Maintaining your vehicle is expensive. Hence, any way to extend the lifespan of any of its components is a welcome surprise to car owners. Changing your car battery does not come cheap, but ensuring your vehicle runs smoothly is necessary.
But can you extend your car battery’s life to save a little? In this article, you will learn how to maximize the miles of your car battery.
Car Batteries Usually Last for Three Years… Or Not?
Your car battery’s lifespan is usually pegged at three years. However, implementing appropriate maintenance procedures will guarantee a dependable and extended battery life. Here are some ways to save a little by extending your car’s battery life:
Regular Check for Corrosion
The performance of your car battery may be compromised by loose or corroded battery terminals, which can obstruct the current flow. One proactive step to prolong your battery’s life is to routinely check the terminals for corrosion indicators, typically a powdery, white material.
If corrosion is found, use a wire brush, baking soda, and water solution to clean the terminals. To avoid sporadic electrical connections taxing the battery, ensure the terminals are secured.
Keep Your Battery Cool
If you don’t want to Shop Car Batteries year after year, park your car in the shade whenever possible.
Excessive heat is one of the main causes of early battery aging. Elevated temperatures can potentially hasten the chemical processes occurring within the battery, resulting in depletion of fluid and hastened corrosion.
To lower the interior temperature, if covered parking is not an option, think about utilizing a sunshade on the windshield. You can extend the lifespan and improve the performance of your battery by reducing its exposure to excessive heat.
Invest in Battery Tender
A battery tender, often called a trickle charger, can come in handy when parking your car for extended periods, such as during holidays or seasonal storage.
A battery tender keeps the battery charged at a low level and keeps it from draining entirely. This is especially advantageous for cars that aren’t driven frequently because it keeps the battery from overheating and avoids sulfation, which is a common reason why batteries die.
Check Fluid Levels
Many contemporary automobile batteries are maintenance-free and don’t need to be regularly topped off with distilled water. However, checking the fluid levels periodically is imperative for conventional lead-acid batteries.
Covering the plates enough and reserving distilled water for special circumstances will preserve the electrolyte levels within the suggested range, help avoid undue pressure on the battery, and preserve its performance.
Refrain From Using High-Current Accessories
Overusing high-current accessories can stress your car’s electrical system and, ultimately, the battery. Examples of these accessories are powerful stereo systems and power-hungry electronic devices.
When the engine is not operating, utilize these accessories sparingly and shut them off when not in use. This preserves battery power and lightens the alternator’s workload so that it can concentrate on charging the battery.
Watch Your Driving Habits
Your driving style has a big impact on how well your battery performs. Short excursions should be avoided whenever possible as they might not give the alternator enough time to recharge the battery completely.
If you drive small distances a lot, you might think about going on longer journeys once in a while so the alternator can recharge the battery. Additionally, using electrical accessories while the engine is off can lead to battery draining.
Routinely Test Your Battery
Regular battery testing is a preventative measure to find possible problems before they worsen. Regular battery testing, particularly before severe weather, evaluates the battery’s capacity and charging capabilities and offers important information about its general condition.
If the test finds any issues, fixing them immediately can save unplanned malfunctions and increase the battery’s lifespan.
Take Care of Your Car Battery
Your car battery is an essential part that has to be maintained and looked after to ensure lifespan and dependable operation. You can proactively increase your car battery’s longevity by implementing the abovementioned techniques.
Purchasing a battery tender, monitoring fluid levels, limiting high-current accessories, controlling temperature exposure, tightening and checking connections, driving habits optimization, monitoring fluid levels, and routine battery testing are just a few of the strategies that go into creating a comprehensive plan for keeping a long-lasting and healthy battery.
