Let’s face it: black cars are so much cooler than other cars. Despite their sleek appearance, however, they don’t always feel cool, and we mean this in the literal sense. Black cars tend to get a lot hotter than white cars when exposed to sunlight for too long.
Yes, they do, and it’s all because of something called thermodynamics. The color black absorbs more sunlight than the color white. The more sunlight it absorbs, the more heat it gives off. On the other hand, the color white reflects sunlight instead of absorbing it. If you were to touch a white car out in the sun, it’d feel a lot cooler to the touch than a black car parked beside it.
Does a black car get hotter in the sun? Absolutely. But how much hotter are black cars? In a test posted on YouTube, a user compared the exterior temperatures of different-colored vehicles. When measuring the surface temperature on the hood, the black car had the highest result of 159 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, the silver, gray, and white cars were 146, 130, and 112 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.
If you think about it, cars are a lot like greenhouses. They’re both designed to absorb and hold heat, which is great for cold, rainy days but not so much for the summer.
When sunlight heats a vehicle’s exterior, the frame, components, and cabin store the heat. The vehicle’s chassis and body panels are metal, which are excellent heat conductors. The heat from the exterior can easily heat the interior and make the cabin very hot. The exterior can absorb so much heat that the entire vehicle can be much hotter than the surrounding air.
If you have leather seats, then your interior is going to feel even hotter because it absorbs and conducts heat. Sitting down on hot leather seats is never a comfortable experience. Meanwhile, cloth seats can also heat up. However, they don’t absorb nor conduct heat as well, so they aren’t as painful to sit on.
On average, the cabin temperature of a car that’s been left outside for an hour can reach 43 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Imagine spending just half an hour with your car parked outside on a scorching 90-degree day. You’d be coming back to a car with a temperature of around 120 degrees.
Several other factors can affect your cabin’s temperature, such as the following:
When it comes to your car’s temperature, the color of your interior also plays an important role. It’s the same principle as your vehicle’s exterior color. Dark-colored car seats tend to absorb more heat than light-colored ones.
Leather seats might seem luxurious, but they can be very uncomfortable during the summer. Because of its high density, leather tends to absorb more heat than other materials such as cloth. The material of your car interior greatly affects your cabin temperature, so keep that in mind the next time you think about changing your upholstery.
Just because your car’s black doesn’t mean you have to sit back and take the heat. Here are a few ways you can beat the summer sun:
As much as possible, keep your black car out of the sun. Park under safe, shaded areas, such as garages and enclosed parking lots. If you don’t have a garage, consider buying or making a custom car shade to reduce exposure to sunlight.
Window tints don’t just protect your cabin from wandering eyes. They also protect your car interior from the sun. Today, most window tints come with a very high heat rejection rate, blocking off harmful UV rays and keeping your cabin cool.
Before getting window tints, however, you might want to check if they’re allowed in your state. Some US states have strict laws when it comes to the position, color, and opacity of window tints.
During hot summer days, your new best friend is going to be a sunshade or reflector. Sunshades and reflectors can block and reflect thermal rays. They’re great at keeping your cabin cool even when you can’t find a shaded area to park. They’re also pretty easy to use. All you have to do is place them against your windshield and windows.
If you’re 100% sure that you’ve parked at a safe location, you can try leaving your windows open just a tiny bit. A crack that’s big enough to let hot air escape prevents the air from building up inside. However, some experienced thieves can still break into your car even with the tiniest opening, so do this at your own risk.
When exposed to sunlight, leather seats absorb a lot of heat, making them uncomfortable to sit on. To protect your bum, why not invest in neoprene or cloth seat covers? Some high-end seat covers even come with auto-cooling gels that can keep your seats nice and cool as you drive.
Most vehicles come with air conditioning (A/C) systems that are meant to relieve the blistering heat, so don’t be afraid to use them. As soon as you start your engine, switch the A/C to its coldest setting.
Check if your A/C panel has a switch that shows an arrow entering the car. This symbol typically represents the external air setting, which should help your cabin cool down faster if you turn it on.
You can find plenty of portable mini fans on the market that you can clip on your window to improve the ventilation in your cabin. Some of them are even solar-powered, so you can make use of all that heat to keep your black car nice and cool in the summer.
Take a look around your cabin. Are there any unnecessary items lying around that you can leave at home? A cabin filled with pillows, bags, and other supplies tends to have poorer air circulation than a cabin with fewer items. Dark-colored items also tend to absorb and hold heat. Because of this, it’s a good idea to declutter your car as soon as summer strikes.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.