of the vehicle from the effects of the sun is placing the sun visor upside down. Many drivers put this tool on their car dashboard to prevent the sun’s rays from wearing down the upholstery and turning the interior into a real oven. However, some are often confused about which face they should leave exposed and this can cause the opposite effect.
This is the correct way to place a sunshade in the car
According to Juan José Ebenezer, mechanic, on his TikTok account, the correct way to use this sun protection accessory for the car is with the reflective part facing out and the interior, usually with some drawing or image, towards the inside. A very useful reminder, since some drivers decide to place it upside down thinking that the most aesthetic part is the one that has to face the street.
By placing it correctly, the sunshade “will avoid radiation, heat and excess temperature in your car“explains the expert. On the contrary, if you place the part of the drawings or black color facing outwards, you can achieve the opposite effect.”By simply thinking that it looks prettier on the outside, all you are doing is raising the temperature. and increasing the radiation that affects the car,” he says.
Placing the sunshade on the outside of the window increases its effectiveness
Likewise, to increase its effectiveness when combating the heat, it is best to place the sunshade outside the vehicle. As demonstrated by a study carried out by the German automobile club ADAC, in which they tested the effects and usefulness of this type of accessories, a car without a sunshadecould reach a temperature of fifty-three degrees inside; while if the sunshade was placed on the inside of the vehicle’s window, the temperature was reduced to forty-nine degrees.
On the contrary, when the researchers put the parasol on the outside of the moonwith the reflective part facing outwards, it was possible to maintain a temperature of forty five degreesthat is, eight degrees less than if this accessory had not been placed and four less than if it had been placed in the most common way. The explanation for this phenomenon is because it acts as a barrier that prevents rays from penetrating through the glass.
The most efficient solution: put an integral outer cover
Another determining factor in reducing the temperature of the car when parking in an uncovered area is tinted windows. As the study showed, those vehicles that had tinted windows, especially in the rear windows, registered a temperature of forty-eight degrees in the upholsteryin front of the fifty seven that marked the cars with untinted glass.
However, the most effective solution to protect the interior of the vehicle from high temperatures was, without a doubt,the integral outer cover. Despite being slightly more complex to install, its ability to keep all the windows of the car protected meant that only the inside of the car was registered. forty three degrees. It should be remembered that this study was carried out with seven identical cars and that it took thirty minutes to reach these temperatures.
For all these reasons, if you want to correctly protect the vehicle from the sun’s rays, it is advisable to use the parasol with the reflective part facing outwards and, if possible, placing it on the outside of the moon. If you want more effective results, it is best to use an integral outer cover, although this option is somewhat more difficult to install. By following these recommendations, not only will the car interior be cooler, but it will also preserve the upholstery and dashboard, preventing deterioration caused by radiation.