8 Ways You Can Increase Your Car’s Battery Life
Key Takeaways
Being stranded because your car battery died is always a hassle, especially when your battery isn’t that old.
However, while most batteries have an average lifespan of 3-4 years, you can increase your battery's life with proper maintenance. By being mindful of your driving habits and taking other precautions, you can avoid car battery problems in the long run.
Read on to learn how to increase your car battery's life, including checking battery fluid and other maintenance tips.
8 Ways to Increase Your Car’s Battery Life
In this section, we discuss eight ways to increase your car’s battery life
Keep Terminals Clean
Dirt and debris can cause your battery to corrode, shortening its lifespan. You can find corrosion on the terminals, typically covered with a cap.
Once you remove the caps, look for any greenish-blue or white powdery substance covering the terminal. If present, you should clean it promptly. Ensure your car's engine is turned off before you attempt to do this.
Take a wire brush and a mixture of baking soda and water and scrub around the terminal gently. Keep gloves on at all times, and once you have cleaned the corrosion off, wipe the area with a dry cloth.
Regularly inspecting your terminals can prevent the battery from corroding severely, thus increasing its lifespan. You can also prevent corrosion by applying a thin coat of petroleum jelly or anti-corrosion spray to the terminals and battery posts.
Avoid Short Trips
Making short trips is bad for a car battery because it needs more time to recharge. A car battery is designed to provide power to start the engine and power the electrical system while the engine runs. Once started up, the alternator takes over and recharges the battery.
However, when you make short trips, the engine does not run long enough to recharge the battery fully. This means the battery is constantly drained and recharged, which can shorten its lifespan.
Furthermore, short trips don't let the engine reach its optimal operating temperature, affecting the battery's performance. When the engine is cold, it requires more power from the battery to start, which can further drain the battery's charge.
Drive Regularly
Leaving your car unused for long periods harms your battery's health. This leads to sulfation when the sulfuric acid in the battery's electrolyte reacts with the lead plates and crystallizes.
These crystals can build up on the plates and reduce the battery's ability to hold a charge. Regular driving helps prevent sulfation by circulating the electrolyte and preventing the lead sulfate crystals from forming.
When you drive your car, the engine runs, and the alternator charges the battery. Regular driving allows the battery to charge fully, increasing your battery's life. Furthermore, an unused battery's internal temperature drops below the optimal range, reducing its performance and lifespan. Hence, regular driving prevents it from getting too cold.
Turn Everything Off When You Park
Leaving your radio, lights, or other accessories on when you park can drain your battery. We recommend you ensure everything is turned off before you shut off the engine.
In some cases, the engine cooling fan continues to run after you turn off the car. Ideally, it should only run for a few minutes after you turn off your car. If it runs for longer, it indicates faulty wiring or a low coolant level. When the fan is left running for too long, it can cause the engine to overheat, damaging other parts.
Check Battery Fluid Levels Regularly
To check the fluid levels, you must first locate the battery in your car. Most car batteries have a translucent casing. Next, you must remove the caps on the top of the battery. There should be one cap for each cell in the battery.
Once you remove the caps, you can check the fluid levels inside each cell. The fluid should be above the top of the lead plates in each cell.
If the fluid level is low, you can add distilled water to bring it up to the correct level. Be careful not to overfill, as this can cause the battery to overflow and potentially cause damage to your car.
Park in a Cool and Dry Area
High temperatures can cause the chemical reactions inside your car battery to speed up, leading to faster depletion of the battery's charge. Parking your car in a cool place can reduce the heat your battery is exposed to. This, in turn, slows down these chemical reactions and increases your battery's life.
If you can't avoid parking in hot or humid conditions, consider investing in a battery insulation kit to help protect your battery.
Use the Correct Battery
Ensure that you're using the correct type of battery for your vehicle. Using the wrong battery can damage your car's electrical system and reduce the battery's lifespan. You need to ensure that the battery you choose is compatible with your car's make, model, and electrical system.
To find out which battery is compatible with your vehicle, we advise you to consult your car's owner's manual or a trusted mechanic to ensure that you choose the correct battery.
Keep your Battery Charged
If your battery is low on charge, it will be more susceptible to damage. Consider investing in a battery charger to keep your battery charged and increase its lifespan. Signs such as dimming headlights and dim dashboard lights indicate that your battery is running low on power. If you detect any of them, it's best to charge your battery promptly.
Conclusion
Regular maintenance, such as checking fluid levels and cleaning corrosion, can drastically increase your car’s battery life. Keeping an eye out for signs such as dim lights and charging it regularly will keep your battery working optimally. By being attentive to your car and its battery, you can prevent many battery issues in the future.
We at Folsom Lake Honda offer the best car service to keep your car and its battery in the best condition. If you’re looking for a new battery, you can browse our inventory of car parts. For any queries, you can ask a professional through our 24/7 chat service on our website.