The battery is considered a critical part of any car; the car’s power and performance all depend on a good battery. Interesting, isn’t it? Under vehicle maintenance, car battery performance is considered very important for a car to be road-ready. The car battery is not just required for the initial ignition of the car but also supports critical electric components like lights, infotainment systems, and safety features even when the engine is off. But just like other car components, the battery has a limited life span. The life span typically stays between three to five years. However, it will depend on various factors like climate, driving habits, and maintenance practices. If the driver knows the early signs of battery breakdown and how to replace your car battery, it will save you from inconvenient breakdowns and expensive towing expenses.
Timely battery replacement is just a part of the equation. Many car drivers are unaware that with proper care, battery life can be extended. In the next half of the blog, we will discuss ways to amplify the life of your car battery.
How to Amplify the Life of Your Car Battery?
The car battery is considered the main part of the heart of your vehicle’s electrical system. But, like the other car components, it has a finite lifespan and is considered to be between three and five years. However, with regular car battery maintenance, you can extend its lifespan. Let us look at some of the methods that can amplify the life of your car battery.
Turn Off the Electrical Components When not in Use
We have a habit of leaving lights, infotainment systems, and chargers plugged in even when the engine is off. This will slowly drain out your battery and will surely shorten the life of your car battery.
Pro tip: Switch off all the electrical components before turning off the engine. This habit will make a huge impact on prolonging the life of your car battery.
Drive Longer distances Regularly.
This can be a bit technical. We need to understand that when we take a short trip, the car’s alternator gets enough time to charge the battery.
Word of caution: When we regularly take short trips, the battery’s charge will deplete, which will ultimately reduce its lifespan.
Pro tip: Make it a habit to take your car for a longer drive once a week.
Ensure a Secure Battery Fit
It is very important to check whether your car battery is loosely fitted. A loosely fit car battery vibrates, leading to internal damage and reduced lifespan.
Pro tip: During maintenance, checkups ensure your battery is securely fastened. This battery will experience less vibration, especially if you drive frequently through rough terrain.
Regularly Clean and Maintain Battery Terminal
The efficiency of a car battery can be reduced due to corrosion on terminals over time.
Pro tip: Make it a habit to regularly clean the battery terminals with a mixture of water and baking soda. Make sure the terminals are dry before reconnecting, or this will speed up the corrosion process.
Protect the Battery from Extreme Temperatures
Extreme hot and cold weather can adversely affect the car battery’s performance. Extreme hot temperatures can cause evaporation of battery fluid. Cold weather can reduce the efficiency of the car battery.
Pro tip: Use an insulated battery blanket during extreme cold weather or park the car in the shed in extreme summer.
Use the Right Charger, and don’t Overcharge
In case you need to charge your battery, always prefer a compatible charger and do not overcharge it. Overcharging or incompatible chargers can damage battery cells.
Pro tip: Special smart chargers are available in the market, which automatically adjust the charger rate and turn off when the battery is fully charged.
Minimize Short Trips and Idling
Frequent short trips or extended idling periods can damage the car battery as it does not get enough time to charge.
Pro Tip: In case you have to make multiple stops, consider combining errands into one trip. This will minimize engine start and stop.
Turn Off Accessories Before Starting the Engine
All the electronic devices in the car can put unnecessary pressure on the battery if left open at the time of ignition. This will damage the battery and lower its efficiency.
Pro tip: Always switch these devices before turning off the car ignition and avoid using them until the next ignition.
Conclusion
Amplifying car battery life majorly requires simple steps; there is no rocket science involved, so you can even try making excuses. After reading this article, I think this must have cleared your mind. By using the steps mentioned above, you save on the replacement cost and reduce environmental waste.