AndyK

If I park my car at the station, is there still a need for the sun shield, to protect the dash, or is that only for hot summer months?

Also, what is the best way to prevent cracks from forming, if I leave the car outside in the cold??

BeerBurner

I would imagine that the sun shield is less necessary in the cooler months since we get less sunlight with that whole angle of the earth thing (sorry, I cna't go into detail but it's the same reason that winter is cooler and stuff). That said, I still use my sun shield.

BB.

IMB951

As long as you keep it conditioned, I see no need to use a sun sheild in the colder months. The UV rays are much less intense during the day, so the dash material won't ever heat up enough to dry out and crack.

Vinylex is the best product for our dash's, IMO.

Dave in Chicago

I'm a fan of taking the minute to put the sunshield up if it sits in the sun regularly, can't hurt.

I like Vinylex for dash treatment. Treating can delay / lessen effect... but at the end of the day, these cars are getting pretty old.

ACG

The chemicals that make plastic materials flexible are (as a group) commonly called plasticizers. Over time (and helped by heat), they actually evaporate from within the material, causing it to get more brittle, making it much more prone to crack any place there is some stress (like around/between the vent holes speaker holes). This, plus UV damage if exposed to the sun, is most of why old plastic parts and vinly are so fragile. Therefore, I suggest using the sunshield all the time to prevent heat and UV penetration. See this link for additional info:

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...p?threadid=982

You may have heard about the claims that the Armor All dash cleaning products contain additives that break down these plasticizers. This is why some car enthiuasts prefer non-Armor All products for cleanning their interior. Perhaps someone can shed more light on this. (Note: I am not affliated with any car cleaning product company).

bearone

i use mine when it's not in the carport.

87951

968rz

Use it. Ultraviolet radiation is the same, temp hot or cold.

AndyK

Good points! I'll stick to using the shield. Can't hurt. And I do remember the car getting pretty hot even in the winter if it sits in the sun for a while.