Even the best car batteries falter in their performance with the passage of time. When it comes to cars, there is nothing worse than being stuck with a flat car battery. Just like the battery in your laptop or smartphone, lead-acid car batteries come with a limited lifespan.
Over a period of time, they lose their ability to hold sufficient charge. On average, the lead-acid battery of a car lasts more than three years. However, this timeframe relies on many parameters like driving time, batteries charger for car, etc.
Taking care of your car battery periodically will prolong its life. Nowadays, automotive batteries bear a lot of load because of the increasing number of electrical components. Even if you are driving a fuel-guzzling SUV, power remains vital to driving a car. Even the right use of automotive accessories will elongate your car’s battery lifespan.
While replacement batteries are easily available, regular maintenance is of utmost significance. Here are some top strategies with which you can maintain car batteries.
Clean the Terminals of the Car Batteries Properly
Cleaning the battery’s terminals is a great way to enhance its longevity. You should first recognise the positive terminal of the battery. The red cap indicates the positive terminal of your car’s battery. To remove the negative terminal, turn the bolt connecting the wires.
Ensure that you don’t touch the positive and negative terminals to any metal part. A mixture of baking soda and water in the right proportion can clean car batteries properly. Here are some steps you should follow in cleaning the terminals.
- Wipe both the terminals with a microfiber cloth soaked in baking soda and water
- Wipe the terminals of the car battery dry before connecting them
- Always reconnect the positive terminal first
Avoid driving over Short Distances
The battery of your car functions strenuously every time you press the ignition button. During the journey, your car’s engine recharges the battery. Car batteries can’t regain the power lost if you drive over short distances.
Moreover, if you repeat the process daily, the overall voltage will decrease drastically. To address this issue, you should drive your car frequently for longer durations. On the other hand, if you don’t drive your car often, invest in a car battery charger. Batteries charger for car will assist in maintaining the correct voltage.
Keep the Battery fastened
When not fastened properly, car batteries tend to show a decline in their performance. Hence, it is crucial to use the approved battery clamp to decrease vibrations. If not fastened properly, excessive vibration can damage your battery’s internal components.
Unwanted vibrations can even cause short circuits decreasing battery life. But don’t commit the mistake of over-fastening the battery clamp. Over-tightening car batteries can increase their resistance.
Minimise Exposure to the Heat
Owners usually have a misconception that cold weather kills car batteries. However, that is not entirely true.
Normally, the summer heat is responsible for damaging the efficiency of your car’s battery. Excruciating heat negatively affects the car batteries as it boosts water evaporation from the cells. Even in sealed top car batteries, water evaporation increases because of heat.
Refrain from leaving your Car unused for Longer Durations
Leaving your car unused for longer durations will negatively affect the performance of batteries. It is crucial to keep the lead-acid battery charged at all times. Car batteries lose charge naturally over time. This phenomenon is commonly known as self-discharge. Nowadays, car owners invest in trickle chargers if the vehicle sits idle for more than a week.
Significance of checking the Battery’s Voltage
The durability of the lead-acid battery will decrease when left discharged. Hence, it is vital to check the voltage of the car battery once a month with a voltmeter. A fully-charged battery should have a voltage of more than 12.7 volts. If the voltage drops below the 12.5 volts mark, recharge the battery. To get the best driving performance, ensure that the voltage doesn’t fall below 12.4 volts.
Maintain the Fluid Level of your Car’s Battery
Unscrew the vent caps of the car battery and look inside each cell properly. The fluid should always cover the battery plates. Ensure to use only distilled water-like fluid in the battery. Pour water until it covers the battery plates. Here are some precautions you should follow while topping the fluid.
- Wipe off the excess fluid with a microfiber towel
- Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the vents
- Only use distilled water in the car battery
- Inspect the fluid levels after every six months
Coat and secure the Battery
Rust and corrosion can adversely affect your car’s battery performance. You can even use felt protectors for the terminals. A protector spray coating can be useful in preventing corrosion. If you live in a tropical climate, always invest in a good protector spray for the car battery.
Following these strategies will help in keeping your car battery running smoothly. You now maintain the durability of your car battery with Carorbis. Carorbis has a large inventory of automotive accessories and parts to keep your car’s battery safe.