There’s nothing quite like the wave of heat that hits you when you open a car door after it’s been parked in the sun. The air inside feels suffocating, the seats scalding, and the steering wheel nearly untouchable. But a simple physics-backed trick can help cool your car down fast, before you even switch on the AC.
According to Professor Shivaji Sinha from JSS Academy of Technical Education, a little bit of strategic airflow can go a long way. “When your car’s been parked in the sun, the inside turns into an oven. This trick, where you roll down one window slightly and then open and close the opposite door a few times, helps push the hot air out fast,” he explains.
Why this trick works
Hot air builds up and stagnates inside the car’s cabin. By rolling down one window a few inches—let’s say the front passenger side—and opening and closing the opposite rear door several times, you’re essentially acting like a human fan.
“Each time you shut the door, you’re basically forcing the trapped air to move out through the open window,” says Prof Sinha. “It takes just a few seconds and can make a real difference before you even turn the AC on.”
While the door-pump trick is a great start, Sinha suggested few additional expert-backed ways to lower the temperature inside your vehicle (Photo: Pixabay)
The trick isn’t magic, it’s airflow manipulation. As Prof. Sinha breaks it down: “Hot air builds up inside the car and just sits there. By opening and closing the door, you’re creating airflow, pulling in slightly cooler outside air, and flushing the heat out.”
This method doesn’t require any special tools or gadgets and works faster than waiting for the AC to catch up.
Other smart tips to cool your car quickly
While the door-pump trick is a great start, Sinha suggested a few additional expert-backed ways to lower the temperature inside your vehicle:
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- Use a sunshade to block direct sunlight from heating the dashboard and seats.
- Crack the windows slightly (if safe) to allow ventilation and prevent heat buildup.
- Open all windows briefly when you start the car—let the heat escape before turning on the AC.
- Initially, switch your AC to “fresh air” mode. Prof. Sinha advises, “It’ll clear out hot air faster than the recirculate setting.”
- Cover your seat or steering wheel with a towel or cloth to prevent the surface from getting too hot to touch.
