MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer's scorching heat 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.
"It's about more than just comfort," says Lesley Hartney, vice president
of communications and 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 4 simple steps 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. In the extreme heat,
drivers try to park in the shade of a tree. Unfortunately, tree sap
and bird droppings can seriously damage automotive paint. So keep it
clean. It's important to wash the vehicle while the exterior is cool
and out of direct sunlight and not to use dish washing liquids because
they contain 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.
4. Replace your windshield wipers. Extreme heat dries out and cracks
rubber components on your vehicle, and few parts suffer more than
windshield wipers.
For more ways you can protect your vehicle from the summer heat, go to
www.autozone.com .
About AutoZone
AutoZone sells auto and light truck parts, chemicals and accessories
through 2,854 AutoZone stores in 41 states in the U.S. plus the District of
Columbia and 13 AutoZone stores in Mexico. AutoZone also sells heavy-duty
truck parts through 48 TruckPro stores in 14 states, and automotive diagnostic
and repair software through ALLDATA and diagnostic and repair information
through alldatadiy.com .
SOURCE AutoZone, Inc.
/EDITOR'S ADVISORY: For photographic or video support, or for additional
commentary, call Andrew Burns at 901-495-7313 or Eric Epperson at
901-495-7307 to arrange an interview at a local AutoZone store/
CONTACT: financial, Emma Jo Kauffman, 901-495-7005, or media, Eric
Epperson, 901-495-7307, both of AutoZone, Inc./