We just moved into a new house and it has a heated garage. I like the idea of keeping it heated all winter to give my cars a bit of a break from the cold every day. The question is: how hot? I've always heard that heated garages are bad for cars, but is that just sour grapes from guys who wish they had garage furnaces?
– Oscar, Mississauga
If your garage is too warm and your car's coming in covered in ice, snow, and road salt – that daily dose of heat could potentially turn your car into a hot mess, experts say.
"When you're moving your car in and out of a heated garage, that build up of snow and ice is constantly melting and then refreezing," says Patrick Brown-Harrison, instructor at SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary.
In a heated winter garage, your car is wet more often than it would be in a unheated garage – and water causes rust, especially when combined with corrosive road salt.
"You can get accelerated corrosion on the undercarriage and body panels of a vehicle," Brown-Harrison says.
Regularly washing and drying your car can help keep off the accumulated salt and ice, Brown-Harrison says.
A heated garage can be more humid than an unheated garage – and when humidity mixes with road salt, it starts to eat away at the metal on your vehicle. Constant shifting between hot and cold, by bringing your car in and then taking it out again, can also deteriorate seals on your car.
"They're constantly becoming hard and soft as the temperature changes," he says.
If you are going to heat the garage, Brown-Harrison recommends not keeping it too warm.
"For day to day use, keeping the garage around 8C will control the melting and the effects of high moisture on the surfaces of an automobile," Brown-Harrison says.
Heating the garage solely to give your cars a nightly break from the cold could do more harm than good – and will cost you a bunch of money.
An unheated garage can keep a car from the worst of the cold and elements, especially if it's well-insulated.
But there are other reasons to heat a garage, say if you're using it for a workshop. Or, if you're storing a car for the winter.
"Storing a car for the winter indoors is ideal, and if it's heated, fine – it will keep fluids from freezing," says Stephen LeRoux, professor at Centennial College in Toronto. "But most home garages aren't heated. This doesn't make them unsuitable to store a vehicle."
Send your automotive maintenance and repair questions to Jason Tchir at globedrive@globeandmail.com
FAQs
AAA says when a car's engine is too hot, the fuel cannot circulate well. It also makes it difficult for the engine to start. Temperature changes can also affect tire pressures, which can cause uneven wear and shorten the life of a tire.
How do I stop my car from being too hot? ›
7 Simple Tips to Keep Your Parked Car Cool in Summer Reading time: 9 minutes
- 7 ways to keep your parked car cool. ...
- Park smart when away from home. ...
- Park in your home garage. ...
- Use a windshield sun shade. ...
- Cover up your vehicle interior. ...
- Tint your car windows. ...
- Crack the windows…or not. ...
- Try a solar-powered ventilation fan.
AAA says when a car's engine is too hot, the fuel cannot circulate well. It also makes it difficult for the engine to start. Temperature changes can also affect tire pressures, which can cause uneven wear and shorten the life of a tire.
Does leaving your windows cracked keep car cooler? ›
Crack the windows.
So even if it's hot outside cracking the windows could help bring that temperature down. Any little bit helps. Just be sure to keep an eye out for summer thunderstorms and roll up the windows if needed to keep the rain out.
Why do parked cars get so hot? ›
Shortwave radiation from the sun heats any object it strikes. Your vehicle's dashboard, steering wheel, and seats can become too hot to touch, ranging in temperature from 180-200° after just a few minutes. This heats up the air inside the car. Since the windows are closed, the heat can't escape.
How can I improve my car cooling system? ›
If you are having cooling problems, begin by looking at the least expensive fixes first.
- Add an electric fan.
- Shroud your fan.
- Check your belts and hoses. ...
- Check your radiator cap.
- Flush and refill with premium coolant.
- Use the proper thermostat.
- Clean the radiator of foreign materials.
Cold weather puts the battery at risk.
Anything lower than 32 degrees can cause issues for your engine in terms of performance. If you sense the weather dropping, it is a good idea to start your car and let the engine run idle for a couple minutes to ensure that everything is working properly.
Is driving in high heat bad for your car? ›
Battery: Extreme heat can drain your car's battery. Hot weather makes your batteries work harder. Extreme heat can cause the battery fluid to evaporate, create sparks and flames, damage your vehicle, or blow up. Coolant: If you are driving with low coolant levels, you risk ruining your engine.
What is the coolest part of the car? ›
What is the coolest part of a car? Some people will tell you the boot is the coolest place, while others argue it's the floor. The best area is underneath the back of the two front seats because it is darker and cooler.
Do tinted windows keep car cooler? ›
Tinted windows take some of the pressure of your car's air conditioning system, as it will not have to work as hard to cool the interior. Window tint not only helps to maintain a cooler temperature, it also blocks ultraviolet rays from the sun, helping to protect your skin and eyes from the UV rays.
Glass windows insulate heat inside, so it's important to get the hot air out. Better yet, allow hot air to escape by leaving the windows slightly open while parked. The opening should be less than the width of a person's arm so no one can get into your car.
How hot is it in a car on 93 degree day? ›
At 93 degrees, in about 15 minutes, the inside of your car can get to about 110 degrees. Heat inside cars can be deadly to both pets and children within a matter of minutes.
How hot is a car in 93 degrees? ›
It did an experiment and found the internal temperatures can go up a few degrees every few minutes even when external temperatures don't change. The car in the experiment was left parked outside in the sun on a day when it was 93 degrees. By noon the car was 104 degrees inside. Ten minutes later it was 107 degrees.
What happens if your car gets too hot? ›
It can cause extreme damage to the engine and even lead to a fire. Pull over if your temperature gauge starts to tick up too high. According to Ganther, “As soon as you see your temperature gauge rise, you should pull over and let your car cool down.
Why is my engine overheating but coolant full? ›
If the coolant tank is full, the problem may be electrical or mechanical in nature, in which case a tow to the nearest repair shop is definitely in order. A leaking hose, worn or broken fan belt, bad water pump, or malfunctioning thermostat may be the culprit.
How do I fix my car overheating in my summer car? ›
Engines typically overheat because the coolant is low, so topping it off will often solve the problem. Water will also temporarily do the trick. Check the coolant tank to see if it's empty, and look under the car to see if it's leaking.
How much does it cost to fix an overheating car? ›
A badly overheated cylinder will need to be pressure tested and inspected for warping and engine block crack/melt. These issues can lead to a complete engine rebuild and cost several $1,000 to fix.
:format(jpeg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tgam/RMO6FHNVXFGKBDIOZRYOKIH6AI "How to prevent your car from becoming a hot mess (1)")
