Each year, the UK experiences more and more heatwaves - this is great for your staycation, but not as great for the driving experience. Getting into a hot car after a long day at work or if you’re travelling with a small child or pet can make you feel tired, drained and can make it more dangerous to drive. In the colder months, it’s always best practice to ensure your car is fit to handle the hot weather in the summer. If you’re driving a long distance on one of the hottest days of the year, there are several steps you can take to ensure that you and your passengers are comfortable during the journey. Take a look at our top tips and tricks to help keep your car cool in the heat.
How to cool the interior of the car
Even though the air conditioning is a saving grace in the hot weather, it would be a dream if we could leave it running all day so you’ve got a cool car to come back to. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case so when you first get into your car, it can be unbearably hot - especially the seatbelts and steering wheel! To keep your car’s interior cool, you should consider the following:
Steering wheel and seat covers
Some seats and steering wheels are manufactured with leather or vinyl, which can become very hot to the touch in the heat. There are many accessories suitable for your car, including car seat covers and steering wheel covers. Auto retailers supply a wide range of covers to allow you to not only customise your vehicle, but also to provide extra comfort for your journey. When buying steering wheel and seat covers, ensure that they will be able to fit the size of the seat and wheel - take the size measurements first so you’re not disappointed. If you’re looking for something on a budget, towels and blankets act as the perfect seat cover to prevent you from burning yourself!
Park in the shade
Depending where you are travelling to, most venues will have car parks that include shadier areas around buildings. Parking in the shade will help the interior of your car infinitely cooler than if it was left out in the sun. Of course, not everyone has the luxury of parking in the shade. If you know you’re going to be travelling somewhere on a hot day, research some of the local car parks to find the one that offers the most shade. Don’t forget that the sun moves throughout the day, so the heat of the interior will depend on where the sun ends up when you’re ready to travel home.
Drive during cooler hours
We understand that this won’t be possible for everyone, but for those who can, driving during the cooler hours of the day can help to keep the interior and the engine cool. The sun is the hottest between 11am and 3pm from March through to October - try to schedule your journey early in the morning and later in the evening. If you are travelling with children and/or pets, allow for traffic jams especially in the school holidays. The temperature is likely to be the highest and there’s more traffic during the day. Pack extra bottles of water for yourself and the kids.
Ensure your air conditioning is serviced
Most of us have been there - travelling in a car with no air conditioning or one that doesn’t work very well. Being outside in the heat is bad enough, but when you’re having to travel a long way in a confined space on a hot day, it can really affect your health and driving ability. It’s always best to plan ahead and ensure your air conditioning is in full working order and that it’s not likely to stop working on the hottest day of the year. Newer vehicles, particularly electric vehicles are connected to an app, which allows you to remotely turn on the air con so that it’s already cooling your car down before you get in and drive away.
Keep water in you car
It’s always best to keep yourself hydrated on hot days and this is especially important if you’re in the car. Always keeping an extra bottle of water in the boot ensures that you’ve always got water on you and if you’re unlucky enough to break down, you can stay hydrated whilst you wait for rescue. Always check its best before date, especially if it’s already been opened.
Use a sunshade
If you can’t find shade wherever you go, it’s a good opportunity to create some of your own by using a sunshade. This not only helps keep the inside of your car cool, but also has the added benefit of protecting your dashboard and steering wheel from cracking or fading. The sunshade can also help to keep the steering wheel cooler, so you don’t get your hands burned.
Open the windows slightly
We wouldn't recommend opening the windows fully, especially in a busy city environment, but having your windows ajar can let the cooler breeze from outside flow through the cabin and keep it at a lower temperature. One thing to note is that your insurance won’t cover you if something happens if the window is open - personal possession theft or damage to the vehicle, so be wary of using this technique to keep your car cool.
Cooling seat cushions
Similarly to how you can find heating cushions to keep you warm or to ease lower back pain whilst driving, there is also the option to purchase a cooling cushion as well. This works by allowing air circulation underneath the driver to prevent them from overheating or feeling uncomfortable. A honeycomb design enables the air to flow underneath you. This combined with the air conditioning will ensure that you don’t overheat when driving.
Be strategic when starting your journey
When you first get in the car, ensure your air conditioning is set to full on the coldest setting and open your windows slightly to let the hot air out and the breeze in. Once the car feels cool enough, you can close the windows and let the air-con cool the car down the rest of the way.
How to prevent the engine overheating
Whilst it is unlikely for your engine to overheat even during a heatwave, it’s important that you know what to look out for should your engine overheat. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge and under the bonnet - if the gauge is in the red and there’s smoke coming from the engine, switch from the air-con to the heater - although this seems like it would hinder and not help, it actually helps to draw heat away from the engine.
Once you are safely pulled over, turn off the engine and get out of the car. Should you open the bonnet to help the engine cool down, be aware of the heat that will escape in the form of steam and hot air. Don’t be tempted to touch any part of the engine until it has fully cooled - you run the risk of boiling steam striking you in the face and causing serious harm.
Once the engine is cooled fully, you can check the coolant levels and top up if necessary. Should you still have issues with the engine overheating, it’s important that you take your car to the garage to get it seen by a mechanic. This will prevent any further damage to your car.
Find the perfect car for your journey today
Ensuring your car is in top condition to handle the heat is imperative for a safe and comfortable journey. If you’re worried about whether or not your car is kitted out to help you in the hot weather, why not take a look at the range of new and used cars we have to offer today? Electric vehicles are ideal for helping you to prepare for your travels by allowing you to start the air conditioning through an app, so you don’t need to wait for the car interior to cool down. If you’re unsure what you're looking for or would like more information about one of the vehicles you see on our website, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our team and we’d be happy to help you.