How hot does a car get in the sun?

[kach22i]

I know there are warnings about leaving pets in parked cars in the sun. I think I read somewhere that if it's 100 degrees outside, solar energy can make the car interior 140 degrees. Does that sound about right?

How about the outside?

What is the surface temperature of a black car left in the full sun all day on a 100 degree day? How about a white car?

I had some of my targa roof bar interior liner start to come off last year, happened shortly after several days of hot weather. I was wondering how hot it might of gotten both inside and outside the car.

[Joeaksa]

I have a thermometer in my car and here in AZ it can easily get 140 during the summer.

[tcar]

Mythbusters on Discovery tested exactly that, white car/black car.

Difference wasn't as large as I thought it would be... I think they were both in the 120's.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by tcar
Mythbusters on Discovery tested exactly that, white car/black car.

Difference wasn't as large as I thought it would be... I think they were both in the 120's.

That sounds like what I was expecting to hear.

I wonder if metal cars get any hotter than roofing materials or park benches? I suppose the thermal qualities and mass of the objects also have a lot to do with the results measured at the surface.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by tcar
Mythbusters on Discovery tested exactly that, white car/black car.

Difference wasn't as large as I thought it would be... I think they were both in the 120's.

Thought they did one on that. Not as much difference as I would have thought but still more than enough to harm a child inside.

If its in the 120 in Cali, then Nevada, AZ and New Mexico would get a lot hotter....

[Hugh R]

The metal gets a lot hotter on a black paint job. Go to a dealership in the summer and put your hand on a black car and then a white car sitting next to it all day and they haven't been running. The difference is noticeable.

[id10t]

Used a laser thermometer in Florida in July... pavement was 130, steering wheel (black leather wrapped) on my 356 was 160...

[Moneyguy1]

When it hits the occasional 107-110 out here in Tucson, the experts say that the inside temp in the direct sun can hit 150 degrees F. At that temp, even the steering wheel is too hat to comfortably grab without a rag.

[masraum]

I've measured the inside of a car that was sitting in the sun before and easily seen 140*. When I had my targa and it had been sitting in the sun all day I could feel heat radiating off of the inside of the targa top. The top and the body (both were black) were also both too hot to put your hand on.

PS The car's that I've measure were Blue '65 Chevy Impala w/black vinyl interior, gray 80's Olds Omega burgundy vinyl Interior, and 81 Dodge Omni, Rust colored, tan vinyl interior. Measured when temps were in the 90's. Temps ranged from 130-145.

[M.D. Holloway]

last year I shot my IR gun at my dash after a day long in 100F Texas heat and the IP was 167F

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Here's one..

Why are astronaut's EVA suits white? Because they reflect heat better.

black aborbs, white reflects.. very simple

[86 911]

LOL. We just did a very similair expirement in Geology. Jared is right on.

[tabs]

Its HOT...and who the fk cares anyway...

[red-beard]

When I lived in Pakistan, we had to walk around the plant with leather gloves and long sleeves on in the summer. Outside temp was 125. The handrails would easily get to 180+. You didn't want any direct contact with skin.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by tabs
Its HOT...and who the fk cares anyway...

Keep buying your oil stocks buddy, every knows solar energy does not work.

What made me start this thread is that I'm trying to find uses or limits on this roofing tape I've purchased.

Link:
Handyman's friend - better than Duct Tape

Some low oven temperature tests indicate that it would not be good for the interior of a car, at least not for a hanging or suspended item of weight. The guy at the roof store said it's held on his truck mirror for two years - he must park in the shade or something.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by red-beard
When I lived in Pakistan, we had to walk around the plant with leather gloves and long sleeves on in the summer. Outside temp was 125. The handrails would easily get to 180+. You didn't want any direct contact with skin.

I worked on top of a Coke oven in a steel mill during the summer of 1979. I can tell you what hot is.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

When I lived on the face of the sun.....