How to keep your car cool without air conditioning

If you’re running an older car without air conditioning, or your climate-control system is proving no match for the summer heat, here’s how to stay cool.

Keeping your car cool in the summer is essential for your own comfort while driving, as well as for maintaining your car’s interior.

The good news is there are some cheap, effective methods that work well to reduce the effects of the sun’s rays and improve airflow.

RELATED: How to regas your air conditioning (safely and legally)

Before we get started, a quick run-down on the types of UV radiation that reach the earth’s surface:

• UVA makes up roughly 95 per cent of the radiation that reaches earth, causing immediate tanning and sunburn, as well as premature skin ageing over the longer term. Your windscreen is often the only glass on your car that will block UVA.
• UVB makes up roughly five per cent of the radiation that reaches earth, also causing sunburn and blistering, as well as skin cancers and premature skin ageing over the longer term. Fortunately, all of your car’s glass will block out UVB.

Here are some quick and easy ways to reduce the sun’s impact…

1. Purchase sunshades for your windscreen and windows

Sunshades are protective barriers attached internally to the windscreen and side windows to reflect sunlight and stop it entering your car’s interior. This will make it harder for your interior to overheat and stop the steering wheel and seats from becoming too hot to touch.

Most of us have black interiors, which absorb heat more than other colours, so this is a particularly important one. 

For the windscreen, a reflective foil sunshade works best with the shiny side facing outwards to reflect the infrared light away. For the windows, sunshades are useful if you don’t already have window tinting. Sunshades can be purchased from any auto accessory store, or some petrol stations if you need one on the go. 

2. Get ceramic window tinting

Window tint will block UVA, so that’s why you should have it, but it will not always stop your interior from heating up, which is a common misconception. Window tint films also don’t have to be tinted, so you can choose anything from clear to blackout, though you should always keep within the legal limits for your state.

Regular tint film (dyed film) is primarily used to block UVA and for privacy, but may only last for two to five years. Dyed film can also cause your interior to heat up more than normal, depending on how dark the film is. Dyed film also tends to fade, turn purple and bubble once it has worn out.

Ceramic tint films are the best solution for blocking infrared rays – which are what heat up your car in the first place – as well as UVA. It is more expensive than dyed film, but will last for 10–20 years and is well worth it.

There’s also the option of carbon tint films, which fall between dyed and ceramic in terms of their durability and infrared-blocking capabilities.

3. Fit rear louvres 

If you like a retro solution, window louvres are stylish slats placed on the rear window or side windows to keep the car’s interior cool by reducing sunlight that would otherwise pass vertically through a regular window.

It’s a similar idea to wearing a cap on a sunny day, and with modern cars you’ll most often see owners fit these to Ford Mustangs. Though visibility can be slightly affected, the slats tend to be quite thin, so it’s unlikely your ability to see what’s happening around you will be impacted significantly.

4. Wind down your windows

It may seem obvious, but this is the best way to cool your car when you first get in, as the interior will often be hotter than the outside air, so letting the hot air out and the cooler air in will make a huge difference. Plus, a nice breeze blowing on your face will also help.

It’s important to note that you should switch over to air conditioning – if it’s fitted to your car – shortly after you start driving, because having your windows down causes more drag. Additional drag means your car has to use more fuel to keep up its speed, which will result in more fuel being used than if you just use the air conditioning.

5. Fan the car doors

If you’re in a rush to get that hot air out, or if opening the windows isn’t enough, you’ll need to get creative.

To speed up internal cooling, begin by winding down the window or opening the door on one side of the car. Then fan the door on the opposite side, with its window up, to force the hot air out and bring in the cooler air. 

6. Buy a dashboard fan 

This can be powered by solar, a 12-volt outlet or a USB port, and easily attached to the windshield or dashboard.

A compact fan will move air around and can be mounted in any direction. 

Image credit: Luno Car Camping/Temu

7. Get cooling car seat covers or cushions

No matter how much fresh, cool air blows on your face, it is important to consider back and leg comfort, which can be increased with a breathable or cooling car seat cover.

There are many different varieties of cooling seat covers or cushions. Some have a cooling function that is powered by your car’s 12-volt outlet, others feature gel that is claimed to absorb heat from your body, and some are just said to be more breathable than the standard seat material.

Image credit: Supercheap Auto

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