AutoZone's tips for vehicle protection during this heatwave

Auto Channel -- Robert Gordon, Co-Publisher

AutoZone offers 3 tips to protect your car from the summer heat

Memphis, Tenn. (August 7, 2001) -  This summer's current heatwave can do serious
damage to 
vehicles on America's roads, parking lots and driveways. When the temperature 
outside hits 95 
degrees, the temperature inside a parked car can reach 140 degrees while the 
temperature on the 
surface of dashboards and steering wheels can climb to 180 degrees.
 
"High temperatures affect more than just the comfort level in your car," says 
David Cole, director 
of training at AutoZone. "Extreme heat can cause expensive damage to your 
vehicle unless steps 
are taken to prevent it."

With that in mind, AutoZone offers these 3 easy tips to prevent damage from 
summer heat. 

1.  Use a sunshade. Even a simple cardboard sunshade for your windshield can 
lower the 
temperature inside your car by nearly 50 degrees, and studies show that half of 
all cars on the 
road have sun damage that could have been prevented by one. A sun-damaged dash 
can impact 
your vehicle's resale value by as much as $2,000, while most sunshades cost less
than $5.

2.  Apply dashboard protectant. A spray-on solution can prevent the cracking, 
fading and warping 
of your dash. In fact, many contain chemicals that block the sun's harmful UV 
rays just like 
sunscreen lotion does for your skin. You can also protect your interior from the
heat by simply 
spreading a light-colored towel over the dashboard and steering wheel.

3.  Protect your paint with washing and waxing. Parking your car in the shade 
may lower its inside 
temperature, but it may also expose your vehicle to other harmful elements. Tree
sap and bird 
droppings can seriously damage automotive paint if it lacks a good coat of wax 
or if the residue 
isn't quickly washed off. So keep it clean. Use soap designed for automotive 
surfaces-don't use 
dish washing detergent because it contains grease-removing chemicals that will 
strip the wax 
from your car's finish. Applying a fresh coat of wax after washing will protect 
the paint not only 
from the sun's rays, but also from what rains down from trees. 

"There are definitely cosmetic benefits to regular washing and waxing and 
applying dashboard 
protectant," says Cole. "You'll get that new-car shine inside and out. But don't
underestimate the 
value of these simple steps when it comes to protecting your vehicle from 
expensive damage this 
summer."