Cars are not airtight. Instead, cars allow fresh air to flow from the surroundings through specially-made vents, which filter out dirt and debris.
In addition to air vents, cars let in air through cable pathways and window gaps. Some vehicles allow more air than others due to their design, model, and year of production.
Although the air gets hot and stuffy when the windows are completely rolled up and doors are closed, you cannot suffocate inside an enclosed car.
This is because most cars regularly replace the air inside the vehicle after a fixed amount of time. A perfect example showcasing cars’ non-airtightness is their susceptibility to sink, even when completely closed up.
Airtight items tend to float when dropped in water, unlike cars that sink, which leads us to conclude that cars are not airtight.
Contents
Why are Cars not Airtight?
Cars are designed to have a constant circulation of air to prevent suffocation. If someone were to fall asleep with the windows and doors completely closed, they would risk death by suffocation if the car was airtight, a potential risk that car manufacturers considered in designing cars.
Although modern cars are better sealed against external factors such as wind compared to older cars, they still offer air circulation.
Additionally, cars produce unwanted gases when the engine is running, such as carbon monoxide. If the vehicles were airtight, these fumes would harm the car occupants such as causing carbon monoxide poisoning, which is fatal in large quantities.
Therefore, this potential crisis is averted by making cars have good air circulation.
Although cars are not perfectly sealed, they are efficiently sealed. They allow air circulation but prevent the entry of other substances. The primary purpose of sealing the vehicle is to avoid water entry.
Water entry into your car can cause extensive damage to the parts exposed to the water, such as the engine, headlights, and upholstery.
These damages lead to expensive maintenance costs. An efficiently sealed car is essentially waterproof. Most cars come equipped with door seals and engine seals, usually made from rubber, that prevent the entry of water and leakage of car fluids.
When these seals are subpar, damaged, or remain unchanged for long periods, their effectiveness reduces, leading to frequent water leaks observed in your vehicle.
Advantages of an Efficiently Sealed Vehicle
In addition to preventing water damage, efficiently sealing cars ensures the car temperature set by the air conditioning unit is maintained.
By avoiding the entry of wind, the sealed car maintains the current car temperature. This is advantageous during winter and summer when extreme cold and heat temperatures are experienced.
A well-sealed vehicle increases your driving comfort regardless of the outside weather conditions.
Moreover, sealed vehicles prevent the contamination of vehicle fluids. Fluids such as engine oil, brake fluid, coolant, and transmission fluid all serve essential functions in the car.
When they are contaminated by external substances such as water, their effectiveness is disrupted, causing harm to the vehicle.
For example, water contamination of the brake fluid can cause the braking system to malfunction leading to car accidents. Effectively sealing the car prevents these potential problems and enhances the safety of your vehicle.
Where are Seals Located in my Car?
Vehicle seals are located in a variety of areas. Foremost, the doors and windows have rubber seals that ensure their complete closure, thus preventing water leakage in the car from rain or flooding.
Likewise, seals are located in the hood and trunk of your vehicle to avoid the entry of water and other substances. This contributes to keeping the car warm and dry, increasing the vehicle occupants’ comfort.
Seals are vital in keeping the engine running efficiently. In addition to preventing the entry of foreign substances into the engine, the engine seals prevent any oil or fuel from escaping.
Take away
Contrary to popular belief, cars are not airtight. They allow regular air circulation, preventing one from suffocating in an enclosed vehicle.
This is a safety measure to avoid instances of oxygen deficiency and carbon monoxide poisoning. Similarly, cars are not perfectly sealed as they allow air circulation.
Although vehicles are not entirely waterproof, they can prevent the entry of water when it rains. When effectively sealed, cars offer the advantages of preventing water leakage, temperature control, and sustained purity of vehicle fluids.
In extreme cases such as flooding and car submergence in water, cars’ non-airtight and non-waterproof nature are apparent as the sealed car gradually fills with water and sinks.
