7 Tips For Extending Your Car Battery’s Life

When you are buying and selling used cars, one important thing that most of us ignore is the life of the battery. A good battery is an important element in deciding the life of a second hand car. Most of the reputed used car provider in Perth give importance to car battery life, extend it and make the used cars have long-lasting car batteries.

When you neglect the importance of a long-lasting car battery, then soon you will end up spending more money on repair than you can even imagine. It is the battery of your car that interacts with several parts in the car and any small damage to the battery means other mechanical parts of the car will also be affected.

What Is The Importance of A Battery In A Car?

The battery is the central power hub of your car and it is the work of the battery to store electricity and then give power to every single electrical component in your car. Apart from powering the electrical components, the battery in your car also keeps the electrical current in your car steady. This means the good working condition of a battery ensures that the car starts and has enough electricity to stay running.

How Does A Battery Work?

The battery inside a car converts chemical energy into electrical energy, which in turn gives power to your car. It is the work of the battery to deliver electrical energy to the starter that makes the car run. In fact, when the engine is struggling to turn over it is a clear sign that the battery is old and need to be changed.

Signs of Poor Battery Condition

Some of the warning signs that may indicate that your car battery is not in a good condition are slow start of the engine; check engine light, low battery fluid level, signs of swelling on the battery case, and rotten smell coming from the battery. Long life of car battery will ensure better service.

How Long Does A Battery Last?

A car battery life is between three to five years. But to keep the battery working properly, it needs to be well maintained. In simple terms, the long life of a car battery depends on how well you are maintaining it.

Nobody wants to be left stranded on a road with a dead engine. Right knowledge is important when it comes to increasing your car’s battery life and to make sure that you do not get stuck in the middle of your journey with a dead battery and engine.

Also, it is not feasible to charge your battery now and then, or even replace it sooner than expected.

While the long life of a battery depends on a lot of factors, including your driving habits, the type of the vehicle you are driving and weather condition of the place where you will be driving the car, there are some ways to extend car battery life.

7 Important Tips To Extend Car Battery Life

1. Avoid Car Rides For Short Distances

To extend car battery life, the first important tip is to avoid driving your car for covering short distances.

This is because every time you start your car, the battery loses some power. The battery gets recharged during the drive with the help of the engine. It takes about 20 minutes of driving to recover the energy used while starting a car.

But when you are driving the car for short trips, there is not enough time to recharge the battery. When you start the engine more often for short trips it becomes difficult for the battery to remain fully charged. Ultimately, due to reduction of battery voltage you will find it difficult to start your car.

It is recommended to use your car to travel long distances to help maintain adequate voltage. However, if you do not use your frequently, it is better to buy a battery charger to help maintain the correct voltage.

Moreover, if you are not going to use your car for a longer time period, keep the batteries disconnected.

2. Always Keep The Car Battery Tightly Fastened

When the engine is in the running state it creates vibrations that you can often feel during the drive. These vibrations can reduce your car battery’s life. So, in order to reduce the amount of vibrations try to use only an approved battery clamp. The right clamp will help keep the car battery properly secured at all times.

Whenever you feel excessive vibrations, check the car battery and its clamp immediately. Remember that excessive vibrations can cause damage to the battery’s internal components, ultimately leading to a short circuit and reduced battery life.

When using an approved battery clamp make sure it is secured properly but at the same time do not over-tighten the nuts as it might cause damage to the battery. Simply tighten the nuts until they are tight enough.

3. Avoid Using Electronics When The Engine Is Off

Avoid using any small amount of power when the engine is off. This is an important tip to extend your car battery’s life.

There are many electrically powered accessories in your car like headlights, cabin lights, or stereo. Using these accessories when the engine is off can reduce the power of your car battery. It is better to avoid these accessories when the engine is not in operation.

Always make sure before you come out of the car that all the electronic gadgets are turned off and no lights should be left on.
During an active engine you can use these accessories as much as your want as the car battery will get automatically get recharged with the help of the engine.

4. Regularly Clean Car Battery

Whether it is your car or simply the battery, regular cleaning is a must. A regularly cleaned and well maintained battery will obviously last long as compared to a poorly maintained one.
Once in a month, check your car battery properly. Make sure the battery is clean, and free of dirt and there should be no sign of leakage. A dirty battery can lead to a mild short circuit, ultimately causing a flat battery.

With time corrosion of battery terminals will happen but keeping it clean and preventing chemical build-up you can delay the process. If you notice any sign of corrosion simply scrub it off using an old toothbrush. You can use a mixture of baking soda and water to remove the corrosion but make sure to dry the area thorough using a clean cloth.

As clean terminals ensure smooth power flow as well as a longer battery life, do not forget this important tip to extend your car’s batter life.

5. Maintain Under Neutral Temperatures

Whether it is extremely hot summer days or extremely cold winter days, both can hamper the life of the battery of your car.

The extreme heat of the summer days increases the rate of water evaporation even in sealed top batteries, which in turn shorten the lifespan of a battery. To reduce the rate of water evaporation try to park your vehicle in the shade whenever possible or it is always better to keep the car inside your garage when not in use.

On the other hand, the cold temperature drains the remaining cranking power when starting the cold engines with thick oil. This can lead to self-discharge. To avoid such situation do not park your car outside where there is a chance of snowfall. During the winter months park your park inside a garage with a neutral temperature.

6. Regularly Check Car Battery’s Voltage

To ensure the long life of the car battery, make sure to check the voltage with a voltmeter once a month. With the help of a voltmeter, you can easily check the voltage of your car battery.

A lead-acid battery is in good working condition if it has a voltage of around 12.7 volts or higher. With 12.4 volts, a lead acid battery is considered half charged, and completely flat at 12.0 volts.

As the longevity of a lead-acid battery shortens if left discharged, do not forget to check the voltage at least once a month. If you are not using the car more often, then check two to three times a month. Charge your battery as soon as possible if the voltage drops below 12.5 volts.

If planning to buy a voltmeter, get a digital one as it is very easy to use. For an accurate reading, do the test at least twelve hours after your car has been turned off.

7. Do Not Leave Car Unused For A Long Time

Another important tip to extend car battery life is to avoid leaving your car unused for long period of time. Remember the battery of your car will flatten id not used for a long time. This happens as the battery gets automatically charged the moment you use them.

Depending on the weather condition and outside temperature, car batteries can self-discharge at different rates. At room temperature, a car battery gets self-discharge at a rate of around 1% per day. The self-discharge rate is 0.25% per day at 10°C, and 1.5% per day at 30°C.

When not charged enough, the battery tends to get damaged and soon it will be of no use. Hence if you will not be using your car for more than a week, it is recommended to disconnect your battery to save power.

More Tips To Increase Car Battery Life

• To prevent the chance of an unexpected breakdown, get your car battery professionally tested from time to time.
• For any sign of leakage, get the battery checked by a mechanic.
• Always use the recommended battery for your car to meet the power requirements for your vehicle’s electrical equipments.
• Car batteries need distilled water to keep the acid inside at a diluted level. Keep an eye on the water level in the battery once a month.
• Only use distilled water and avoid any other kind of fluid.
• Protect your car battery with insulated covers.

Summary

Sometimes you will not even know that something is wrong with your car battery until you simply start your car and the engine doesn’t turn over. Hence, with batteries, good care is very important as well as preventative measures. With the help of the above-mentioned car battery life tips, you can extend your car’s battery life.