How to Maintain a Ceramic Coated Vehicle During Summer Heat

One of the attributes of ceramic coating is that it protects the paintwork from UV rays. So, that must mean that intense, prolonged heat won’t affect it, right? Hmmm… Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite work like that. Plus, there are a few things to be aware of when the mercury hits the high 80s upwards.

But don’t panic. Ceramic coating summer care isn’t particularly time or labor-intensive. It just requires a few sensible steps to ensure you get the best longevity from the installation.

Maintaining Ceramic Coating in Hot Weather

The sun’s rays are powerful. Most of us don’t need reminding of that because—go on, fess up… Who hasn’t forgotten the high-factor sun block on the odd occasion and lived with the glowing red repercussions for the following few days. (And the peeling, don’t get us started on the peeling…).

While ceramic coating isn’t quite as sensitive to a few hours of the hot stuff as our skin, there’s still a risk of prolonged exposure to UV rays. A high-quality, professional install won’t be so badly affected, but DIY ceramic coatings are particularly susceptible. So, top tip #1 if you live in a warm climate, such as Florida, is to park your vehicle under cover as much as possible.

Don’t worry too much though. If you’ve gone to the care and expense of a top-end professional ceramic coating installation, the product will be highly UV resistant. It just makes sense that you’ll want to eke out every last month, week, day, and hour of coating longevity, so pay a little mind to where you leave your ride for extended periods.

However, there are some other ceramic coating care tips that are even more important. (And, to be honest, apply to all car paint protection in the heat—you’ve been warned…)

The Most Important Ceramic Coating Tip for Summer Care

We’ve got two words to say to you… Bird poop! 

Yep, something that’s almost impossible to avoid. From gulls that plague coastal regions to the cute little garden varieties that flock to your neighbor’s bird feeder, our feathered friends emit a constant barrage of acid-rich micro-bombs that, when the sun is shining, become even more lethal to your vehicle’s precious ceramic coating.

If you have one rule for ceramic coating summer care, then it should be to remove bird droppings from the paintwork as soon as you notice them. The acid they contain doesn’t care if you’ve planned to wash it tomorrow or at the weekend. With bird poop being in the pH range of 3.0-5.5 (7pH is neutral), that unwanted deposit is akin to someone dripping lemon juice on your vehicle. You wouldn’t leave that, so why would you leave a feathery deposit?

If you have any chemistry knowledge, you’ll know that heat speeds up many chemical reactions. While a good ceramic coating offers incredible protection against such acidic attacks, it’s still something to remove when you notice it. That’s because, over time, acid attack will cause the product to age prematurely. 

Think of ceramic coating as an extra layer of protection against everything that degrades the paintwork. This also includes bug splatters, acid rain, and tree sap. The good news is that, with a ceramic coating installed, you don’t have to panic in the way a non-treated vehicle owner should. However, regular washing is still necessary—both to prevent premature (and totally preventable) failure, and to keep your ride eye-poppingly gorgeous…!

For those who live by the ocean, remember that salty deposits on the vehicle’s surface are also more aggressive when combined with intense summer heat. In short, the key takeaways for maintaining ceramic coating in hot weather are to remove bird poop, don’t neglect regular washing, and to park in the shade wherever possible.

That way, you’ll know that you’ll be extending the longevity of the coating, which—in turn—keeps that gorgeous paintwork below in pristine condition.

Got more questions? Head to https://autosupershield.com/ and call us today for a no-obligation chat.